1. ELEMENTS IN AN EFFECTIVE, PRODUCTIVE JOB SEARCH / CAREER EXPLORATION
YOU’RE IN CHARGE.
WHERE DO YOU START?
WHAT’S NEEDED?
WHAT’S YOUR PLAN?
WHO ARE YOU – QUICK SELF-KNOWLEDGECHECK UP [STRENGTHS,VALUES,MOTIVATIONS]
IDENTIFYINGYOUR SUCCESSES / ACCOMPLISHMENTS/ RESULTS
IDEAL JOBS/ POSITIONS – DESCRIBE UP TO THREE
NETWORKING– YOU KNOWMORE PEOPLE THAN YOU THINK
GUIDING YOUR CONTACTS – DON’TSEND RESUMES TO EVERYONE; USE A CAREER BRIEF
LINKEDIN – A POWERFUL RESOURCE
ELEVATORSPEECHES – 30 AND45 SECONDVERSIONS
RESUMES – WHAT BUSINESSLEADERS ANDHIRING MANAGERSSEEK
MILITARY TRANSITION TOCIVILIIAN RESUME – REQUIRES DIFFERENTWORDS
BUSINESSCARDS – KNOWTHE PURPOSE ANDKEY INFORMATION
INTERVIEWING
IN PERSON – ONE-ON-ONE, PANEL/GROUP, VIDEO
TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS
COVERLETTERS – KNOWTHE THREE CRITICALELEMENTS
THANKYOU NOTES – CAN OFTEN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
TELEPHONE CALLS – GOOD DAYS ANDTIMES; DAYS ANDTIMES TO AVOID
APPLYINGONLINE– SOME SITES ARE MORE PRODUCTIVE
COMPENSATION ADVICE–WHAT DO YOU NEED, ANDWANT
SALARYISSUES – NEVERBE THE FIRST TO GIVE A NUMBER
NEGOTIATINGSEVERANCEFROMCURRENT EMPLOYER – SOME AREASARE NEGOTIABLE
INFORMATION RESOURCES
201 Forest Court Carrboro, NC 27510 919-616-8778 mike@mikekomives.com
www.mikekomives.com

2. DEVELOPING AN EFFECTIVE CAREER / JOB SEARCH PLAN
MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO HELP YOU, AND TO HIRE YOU
What does an effective plan include?
I. SELF-KNOWLEDGECHECK-UP
A. Use the worksheetstoidentifyyourStrengths,ValuesandMotivations;thendescribean
eventwhenyouwere on“topof yourgame”,everythingwasclicking.
B. To identifyyourstrengths,buyandread StrengthsFinder2.0,by Tom Rath. Purchasing
the bookentitlesyoutoa free online assessmentthatwill identifyyourTop5 Strengths.
II. IDEAL JOBS / ROLES / POSITIONS
A. Write ideal descriptionsforuptothree jobs
B. Define the productand/orthe service withwhichyou’dbe involved
C. Describe whatyouwouldactuallybe doing
D. What kindof people wouldyouworkwith? Workfor? Wouldwork / reportto you?
E. How muchwouldyoube paid,in salary? Othercompensationbenefits?
F. Where wouldyoube located? The same place as the companyor organization?
III. TARGET INDUSTRIES / COMPANIES / ORGANIZATIONS/ INSTITUTIONS
A. What theydo
B. Theirsize – numberof employees;grossrevenues;numberof brands/products
C. Importantrecenthistory
D. Managementstructure andpeople,withbriefbios
E. Namesandtitlesof contacts,otherinformation
F. Your descriptionof the “corporate culture”
G. How isthe companyinvolved,perceivedintheirlocal community
H. Are theyhiring
IV. SCHEDULE THE ACTIONSTO ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL
A. Complete self-knowledge check-up,andsummarize
B. Identifycompanies/organizationstocontact;and names/ titlesof contacts
C. Networkingandinformationalmeetings
D. Guidingyourcontacts
E. Use LinkedIn –before youmeetorinterview
F. Elevatorspeeches[customizeversionsfordifferent audiences]
G. Knowwhatbusinessleadersandhiringmanagersare seeking,andexpect
H. Resumes –top half of page one iswhere decisions are oftenmade
I. Civilianresumesforveterans –differentwordsare required
J. Interviews –be comfortablyconfident,onthe phone,in-person,onvideo
K. Coverlettersandthankyounotes that work
L. References –notlistedonyourresume,line themupnow
M. Internetresources –
i. Good Websites,andonesto avoid
ii. Salaryinformation
N. Keeptrack of your progress-- status,nextsteps