Once you’ve taken assessment of what direction you would like to go, begin to make a list of the places you’d really like to work at.  Ideally, create an Excel spreadsheet and begin to list, in columns, the  Company Names,  Locations and Career Page url of all the companies that you would love to work at.

Your columns should like this:

Company Name                         Location                         Career page (url)

This spreadsheet is what you will use everyday when you start your day in your search for another job.  The Career page column, contains the url’s of the places you’d love to work at.  It will contain the “hyperlinks” that will instantly take you to that company’s Career Page.  You’ll waste no time in the morning, when you look to see if any new positions have opened up at that company.  Those are your dream locations.  The places you really really wish you could work at.  If nothing has opened up at those dream locations then you’ll move on to the other Job Search engines that you’ll also have listed on your spreadsheet.

Job Search – Template w examples

If you’re anything like me you might be concerned about the proximity of a company to where you live.  Considering the price of gas, it’s something many of us think about.  After all, you might find a job for the same amount of money that you were previously making but you might have to spend hundreds of dollars more per year in gas costs going to and from that new job.

What I did was drive around to all of the corporate buildings within the proximity of my home that I wished to work at.  I walked in to the lobby of the buildings that contained numerous companies and I wrote down the names that were listed on their directory.  You can either bring a small pad with you or take a snapshot with your cell phone.  If anyone asks you what you’re doing just tell them about having lost your job and let them know that you’re looking for a new job.  Let them know you were hoping to find something close to home and you were hoping there might be a company there that you could work for.  I found that people are sympathetic to others who’ve lost their jobs.  They understand what’s happening in the job market.  It could happen to them tomorrow!  And you never know who is asking you why you’re there.  It could turn out to be your next employer who was impressed with your tenacity!

Add those newly found company names and addresses to your Excel spreadsheet.   Research on Google if the company has a website and add their Career Page to your list.    If they don’t have a website you can mail them your resume, addressing it to the “Human Resources department”.  Include a Cover Letter with your resume letting them know your goal.  Let them know that you sought them out and would love to work for their company.  Be sure to make a note on your spreadsheet as to the date you sent them your resume.

Now that your resume and cover letter are updated you’ll want to work on how you will present yourself during your interviews.  You’ll want to prepare a Phone Interview presentation as well as an In Person Interview presentation.