| Now, it's logical to think that the best time to | | | | Well, I'll be honest, this is where you will have to |
| start job hunting is when you've decided to quit | | | | roll up your sleeves and do a little work. Nothing |
| your current job... and definitely after you've | | | | hard - but some decision making, research and a |
| already quit, or been given your marching orders. | | | | little networking. And the first step is to identify |
| But in terms of getting the best possible job for | | | | which companies you'd like employment with. |
| you, the best time to start looking is in neither | | | | For instance, if you were, or were interested in |
| circumstance. | | | | becoming, a project manager with a software |
| Actually, the ideal time is when the company you | | | | firm, you would naturally research the software |
| want to hire you has just realized that it needs to | | | | industry to determine which companies you might |
| employ someone. | | | | like to work for. |
| And let's be clear, this isn't when the company is | | | | Once you've identified the companies you could |
| already actively looking for someone to fill the | | | | see yourself working for, you would start doing |
| position - when it has, for example, hired a | | | | as much research as you can about each of |
| recruitment agency or has started advertising on | | | | those firms. Not only will this help you clarify |
| the job boards - it's when the company has just | | | | which companies are a better or worse fit for |
| realized that it needs the position filled. | | | | you, but it will also be your "springboard" for doing |
| And just why is this the best time for you to | | | | a little personal networking. Because, ideally, you'll |
| start looking for a job? Because if you're "there" | | | | meet some of the people at those companies |
| when the company has decided it needs to hire... | | | | with a view to building a relationship in which they'll |
| and you have all the experience, qualifications and | | | | think of you first when a job opportunity arises. |
| skills its looking for, then (except for any | | | | Now it's just a matter of keeping abreast of |
| regulatory or political requirements to advertise | | | | developments within (and outside of) the |
| the job) you're the one its likely to hire! The only | | | | organization(s) you're targeting and maintaining, if |
| reasons why the organization wouldn't hire you | | | | not building, your relationships with the key people |
| would probably be due to asking for a salary the | | | | who work there. When you learn of a |
| company isn't prepared to pay or for corporate | | | | development that may create a job opportunity, |
| political reasons outside your control. | | | | you can get in touch with the people you know |
| And if the salary isn't right... or you | | | | to confirm whether or not there is likely to be a |
| underestimated the corporate politics... well, that | | | | position. If that's the case, you can then position |
| kind of thing happens after going through the | | | | yourself as the ideal candidate. |
| rigmarole of applying for a job and sitting through | | | | Of course, you'll know the best approach to take |
| a series of interviews the normal way, doesn't it? | | | | given the type of development that occurs. |
| At least in this case, you'll know where you stand | | | | Okay, so this approach may not be the best way |
| much more quickly! | | | | to go if you need a job and you need it now |
| Now you're probably wondering... "if the ideal time | | | | (who knows when the companies you're targeting |
| to start job hunting is when the company I want | | | | will need to hire?). However, it really is the |
| to work for has decided it needs to employ | | | | approach to take in order to land your dream |
| someone for the job I want"... then "how do I | | | | job... and only requires a little research, patience |
| know that?" and "how do I know that I want to | | | | and the confidence to talk to people to do it. Try |
| work for that company anyway?" | | | | it! |