Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of First Bank of Nigeria once said, “Always remember that those who create the future do not surrender to luck or circumstance; planning the future is the first step in defining it.” Don’t rely on luck or fate in your career. Professional success is about putting yourself in a position to create opportunities. Here are some techniques that can help you find your next job.
Be An Active Job Seeker
If you rely only on submitting your resume to online job postings, you’re leaving your job search to chance and taking the control out of your hands. Many people today are finding new jobs and opportunities through networking. Your network will be there to lean on for advice, to learn from, and can even open doors for new opportunities. One of the best ways to move ahead is to prove you are capable of coming up with innovative ideas or processes that add value to organizations or clients.
Don’t Worry About Precision on Long-Range Goals
Goals that are set further out just need to be directionally right. They are designed to keep you from moving too far away from your stated career path. Create a list of the actionable tasks that you must do to support your stated goals. Each larger goal is supported by smaller efforts and focus. Using this technique, you will make steady progress towards your goals.
Tailor and Personalize Your Documents
Carefully review each position you are applying for and edit your documents to effectively answer the needs of that position. Be sure to incorporate keyword phrases in your resume’s career summary, job history, and key achievements. Touch on your soft skills in your cover letter.
Accept Failure as Part of the Process
Instead of viewing failure as something to be avoided, turn it into a stepping stone on the path to success. Success is the destination, failure is how you get there. Luck without hard work will not result in lasting benefits, but working hard when opportunities arise will change your life for the better.