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I sincerely love the process of finding a job, but unfortunately/fortunately, I’m at a point in my career where I look more for entrepreneurial opportunity than “having a job”, so I don’t get the chance to use the job hunt process often.

I know that sounds off-beat, like, “Really?? Does anybody actually *like* finding a job?” But seriously, it is something I enjoy. I used to hate it, when I didn’t know what the process was and how to successfully use it to create opportunities in my life.

So if you find yourself on the “I hate job hunting” side of life, hopefully, some of the tips below will help.

***Note: this is an article I’d posted a couple of years ago, which got zapped when my blog database went down last year. I’ve had a number of associates asking for career advice lately, and thought I’d re-post it.

No Job, No Problem

Finding a job is a numbers game that depends on who you know. If you only contact two companies you have no personal connections with, you set yourself up for a disappointing experience.

Don’t let your career and financial situation depend on the whims of hiring managers. Work for who you want, when you want, by being extremely proactive. In the past, putting together a binder with the following sections has worked well for me:

Daily Schedule/Task List

Maintain a calendar and task list– remember, the least effective way to find a job is to aimlessly surf the internet at home while sweat pants become the new fabric of your life.

Finances

Your annual salary is now $0. Relish the fact that you no longer have an income, and instead of worrying about how you’ll pay for things, make arrangements. It feels better not avoiding finances.

What You Want From The New Job

Make a list of everything you want in your new job. If you don’t know what you want, you are likely to take the first job offer you get. Think, “If I were still employed and a recruiter offered me this position, would I switch?” If the answer is no, keep looking until you find what you really want.

Networking

Make a list of anyone you know that works, and contact all of them and ask them for job hints. They’ll point you to opportunities faster than you can find.

Also, get out of your house and attend business events. One hour of attending an event is 100 times more powerful than a week of surfing the internet and going to unemployment agencies, plus it only takes one hour. Imagine what 40 hours of attending events will do for you.

Follow-Up Chart

Like sales, finding a job requires multiple contacts over a period of time. If you just e-mail out a bunch of resumes and wait for interviewers to call you, you’ll be looking for a long time.

Make a chart that includes initial contact, sent resume, scheduled interview, thank you note, second interview, thank you note, follow up 1, and follow up 2. By doing this, you give the employer all the customary things expected from a job seeker according to “the rules”, which sets you apart.

Company List

Make a long list of companies you’re potentially interested in. For example, in Utah, there is a “Firm Finder” at http://jobs.utah.gov/firmfind/pgMain.asp?theSessionID=506097911 (an ugly URL, I know), which is a huge database of all the companies in the state, sorted by county, industry, occupation, size, etc.

Another good resource is local magazines/newspapers that showcase successful businesses in your area/industry. This list is your lead-generation pipeline.

Companies to Visit

Take that Company List, and target at least 25 or more companies. Because it’s all about the numbers, you’re going to systematically contact every company on this list, whether you really want to work for them or not.

Of the 25 companies, 17 won’t be hiring (but you’ll create new network contacts), you’ll have interviews with 8, offers from three, and pick which one YOU want. If you only contact two companies, you have no real options.

Research

Find each company’s website and print the “Contact Us” page and the “About Us” page. Even better, look up their principals on LinkedIn.com. Keep all of this in your binder, and skim through it before you ever contact the company. When you approach the company, do something special with that information.

For one company I interviewed with for editing/writing, I printed their website, edited the content, brought it in to the interview and said, “Your site needs help. This is what your customers see, and this is how I will make it better.” Guess what– I was hired.

Job Loss Information

Google things like “lost my job“, “how to find a job“, “can’t pay my bills”. You’re not the first to be unemployed, so take advantage of what others have already experienced, and avoid their mistakes. Reading this information is especially helpful when the “I’ll never find a job” gloom appears.

Freelance Gigs

Think, “what can I do on the side to bring in some money right away?” Temp jobs, donating plasma, or even taking a mediocre part-time job you know you will quit soon. Some people will suggest that you take any job you can get, but I disagree. If you can do something insignificant that won’t distract from your job search, then go ahead. If not, stay extremely focused and pour all your time into the search.

***

I could write more about job hunting, but by now, you’ve got the basics. Finding a job is a wonderful time to re-evaluate your life, priorities, financial situation, and decide what you really want and need from your career– and get it.

That’s the best part. If you do the right kind of job hunting, you’ll end up in a new opportunity that will make you happy. So, what’s not to love about that?