In the World of Job Hunting, This is How You Need to Think Like a Trick-or-Treater

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Halloween is right around the corner, and that means it’s time for trick-or-treating. You only have so much time to find your favorite treats, so avoid wasting time on houses that give out apples, circus peanuts, or — worst of all — toothbrushes. When you think about it, trick-or-treating is just like conducting a job hunt.

Time is a major concern for job seekers. The 2014 Talent Acquisition Survey from Jibe found that 80 percent of job seekers find their hunt to be time consuming, with 78 percent saying it’s stressful.

Job seekers need to think like trick-or-treaters and narrow their search to quickly find the sweetest jobs. You don’t need to hit every house on the block.

Here’s how job seekers can narrow down their job hunt to find the positions that best suit them:

Know What You Want

Stop applying to hundreds of jobs every week. This is why the job hunt is so time consuming — each application probably eats up at least 30 minutes of your time. You can’t possibly be passionate about working for all of these employers, which is why it’s best to strategize.

You need to know what you want. On Halloween, you wouldn’t burden yourself trying to get your favorite sour gummy worms while settling for candy corn and chalky bubble gum. Why do this during your job hunt?

Narrow your focus on workplace cultures that fit you — that means more than just wanting to work for a company that allows you to bring Fido with you to the office. Start by identifying what your core values are.

This involves a great deal of self-reflection, which is where writing comes in. You want to clearly articulate why and how you live by your values, instead of merely having a vague sense of what is guiding you.

To find your core values, write about your three greatest accomplishments, then identify the common themes you see in them. Repeat this step, but focus on writing about your three biggest failures. Then write a few brief sentences of advice you would give yourself based on these common themes.

Finally, reduce each bit of advice to only a few words or one word to get a core value. For example, if you succeeded at a sale because your provided costs upfront, your advice would read something along the lines of, “Exercise honesty and transparency.” You could reduce that to “honesty” or “transparency.”

You should have a list of these values that you can use during your job hunt. Seek out companies that hold true to what you value.

Find How You Add Value

Just as you would have your eyes set on finding chocolate malt balls on Halloween, you need to know what role makes your mouth water before you start your search. The good news is you have a list of ideal companies you know you want to work for. The next step requires digging deeper into each organization.

Find a role in each of your target companies that you are qualified for and would enjoy. After you read the job description, try to visualize yourself performing those tasks. Would you enjoy travelling to trade shows? Would you feel fulfilled managing client accounts and being a liaison between several departments?

These are important questions to ask. You want to know how you would feel doing the work. Additionally, you need to know how you would succeed. In other words, are you qualified?

Reflect on your past work experiences and current skill sets, as well as what life experiences you have that may help you add value to your potential employers. This helps when it comes time to write your resume and cover letter, so you can clearly articulate how you plan to succeed in that specific role.

Start to Expand Your Network

Trick-or-treaters work best when they hunt in packs. You need someone to tell you where the dentist lives, just as during the job hunt, candidates can use some insights from their colleagues to learn what companies they need to avoid.

Find a professional organization in your industry and join it. This gives you a chance to attend networking events and meet new people, gain insights from people firsthand, and even boost your chances of earning a referral.

Just as you do during your job hunt and while you’re trick-or-treating, set yourself up with targets. Research who is attending these events, and approach those who would best suit your needs.

Develop a few talking points and confidently introduce yourself. Then make sure you send a ‘thank you,’ connect with them online, and follow up with another in-person meeting like a lunch or coffee.

With some preparation, your job hunt doesn’t have to last forever. Narrow your focus, prioritize where you want to work and what you want to do, then execute. You’ll save time and invest your energy wisely in chasing what you want and then following up until you earn an offer.

How are you reducing the time you spend on your job hunt?