Guest post: A marketer's advice for job hunting

Wow, seven years of B2Blog.com, and my first guest post!

One of my regular readers, Adam Oakley, was recently downsized out of his B2B marketing position. As much as I was concerned for him, I was also curious as to his experience looking for a new job. Now he has a new job marketing software, a big jump from nuts & bolts (really!). Like you, as a reader of B2Blog, he has demonstrated his smarts and savvy and bridged the gap from job to job and landed on his feet. I’ll let him introduce himself:

I recently found myself without regular employment. In response to economic pressures the company I was working for cut marketing efforts and my position was eliminated. It was good company with a great group of people and I enjoy the seven years I worked there. Even though the decision was a shock it did not put our family in any tragic financial position. In fact it has given us a chance to look at our future and decide the best direction. Here are five steps you can take right now if you are or suspect you might be job hunting soon.

Five Things to do While Looking for a Job

Talk

It’s clear that the most effective way to find new employment is through personal relationships. Ask for introductions to other individuals who might be of assistance to find new work. It is important to be clear how your network can help. Build a list of possible contacts and start getting in touch. Have coffee or go out lunch. Do whatever it takes to get in front of people.

Evaluate

One common theme I have noticed while going through the process of finding a new job, there are very few “exact fits” when it comes to new job opportunities. This is especially true for marketing professionals. It is unlikely you will take a role at a new company doing the same as your previous employer. This may sound obvious, but it creates unique challenges to address while exploring possible jobs. It is crucial to clearly identify the specific skills you excel in, back them up with past accomplishments, and find the best way to communicate it. Are you a traditional marketer, digital strategist, or a SEO expert? Do you enjoy sales, analysis, or creative thinking? All these factor into what type of job to target and how you pitch yourself to prospective employers.

Update

One habit that helped me tremendously was keeping a list of achievements or completed projects that I would update weekly. I was able to review this list to quickly identify accomplishments while updating my resume. It is also important to keep LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks updated with the most current version of your career path.

Learn

As marketers, you most likely have a tendency to desire to be up to date on latest trends, best practices, and emerging platforms. If you’re like me then you’ve probably focused on the day-to-day tasks of your specific role. It’s easy to get into a routine and forget the importance of learning. This time of transition is a great chance to brush up on Photoshop, become an AdWords professional, or sign-up for a writing class at your local community college. Be careful though, it’s easy to use continuing education as a crutch and ignore your search.

Perspective

Searching for a new job can be hard. It can take its toll mentally and physically. A healthy balance of work and relaxation is necessary. Take it seriously, but don’t try to put a square peg into a circular hole. That’s a good way to find the wrong job and be back at this process sooner than you want. Have fun, go to the gym, try to get some fresh air. There are only so many job postings, networking groups, or emails you can send in a day. Set goals and stick to them, but don’t obsess over the process.

Resources

The amount of information on the web regarding the best way to find a job is daunting. I would certainly recommend talking to people in your area and see what they’ve found helpful. In some places, Craigslist might have the best postings, others it could be the (gasp!) newspaper. In the end, I’ve found the best resource – is your personal network. Trusted friends, have the best insight and knowledge to help guide you the along.

Social

• Twitter – Update your followers on yourcurrent status, connect, and get help. Some of my most productive connections have come from DMs on Twitter.
• LinkedIn – Be sure to use this to highlight accomplishments, tap your connections, and look for opportunities.
• Facebook – I’ve this is the best place to communicate with my personal group friends.

Job Search Engines

• Indeed – This site allows you toset wide keyword parameters and apply to all job sites.
• The Ladders– Billed as place to find $100k+ jobs, it really is a paid (~$25/month) job site with good information, resume editing, and filtered lists of jobs and recruiters for positions $75,000 and up.

Bonus Tip:
One last reminder. Don’t wait to create your network, be fostering those relationships today–it will be the best investment you can make in your future.