Checklist Getting Ready for a Job Search

Checklist: Getting Ready for a Job Search

Job Search Ideas April 2, 2025

Checklist: Getting Ready for a Job Search

​Thinking about changing jobs or starting a job search? This checklist will help ensure you are ready to embark on your job search. These are the tools you’ll want to have ready.

• Job Target (Ideal Job Profile). You might think that having your résumé ready would be the first step in a successful job search, but figuring out what you want out of your next job is actually the place to start. The clearer you can be about what your next job will look like — title, company type, location, responsibilities, salary, benefits, etc. — the easier it will be to find.

• Résumé. Once you have your “Ideal Job Profile”, creating a resume checklist outlining what to include and what not to include on the résumé will become clearer. The résumé should be in a modern format (and be easily read by an ATS resume checker or applicant tracking software). It should be free of errors and easy to read (visually appealing, with font and formatting appropriate for the industry and type of role being targeted). Customize your résumé to effectively communicate the value you bring forth to the prospective employer and include powerful, concise accomplishment statements. You may also want to consider learning how to quantify results on your resume when your job isn't big on numbers.

 

• Cover Letter. You might ask what is a cover letter? A well-crafted cover letter is a powerful tool in your job search toolkit. It offers an opportunity to introduce yourself, showcase your personality, and highlight your enthusiasm for the role—all while complementing your resume. A thoughtful cover letter allows you to connect the dots between your experience and the job requirements, demonstrating your understanding of the company’s needs. It can also address potential gaps in your resume or explain a career transition, helping to create a fuller picture of your professional story. In a competitive job market, a strong cover letter can set you apart and move you one step closer to your desired job as you are preparing for a job interview.

 

• Up-to-date LinkedIn Profile. Use the LinkedIn Scorecard to find out if your LinkedIn profile is “complete” by LinkedIn standards. It should include a profile photo, your location (country and zip code) and industry, education, your current position, and at least five skills. That said, don't forget your About section on LinkedIn (formerly known as Summary).  Writing a good LinkedIn Headline is important. Ideally, you’ll have a strong Headline and at least 50 connections. As a general principle, the more information you can include in your LinkedIn profile — for example, publications and projects, licenses and certifications, courses, honors and awards, organizations, patents, volunteer experience, Recommendations, etc. — the better.

 

• References. Why should you inform your references before you even start interviewing? First, it can take time to line up your references. You want to have both personal and professional references — ideally, 3-7 people who can attest to your character, work ethic, knowledge, and experience. You want to prep your references ahead of any interviews so they are ready to take the call, if necessary. In addition, your references can provide Recommendations for your LinkedIn profile, making it stronger.

 

• List of Target Companies. Identify 10-20 specific companies that you’d be interested in. Follow the company on social media, check for open positions, and look for people you know who already work for the company.

 

• Accomplishments. Knowing how to quantify your accomplishments on your résumé is important to your job search. Prepare 3-5 “career stories” before you begin your job search. Use CAR (Challenge-Action-Results) or STAR (Situation-Task-Action-Result) statements to structure your story. These can be used on your résumé or LinkedIn profile and/or in an interview (especially to answer behavioral or situational questions).

 

• Social Media Audit. More than half of employers say they have rejected an applicant because of what they found on a jobseeker’s social media profiles, so the time to review your online reputation is before you start a job search. Locate and review all your profiles. Evaluate your presence, removing any “controversial” content (avoiding religious or political status updates and “scrubbing” posts that show you engaging in anything that a prospective employer might find offensive or inappropriate). Update your privacy settings, keeping your profile photo, employment, and education information visible.

 

• Networking Contact List. Who do you know that can help you in your job search? The more people you connect with, the more help you can get. Identify the specific people you want to connect with as part of your job search. The first step is making a list of the people you know — personal contacts, professional connections, people in your community who might be an asset, college classmates, etc. Then, prioritize your list. From your entire list of contacts, who can help you the most? Who are the 10 people you should reach out to first? Aside from the people you know, you should also learn how to network on LinkedIn to find a new job.

 

• Questions to Ask in an Interview. Even before you begin your job search, remember that the goal is to get in front of the hiring manager or recruiter to have a chance to learn more about the job and company and how you can be the right fit for the role — and make sure the company is the right fit for you. A job interview is supposed to be a dialogue and that's why most interviewers will encourage you to ask questions. Do you know how to answer "Do you have any questions" in an interview? Preparing questions that will help you understand the company — and the job — is important. You can ask questions that will help you get to know the company’s culture, their expectations for the candidate in the job, and even why the role is open. 

Source: https://www.market-connections.net/blog/checklist-getting-ready-for-a-job-search​

You may also like:

• Mastering the Job Search — https://www.market-connections.net/blog/mastering-the-job-search
• Changing Jobs: A significant Life Transition -- ​​​https://www.market-connections.net/blog/changing-jobs-a-significant-life-transition
• Handling Rejection in Your Job Search -- https://www.market-connections.net/blog/handling-rejection-in-your-job-search
• 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Job Hunting -- https://www.market-connections.net/blog/5-common-mistakes-to-avoid-when-job-hunting
• Network Your Way to Your Next Job -- https://www.market-connections.net/blog/network-your-way-to-your-next-job
• What Every Hiring Manager Looks for in Jobseekers -- https://www.market-connections.net/blog/what-every-hiring-manager-looks-for-in-job-seekers

About the Author

Mandy Fard is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, CMRW) and Recruiter with decades of experience in assisting job seekers, working directly with employers in multiple industries, and writing effective resumes.
 
Feel free to connect with Mandy Fard on LinkedIn: ​​https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandyfard/
 
Please follow Market-Connections Resume Services on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/market-connections-resume-services.com