To prepare your job search strategy, consider these points:
- Try to search for recently posted listings (see “Control Job Search Results” section).
- Decide if a commuting distance is good for you (search tools can control the search range).
- Plan to periodically run specific job searches (using unique keywords/ titles).
- Use several job search tools and other techniques such as searching on interesting employers to visit or call, joining professional network sites like LinkedIn, joining groups, etc.
A strategy involves some investigation. After trying some job search tools, one or two might seem best for your search. You also research local companies and newspapers for unlisted jobs.
Your overall strategy includes running two searches and checking four company websites twice per week. Each week, you also contact friends and co-workers to discuss your job search, share resumes, and review hunting tips.
You
develop a profile on LinkedIn 
to showcase your skills and connect you to employers and recruiters. You join several LinkedIn groups and investigate professional associations in your field. You also do regular networking (e.g., on
Twitter or Facebook) to find and join social conversations in your field.
Your strategy uses a variety of search methods: job boards, company sites, newspapers, phone calls, meetings, and social media. Also consider using Google News alerts, RSS feeds, and job email alerts.
Tip: Find in-demand jobs in our state’s Key Sectors by using the
Illinois Job Search. Find
potential employers using Illinois workNet employer search tool.
Searching for a job using Google makes sense if you want to search across the whole country. But if you are looking locally, you will need to use ZIP code and range settings to target results to your own local area. The Illinois Job Search page is a good place to start.
Discover related job titles and keywords by seeing what other job titles come up in search results. For example, a search for “merchandiser” results in “retailer” or “product handler" jobs. If useful, add the titles to your search keywords and try searching for them, too.
Tip: Find a career keyword list in the Prepare area to get started. After logging in, use the Notes tab to save your keywords.
Most search tools also allow you to use symbols and special characters to further refine your search. For example, a search for “writing” may only find job listings that contain the term “writing” in them. Other jobs containing terms like writer, writes, or written may not be found.
To find variations of your keywords, use a wildcard symbol (*). Place the symbol * after the root of a keyword (e.g., “writ*”) to find results for “writing,” “writer,” “writes,” and “written.” See the onscreen instructions located at the top of the Illinois Job Search page for more search character instructions.
Staying organized is a big part of finding a job. Plan to take notes on where you applied, when you are going to follow up (usually one week after applying), what topics came up in a phone interview, etc.
If you own a computer, you can save
Job Search Records to clearly labeled files on your desktop (for example: “jobs applied” and “follow up”). You can create the same files through any email service, and email job search documents to yourself.
Tip: Use the
Notes tab and
My Shortcuts menu (login required) to store notes and favorite web pages. You can later access them from anywhere with an Internet connection.
Remember to have the following items with you when you look for a job:
- A draft of your resume (targeted for each job description)
- Document listing your salary history
- A cover letter (also targeted for each job)
- A 30-second script (or elevator speech) to tell about your skills and work history
- Samples of your work, if applicable
- References (phone numbers, emails and addresses)
- A pen if you are filling out an application in person
- Identification