Don Roulo is the CEO (Chief Encouragement Officer) of Life Quest. He is a life, career and business coach as well as a Certified 48 Days Workshop Facilitator. He travels nationally and internationally to conduct business and career training as well as marriage and family workshops.

By DON ROULO

Many people think they are doing a ‘job search’ by simply opening up their local newspaper and sending out resumés.  Others think they are doing a great job search when they send out 200 resumés at one time. The problem is neither group has a strategic plan for a proper job search.

There are four strategic steps to a proper job search.

1) Create a list of 30 companies. Target specific companies you think will be a good fit for you. Don’t just look for who is hiring. You must ask yourself some basic questions to layout your search criteria. Do you stay local or move? Do you want to travel or be home each night? Do you want to work for a large or small company? What type of work is most interesting to you – retail, health, finances or manufacturing? These are just a few examples to help start your search criteria.

Do not wait for a job to be listed in the paper or online, it puts you in a larger group of people who are responding to the same listing. Just because a company has not listed a job, doesn’t mean they are not looking for prospective hires due to retirements, transfers, replacement or growth. You only start with 30 companies so you can follow up with and track all communications easily. You cannot do this if you send out 200 blind resumés.

2) Send a letter of introduction. This step begins name recognition. You are simply making them aware you will be sending more information. The more times a potential employer sees or hears your name, the better it is for you. In advertising this is called TOMA – Top Of Mind Advertising. Always send your letter of introduction, cover letter and resume to an individual. Never send them to Human Resource or To Whom It May Concern. To find specific names you may call the company. Receptionists are a great source, if you ask nicely. Also look in business directories or even the chamber of commerce.

3) Send your cover letter and resumé. This step needs to be done within seven to 10 days after your letter of introduction. Your resumé is a sales brochure to get you an interview.  There are many styles of resumés. Choose the one which fits your personality as well as the type of position you are seeking. Remember, you are advertising and selling yourself. Be honest, but brag on yourself!

4) Follow up with a phone call. This should be done within seven days of sending your resumé. Less than 10 percent of job hunters do this step. This is a great way to put your name at the top of the list – TOMA! In this call you could say, “This is (your name). I am following up on a cover letter and resumé I sent to you. I am familiar with your company and what you do and I believe I can add value to your on-going success. When would be a good time for us to meet and discuss the possibilities?”

By following this four step process you can dramatically increase your opportunities for an interview and therefore job offers. Don’t just send out some resumés and hope someone calls. You need to be proactive and remember TOMA.

About the Author
Don Roulo is a life, career and business coach as well as a Certified 48 Days Workshop Facilitator. He travels nationally and internationally to conduct business and career training as well as marriage and family workshops.

One of his most requested workshops is called, Master’s Millionheirs, which trains and equips budding entrepreneurs to make sure they follow sound foundational principles to ensure success in life and business. He believes to achieve true success it is vital to “make a life, not just a living.”

As a business consultant, he has written business plans and worked to market products or services as well as organizing financial statements for investors. Because of his success in the sales and business arena, Don has been blessed with the opportunity to train, motivate and inspire others. His passion is to motivate and equip people to find their passion and achieve their goals and God given destiny.