3 Steps to Start the Job Hunting Process Effectively

In my many career chats, I’ve heard that 18 months is usually a good time to start putting your feelers out for new opportunities. The exercise of job hunting can be tedious and painful, but it keeps you sharp and fresh in the ever-changing job market. Even if you’re happy with where you’re at (which is great), being open to new opportunities helps you evaluate if your current “deal” is fair and competitive… you never know what you may be missing out if you don’t look for it!

Today, I will be sharing 3 steps to approach to job hunting for those of you who are getting started or want a refresh with tips and best practices. If you’re looking for something specific to Microsoft, check out my previous blog post 25 Tips on How to Get a Job at Microsoft.

#1 – Do some self reflection

Oftentimes, you’re looking for something new because you feel like you’re missing something—it could be money, fulfilment, advancement, or even excitement. A year from now in your new role, you don’t want to be in the same spot with the same thoughts… so make sure you try to understand your own motivations better by asking yourself these types of questions:

  • What do you care about (and why)?
  • What are you missing?
  • What are you interested in (and why)?
  • What are your super powers (things you’re really good at)? Do you enjoy using them?
  • What are your personal and professional goals? Do they align?
  • Who can you talk to? How can they help you?
  • How can you help yourself (be successful)?

#2 – Browse the job boards

Next, take some time to go through different job boards and career sites to see what’s out there. Read through the job postings and figure out what you like vs. don’t like. Evaluate these job postings against your reflections in step 1 and make sure you focus on the ones that align most with your goals and interests.

Avoid applying for a bazillion jobs because it is simply not effective. Take a targeted approach to your job hunting and figure out how you can start developing the skills and experiences necessary in your current role (or outside of work) to help you land in those teams or companies.

#3 – Network and talk to people

Then get out there and start talking to people. Talk to friends, peers, mentors, old teammates, and find people who are already in the teams or companies that you’re interested in. In addition to giving you great advice, these conversations can help you discover other teams that are hiring or managers and sponsors that you should start getting to know.

If you’re casually looking, you can approach networking more as meeting new people or catching up. Embrace the process of hearing different perspectives, but remember that everyone’s journey is unique so you are not obligated to follow every single piece of advice you get.

If you’re ready to find your next job, then be upfront about it and share your intentions so that your conversations are more purposeful. Share your key takeaways from your reflections in step 1 and talk about the teams or companies that you found in step 2 to see what people think. They may gave you ideas or feedback to help you make that next step.

Bonus Tip: Leverage my career resources

Career development is a passion of mine, and job hunting is a major part of that! Check out the other tips and resources on my blog to make the process easier for yourself:

Best of luck 🙌