When looking for a job, you are faced with complete uncertainty. It can take anywhere from a day to years to find a job. This uncertainty keeps people working even if their job makes them unhappy. They are scared to leave because they don’t know how long they will be unemployed.
Working somewhere you dislike does not benefit you or your company. Money is essential for survival, but at the end of the day, the most important thing is being happy.
We have created a one-week career plan designed to help you secure a job you enjoy. Although this plan does not guarantee a job in one week, with the right effort, you should find employment quickly.
One Week Career Plan
Below is a day-by-day guide to help you secure your next job in just seven days.
1. Day One
Day one is the day you realize you can no longer endure it, and you decide to leave your job. You must now find new work, but you have some important decisions to make.
Look into two careers that you have always found interesting. Decide whether to follow one of these career paths or continue your current path. The possibilities are endless, and you can do anything you want.
Evaluate your skills to determine if they align with your chosen career path. Additionally, ensure that your skills are up to date. Make a list of your marketable skills and aim to update them if you have fallen behind on trends.
2. Day Two
Day two should focus on expanding your prospects. Maybe you have a side business that has huge potential and is just waiting for you to put in some hard work. Alternatively, part-time employment may be available to help you upgrade the skills you already possess.
You have some time before unemployment begins to take a toll on your credit. Use this time to secure any necessary loans for the future and organize your finances. Try to eliminate unnecessary spending and find new ways to earn some money. If needed, apply for unemployment compensation.
3. Day Three
Now that you have decided on your career plan, are aware of your marketable skills, and have a vague idea about what you are going to do, it is time to start networking.
Whenever you meet someone, make sure to hand them your business card and get their business card in return. Let people know you are looking for a job or planning a career change.
Make sure your business card has your phone number, your email, and maybe a brief description of your skills and/or specialty. The card should be simple and classy, avoiding anything too extravagant.
Reach out to people you have done favors for in the past; they might be able to repay you by helping with your job search.
Make appointments with local recruiting agencies and inform them that you seek employment opportunities. Be sure to mention the skills you have to offer.
It won’t hurt to send out your résumé and cover letter to potential employers; they might be searching for someone exactly like you! Don’t miss out on any opportunity.
If you plan to stay on your current career path, consider reaching out to competitors, vendors, and suppliers of your previous company; they will likely appreciate your experience in the field. Make sure you didn’t sign a non-compete agreement, or you could face an action suit.
4. Day Four
Day four should be spent browsing through online resources. Post your hiring information on as many job platforms as you can find. A substantial amount of hiring is done through the Internet, so you should make sure that you market yourself well on this platform.
If you’re looking to expand your business rather than seek employment, today is a good day to find clients interested in your products or services. Use as much information as you can gather—from the Internet, through your network of people, etc.
5. Day Five
On day five, note all the feedback you have received. Since you are presenting your information to a wide audience, you will receive multiple responses. They will provide feedback on your résumé, hiring information, and skills.
Some people ignore feedback and think they won’t benefit from it; do not make this mistake. Always take note of any positive or negative feedback you get, and see how you can use that feedback to improve your presentation. Everyone will receive negative feedback at some point in their lives, so don’t be disheartened if you get some. Negative feedback is not an obstacle; it is an opportunity to improve.
Finding a job is all about the right opportunity, and you need to do hard work and smart work to maximize your opportunities. Don’t wait for an opportunity to knock on your door; instead, actively search for one yourself. If one door closes, move on to the next one.
6. Day Six
When applying for jobs, employers consider both your technical and personal skills. Always aim to keep both of these skills up to date. For your technical skills, consider taking courses and obtaining the latest IT certifications.
To develop personal skills, consider participating in volunteer programs that are locally available to you. These volunteer programs may even be targeted toward your career so that you can attain technical as well as personal skills during your period of unemployment.
Many free seminars and webinars are regularly conducted to help unemployed people look for jobs. These seminars offer valuable insights and practical tips to help you navigate unemployment, so be sure to attend as many as possible.
Research key individuals in your target field and network with them as much as possible, as they may become valuable stepping stones to success. Make sure to show interest in their interests as well.
7. Day Seven
After completing the tasks in the first six days, you should be very close to finding your next job. It may take a few days or a few months, but now you have done everything you can to market yourself.
Always have a backup plan. If you face a shortage of finances, have ways to make up for that period. Avoid appearing desperate in your job search, and don’t jump at the first job opportunity that may be less than you deserve.
Follow each day of this weekly plan until you find employment. Update the plan accordingly as events unfold in your professional life. For example, once you have completed day one, you might not need to do it again. You can replace it with more networking or research.
Apply this plan to your next job hunt. Let us know if it works for you, and tell us what you think in the comments section. If you need help preparing for an upcoming interview or are interested in upgrading your technical skills to increase your marketability in the IT field, please don’t hesitate to contact us. NetSoft College of Technology is one of the best IT Colleges in Mississauga near Toronto, Milton, Hamilton, Oakville, and Brampton. We offer Microsoft, Citrix, VMware, Cisco, Linux, and Red Hat certification courses.