Now that you’re clear about what type of career you want, it’s time to get started. In this article I’m going to talk about strategies and resources for landing a job working for someone else. Whether the employer you are seeking is large or small, the overall processLanding the Job is similar. (Note: for the purpose of this article I am going to call all employers “companies”, but the same process can be adapted to working in academia, non-profits, etc.)

As I see it, once you’re clear on what you want, the process breaks down as follows:

1) Research possible employers
2) Prepare your resume
3) Find and apply for potential positions
4) Interview
5) Receive offer/rejection
6) Negotiate

Wrapped around the entire cycle is the process of networking and connecting with others whether online or offline.

I’m not about to tackle this job search process in great detail. People have written volumes on each of these topics. What I will do, however is bring to your attention key points and resources that, based on my experience and research are critical to your success.

The all-time job resource is the book “What Color is Your Parachute” by Richard Nelson Bolles. For years I resisted buying this book, but I must say that it takes a pretty holistic and realistic approach to job hunting. It is well worth your time. It covers all the steps in the job search process and is the perfect companion to any job hunt or career change.

Research Possible Employers

Where might you want to work and why? The first step is to get an idea of what employers exist in your geographical location. If you’re willing to relocate for the right position, consider what area(s) you are willing to relocate to and research those locales as well. While it’s not worth the time to become an expert on every company in your geography, it does pay to put your finger on the pulse of what companies are nearby and the details about those companies. How large/small are they? Where are they located? How many employees work at that location? What industries are prevalent in your area?

Depending on the nature of what you’re looking for, you will either limit your search to a subset of the local companies or expand your search far and wide. For instance, if you know you only want to work in one or two industries, you can limit your search right there. If, however, you know you want a position doing “XYZ” then the type of company doesn’t matter, you can expand your search as you see fit.

While I am one for relying on the Internet for just about everything, this is one of those times that it pays to tap the local library. There is a wealth of information in your local library as well as your county’s information office. You can find information on publicly traded companies in publications like Moody’s or Dun & Bradstreet. The local publications geared toward people moving to the area are a goldmine of information. There is typically a section on the area’s major employers as well as local businesses. This information is great for those job hunting.

As I said earlier, the idea of networking wraps around the whole process. When it comes to research, talk to people. Talk to friends, neighbors, acquaintances, people in the store, recruiters, people at social and business networking meetings, you name it. Not only can you find out insider information on what it is like to work at different companies but you also can find great contacts and job leads. Use this information to pursue informational interviews with people who work where you want to work so you can learn more about the specific jobs and companies that interest you.

I can’t stress enough the power of the informational interview. An informational interview is a short appointment with someone who either works at a company or in a profession you are interested in. You basically sit down with the person for no more than 30 minutes and interview them about their job. Most people will happily share information with you. The key is to remain professional, flexible, courteous, and mindful of taking up as little of their time as possible. If someone declines to have an informational interview with you simply thank them, don’t take it personally, and move on.

Prepare Your Resume

The resume is synonymous with the job hunt. However, it is not the be-all end-all of the process. It is simply a tool that, if done well, will get you an interview. Rarely will a resume get you a job. Think of it as a page or two of paper meant to entice someone to learn more about you (that is, invite you to interview for the job).

My biggest lessons learned with resumes are 1) Do your homework on what works and what doesn’t and 2) Don’t agonize over it forever; Create a working version and move forward with it. You can always tweak it later.

The most important points to remember when building your resume are that:

  • Details matter (no typos, misspellings, etc.)
  • Formatting is important
  • Brevity is rewarded
  • Focus on the benefits to the company when writing your accomplishments (i.e., no one cares that you are a genius Java programmer – what did the project you work on do for the company/customer in terms of saving time/money, creating efficiencies, or increasing revenue?)

Resume writers and consultants are like bunny rabbits. They are everywhere and seem to multiply everyday. However, I do recommend finding someone in the know about the current job market and resume practices to help you. As with hiring any professional, do your due diligence. If you are a do it yourself type, sites like Pongo Resume or The Resume Builder could do the trick. Otherwise, check out resources like Career Journal or About.com to educate yourself. One blog I am particularly fond of is Blue Sky Resumes which offers a lot of great tips and resources.

Once you have a resume, remember to keep it up to date. As someone who has ignored it for years and then suddenly needed one, I can tell you it pays to update it at least yearly. Then, you are always ready to roll if the need arises.

Find and Apply for Potential Positions

Once you have an idea of where you’d like to work and you have a resume to throw your hat in the ring, it is time to find a ring in which to throw it! As I mentioned earlier, networking is the #1 way to find out about job opportunities. Not only do you sometimes get the inside information, but you also have a connection on the inside that can offer up a good word for you. It is less risky for a company to hire someone who comes recommended to them than it is to hire blindly. That is why many companies offer a referral bonus for employees who refer new people.

In the old days, the newspaper classifieds were the #1 thing to review. While there are still some great job sections in the papers, the online world has become the new wild west of job openings. There are millions of sites with job listings. Individual companies post their career opportunities as do industry-specific job sites. Some of the bigger sites are Monster and Yahoo Jobs. The Riley Guide offers a long list of job directories on their site. You may also want to consider things like Career Fairs or Trade Shows and working with a recruiter.

The most important thing to remember is that recruiters work for the companies that hired them, not you. Much like a seller broker in real estate is more interested in selling the property than helping out the buyer, the same holds true for recruiters. It is just one technique to use within your overall job search. And, just like buying a house, don’t let anyone pressure you into tight deadlines to make decisions. You need to feel right about how any position you take.

If you’re looking for LGBT specific or LGBT friendly jobs, consider exploring sites like GayJob.biz, the NALGBTCC Jobs Board, and the HRC Workplace Links.

If this seems a bit overwhelming, that is because it is! Searching for a job can feel like a full time job (and if you’re unemployed plan on structuring your search like a job with set hours and tasks). Yet, due diligence and consistent action is what yields results. In Part II of “Landing the Job” I will cover the next 3 steps in the process: interviewing, receiving the offer/rejection, and negotiating.

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Paula Gregorowicz is the Comfortable in Your Own Skin(tm) Coach and you can learn more at her website www.thepaulagcompany.com and blog www.coaching4lesbians.com .

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