brought to you free and open sourced by , the best all-in-one solution for job seekers.
for just starting $3.39/hr: beat the numbers game, lower stress, have more options and negotiating power, and lose less downtime in between jobs. Plus, organize your entire job search in one digital notebook that grows with you, forever.
📖Overview
Stage 1: Evaluating Yourself Don’t Ignore Your Weaknesses and Strengths Don’t Compare Yourself to Others Don’t Be Too Self-Critical Stage 2: Establish Your Career Objectives Don’t Set Unclear Career Goals Don’t Panic if You Lack Relevant Experience Don’t Neglect Work-Life Balance Stage 3: Prepare Your Documents Don’t Forget to Proofread Your Resume and Cover Letter Don’t Ignore Your Online Presence Don’t Use Passive Language Stage 4: Prepare a List of Companies to Target Don’t Limit Yourself to Just a Few Locations or Companies Don’t Overlook the Company’s Values Don’t Forget To Assess Fit Don’t Apply for Every Single Job Don’t Forget the Importance of Your Network Don’t Procrastinate Researching the Company and Role Don’t Ignore Your Industry Don’t Practice Inside Your Head Only Don’t Ignore Behavioral Questions in STAR Format Stage 7: Right Before the Interview Don’t Overlook Your Appearance Don’t Stress Yourself Too Much Stage 8: During the Interview Don’t Use Too Many Technical Terms Don’t Overshare Personal Opinions or Information Don’t Bad-Mouth Previous Employers or Colleagues Don’t Use Unprofessional Body Language Don’t be Late for an Interview Don’t Hesitate to Ask During and at the End Stage 9: After the Interview Don’t Forget to Take Care of Yourself Don’t Lose Your Confidence Stage 10: Negotiation/Closing Don’t Focus Solely on Salary Stage 11: New/On-The-Job Training Don’t Rush Through the Training Don’t Hesitate to Ask for Help ❓Stage 1: Evaluating Yourself
Don’t Ignore Your Weaknesses and Strengths
Why Is This Important?
Evaluating your strengths and weaknesses is important to personal fulfillment and career success. Know your strengths to pursue opportunities that match them. Identify weaknesses to improve and develop. By assessing these areas, you can make informed decisions that lead to success. Examples:
If you know you struggle with interpersonal skills, avoiding jobs requiring constant interaction with people is wise. If sitting in front of a computer all day doesn't appeal to you, you must question why you're pursuing a career as a programmer. Actionable Tasks:
Take the time to reflect and understand your three most significant strengths and weaknesses. Evaluate your skills, talents, areas where you excel, and aspects that challenge or drain your motivation. How do I know I passed this?
You have successfully listed your three most significant strengths and weaknesses. This exercise provides clarity and insight into your job search, empowering you to make informed decisions that help you find jobs you enjoy. Don’t Compare Yourself to Others
Why is This Important?
Because comparison is the thief of joy. Embrace your uniqueness and define success on your terms. Examples:
If you know that you’re not interested in pursuing a career in finance, even though your friend is raking in the big bucks, you should explore industries that better align with your interests and skills to save you from a career switch much later on in your career. You’re not as experienced as other candidates who are applying for this job. Still, you highlight your unique experiences and strengths during the interview and the hiring manager sees long term growth within you. Actionable Tasks:
Understand your own goals and what you’re working toward Try to be happy for other people without feeling jealous. How do I know I passed this?
You are able to identify job opportunities that align with your skills and interests rather than simply pursuing jobs because of comparisons or from others' opinions. Don’t Be Too Self-Critical
Why is This Important?
Being too hard on yourself during a job search can hurt your confidence and success. Doubting your abilities can make it harder to network and interview well. It can also cause stress and anxiety, which can damage your performance. Instead, focus on being positive and confident. This will help you showcase your skills and qualifications and succeed in your job search. Examples:
Instead of learning from the experience and identifying areas for improvement, you solely focus on what went wrong. This prevents you from gaining valuable insights that could enhance your performance in future interviews. Instead of using the interview experience constructively, being too self-critical might encourage you to seek feedback or take steps to address areas of improvement. It hampers your ability to grow and develop professionally. Actionable Tasks:
Try to catch yourself when being negative and avoid doing it in the future. Rather than dwell on mistakes or missed opportunities, shift your perspective to be future oriented and on lessons learned. How do I know I passed this?
You catch yourself when being negative, and know how to walk yourself back in your negative talk You recognize your achievements and strengths and are confident in them. Furthermore, your self-assessment becomes more constructive, and you have fewer self-defeating thoughts. You approach obstacles as opportunities for growth and learning rather than allowing them to discourage or derail you. 🏆Stage 2: Establish Your Career Objectives
Don’t Set Unclear Career Goals
Why is This Important?
Do you want to spend a few years doing something and then realize you don’t actually like it? Having direction in life is important. Setting clear career goals is challenging and thought-provoking, so we offer some insights into how to avoid setting unclear career goals. Examples:
“I should get a job working with kids because I love kids” - While this personal interest may carry you through a few years into your career, what if you don’t like the initial schooling which is at least a few years? And what if you find out after a few years of practice you don’t actually like working with kids? A more non-unclear career goal allows for multiple exit options and offers more flexibility. It may sound like this: “I will get an elementary school diploma in 3 years, where I can then be employed in the education industry as a teacher, a school administrator, or a curriculum developer. I can then choose to specialize in early kindergarten or history if I ever want to go back to school” Actionable Tasks:
Assess your career goals and map out the uncertainties surrounding it. You may ask yourself questions such as: What are my exit opportunities if this doesn’t work out? What is the average salary and will that satisfy my goals? Will I enjoy the work long term? Will I get burned out or bored? What does the daily work entail? What are the industries associated with this kind of work? Which industries is the best one? How do I know I passed this?
The point of this exercise is for you to start thinking about the uncertainties. Whatever you’ve reflected about, any amount of self reflection is good, and in the end you are confident in your plan to address these uncertainties. Don’t Panic if You Lack Relevant Experience
Why is This Important?
During applying. you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. And when you do get the interview, by staying calm and rewording your answer and frame, you can come out on top even if you don’t have the experience. Example:
The job listed 6 years of experience, but you applied anyway, getting you an interview. In one of your interviews, you were asked what relevant experience you have in the position you're applying for. By staying calm, you confidently answered that you do not have any relevant work experience. Instead, you enumerated the relevant skills you can offer to perform the job well. Actionable Tasks:
Change your mindset of not applying for jobs that have more experience listed. You miss all the shots that you don’t take. Consider the skills that are essential for your desired career or industry. Enroll in courses to gain more knowledge in skills you know you’re lacking, or you can prepare an explanation that instead highlights your other strengths and explain why you’re a good fit despite lacking experience. How do I know I passed this?
You can stay calm when applying for jobs or during an interview when asked about your experience. You can instead highlight relevant skills or strengths despite needing more experience when applying for jobs or during the interview. Don’t Neglect Work-Life Balance
Why is This Important?
Work-life balance is important for individuals as it promotes physical and mental well-being, improves productivity and creativity, fosters healthier work environments, attracts top talent, and contributes to social and economic benefits. By not neglecting work-life balance, you can lead a fulfilling life, maintain healthy relationships, and achieve greater satisfaction in both your personal and professional lives. Examples:
You are contemplating a career change but want to maintain a work-life balance. When seeking a career change, dedicate time to explore job titles and industries through research, interviews, and networking. Balance this with personal time for reflection, relaxation, and joy. With this, you allow yourself the space and clarity to make informed decisions that align with your values and desired lifestyle. Actionable Tasks:
Set aside some time for self-reflection and career exploration as it pertains to work-life balance. Consider the factors that can impact work-life balance, such as company culture, work hours, travel requirements, and remote work options. How do I know I passed this?
After considering about work life balance, you feel confidence in the general direction you’re pursuing. 📄Stage 3: Prepare Your Documents
Don’t Forget to Proofread Your Resume and Cover Letter
Why is This Important?
Even after creating a resume or cover letter, errors may still need to be corrected. It’s important to remember that even experienced editors can overlook their mistakes, so a formal proofreading process can be incredibly helpful in ensuring that your resume or cover letter is error-free. Examples:
After creating my resume, I proofread it and found three typos and eight improvements I could edit from my first draft. Actionable Tasks:
Thoroughly proofread your resume/cover letter to ensure it is free from grammatical, spelling, and formatting errors. Try to be inquisitive and not assume the draft is already the best. Try to slow down when reading and not skim over each piece. Ask for help from others to proofread. They may be able to spot mistakes you may otherwise be blind to. How do I know I passed this?
You have proofread your resume and engaged in some sort of inquisitive process such that you’re less blind to personal mistakes. Bonus points: if you can have a few others also proofread your resume. Don't Ignore Your Online Presence
Why is This Important?
Potential employers frequently search for candidates online to learn more about their backgrounds and qualifications. Neglecting your online presence could result in missed opportunities or a poor impression. Reviewing and editing your online profiles, including removing any unprofessional content, can significantly increase your chances of making a favorable impression on potential employers. Example:
A candidate has submitted a well-crafted resume and cover letter for a job application. However, during the employer’s online research, they come across the candidate’s public social media profiles. To their surprise, they find a series of unprofessional posts and comments that display a lack of judgment and maturity. These findings raise concerns about the candidate’s ability to present the company’s value and professionalism. Despite their qualifications on paper, the employer decided not to proceed with the candidate’s application due to the negative impression created by their unprofessional online presence. Actionable Tasks:
Conduct an online audit. Search your name on search engines like Google to see what information is available about you online. Optimize your professional profiles and/or portfolio. Update your social media profiles. How do I know I passed this?
Your profiles are well-curated, up-to-date, and align with the expectations of your desired industry or field. Your online presence reflects professionalism and discretion, with no content that could be considered unprofessional, offensive, or damaging to your reputation. Don't Use Passive Language
Why is This Important?
Passive language is typically considered less direct and may obscure the doer of the action. On the other hand, active language (starting the sentence with a verb) empowers more and highlights your skills and results you attained. Example:
Passive language example: “Responsibilities included managing a team of five and overseeing project timelines.” On the other hand, an active language example: “Managed a team of five and effectively oversaw project timelines.” In the passive language example, the emphasis is on the responsibilities as the main focus of the statement. It doesn’t explicitly highlight the candidate’s active role or achievements. In the active language example, the candidate takes ownership of their actions using strong verbs like “managed” and “oversaw.” This showcases their proactive approach and demonstrates their leadership skills and abilities. Actionable Tasks:
Review your resume or cover letter and identify any instances of passive language. Begin bullet points or statements in your resume with strong action verbs that accurately describe your skills, accomplishments, and responsibilities. For example, use verbs like “led,” “managed,” “implemented,” “achieved,” “developed,” etc. Minimize passive constructions, such as “was done” or “were completed”. How do I know I passed this?
Your resume uses active language and does not use passive language 🎯Stage 4: Prepare a List of Companies to Target
Don't Limit Yourself to Just a Few Locations or Industries
Why is This Important?
To increase your chances of finding a satisfying career, it’s important to stay open-minded. Don’t limit yourself to particular industries or locations. Flexibility will help you adapt to changes and increase your chances of finding a fulfilling career path. Keep an open mindset and be willing to take on new challenges and opportunities, as this can help you grow in unexpected ways and ultimately lead to long-term satisfaction. Examples:
Suppose you're passionate about technology and innovation but have been limited to job opportunities in your local area. In that case, it may be time to broaden your horizons by networking with professionals in the industry across different locations. This will take your career to new heights and open up exciting opportunities that previously out of reach. Let’s say you have a background in marketing and are interested in the technology sector. Instead of restricting your search to tech companies in your immediate area, you decide to broaden your search. You research and identify companies in various locations and industries that offer marketing roles within the technology field. Actionable Tasks:
Research and identify industries that align with your interest, skills, and career goals. Explore different locations beyond your current city or region and consider national or international locations. How do I know I passed this?
You’ve considered the idea of other industries You’ve considered the idea of other locations Don’t Overlook the Company's Values
Why is This Important?
Companies have their own unique cultures, work environments, and sets of values. By aligning your values with the company's, you increase the likelihood of finding organizations that resonate with your beliefs and work style. This cultural fit leads to better job satisfaction and a higher chance of long-term success within the company. Examples:
As a vegan, working for a fast-food chain that promotes meat consumption and unsustainable practices may conflict with your beliefs. This misalignment can lead to poor performance, low job satisfaction, and increased stress. If you're a human rights advocate and find yourself at a company accused of unethical labor practices, it can be challenging to support their values. This misalignment may hinder your career growth and cause conflicts in the workplace. Actionable Tasks:
Research the company's values and beliefs before applying them to ensure alignment. Prepare thoughtful questions to use in the interview to assess the company's values and how they align with yours. How do I know I passed this?
After researching or by asking, you feel excited that the companies’ values align with yours, creating a sense of compatibility. Don’t Forget to Assess Fit
Why is This Important?
Assessing fit with a company is important because it ensures compatibility between your values, work style, and culture, leading to higher job satisfaction, performance, and long-term commitment. A good fit fosters collaboration, teamwork, and personal growth while contributing to overall job satisfaction and well-being. By evaluating fit, you can find a company where you can thrive, make meaningful contributions, and enjoy a fulfilling career. Examples:
Suppose you want to work in a company that promotes creativity and innovation. In that case, you may consider two job offers: one from a traditional corporate firm and another from a design-focused creative agency. Actionable Tasks:
Reflect on your personal work preferences and work priorities. Do you deal well with deadlines? High expectations? How often do you want to get promoted? Read job descriptions and reviews carefully to identify key aspects related to fit, such as company’s work environment, promotion opportunities, expectations, hours, vacations, stress, and deadlines. How do I know I passed this?
If you feel excited and the thought of working for the company fills you with enthusiasm, it indicates a positive fit. 🔎Stage 5: Apply for Jobs
Don’t Apply for Every Single Job
Why is This Important?
Applying for jobs can be a time-consuming process that requires significant effort. You can allocate your time and energy more effectively by targeting your applications to positions that genuinely interest you and align with your qualifications. Focusing on quality applications rather than quantity allows you to invest more effort into tailoring your materials and preparing for each application. Examples:
I will carefully read up on the company or role first before applying, rather than applying for every single job I see. Actionable Tasks:
Identify your search criteria and be selective in your search How do I know I passed this?
Based on your criteria, you can look at a job or company and know why you won't be applying for it. Your criteria becomes a routine and you can quickly run the routine to process your job leads faster
📱Optional: Networking
Don’t Forget the Importance of Your Network
Why is This Important?
Your network is a valuable resource that can offer you various opportunities, but most of the time, networking is ignored because of the nature of networking. Rethinking your attitude for networking increases your chances of discovering job openings, collaborations, projects, and other opportunities that are hidden from just transactional applying. Examples:
I feel scummy for sending these birthday emails, knowing that I just want a job from these people in the future. I’ll actively try to befriend some people, even though I wouldn’t have connected with them if I wasn’t trying to network. Actionable Tasks:
Develop a healthy attitude toward networking. It may not be what you like, but setting clear boundaries and goals will help you make this less of a chore process and more about socializing within the fences of your career. Figure out your value proposition to others. If you don’t provide value, you will have a more challenging time networking. How do I know I passed this?
You don’t actively avoid networking and have a healthy/balanced attitude toward it. You know your value proposition, and you know when to give and when to demand something. ✏️Stage 6: Interview Prep
Don’t Procrastinate Researching the Company and Role
Why is This Important?
Procrastination can limit the time to research the company, understand the job requirements, and practice interview questions. Leaving the interview preparation until the last minute can lead to heightened anxiety and a sense of being prepared. The more prepared you are, the more confident you will be and the better the answers you can give. Examples:
You are invited to interview with a prestigious company you've aspired to work for. You start by researching the company's history, culture, and recent projects. Then, you gain valuable insights into their values, achievements, and future goals. This early preparation allows you to tailor your responses to align with the company's values and demonstrate your suitability during the interview, which puts you ahead of other applicants. Actionable Tasks:
Make a list of key areas to research, such as the company's background, products or services, industry trends, recent news, and the role you're applying for How do I know I passed this?
You are able to allocate sufficient time to each task, allowing for thorough research and practice. Habitually, you don’t procrastinate until the day of the interview. You have a strong understanding of the company and the role you're applying for. You are comfortable and confident with your interview responses and delivery. Don’t Ignore Your Industry
Why is This Important?
To excel in your interview, having a thorough understanding of your industry is important. Demonstrating your knowledge and expertise showcases your qualifications and distinguishes you from other candidates. You can confidently speak about relevant topics and contribute valuable insights during interviews by staying informed about industry trends, advancements, and challenges. This level of industry awareness demonstrates your commitment to professional growth and positions you as a proactive candidate who’s entrenched in this industry. Examples:
Printout | Master Checklist Of Things NOT To Do On Your Job Search
