PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT and accomplishments well , and are error free . Once you have a solid foundation , you will be able to easily tailor your resume and cover letter to the specific positions for which you apply , and you will not be starting from scratch with each application .
3 .
Alert your network
Reach out to friends , family members , mentors and colleagues . Let them know the types of opportunities you are considering and discuss your qualifications . Talk to people even if they don ’ t work in your industry . When you tap into your network , your contacts can tap into their network , and suddenly you have a broader reach . You never know who might have a helpful recommendation . As you reach out to your contacts to seek assistance , don ’ t forget to offer how you can assist them . Remember , networking should be mutually beneficial .
4 .
Create an e-mail account
Yes , you have probably had an e-mail account for more than 20 years , but unless you have an e-mail address solely for job search purposes already , you may want to consider creating one . Generate an address that is simple , professional , and clearly represents your name , such as tjacksonturf @ mail . com . This will help you funnel all job correspondence to one e-mail inbox and keep you organized . You won ’ t have to worry about filtering through , potentially hundreds of , other e-mails to find those that include job prospects or communication from human resources managers . The last thing you want to do is miss an e-mail with an offer for an interview .
5 .
Set up e-mail rules
To keep your job-searchfocused e-mail account even more organized , set up e-mail rules to differentiate between e-mails alerting you of potential jobs and other correspondence , such as invitations for interviews . Through e-mail rules , you can automatically send job notification e-mails to a specific folder so you can peruse new opportunities at your convenience . This also allows more space
Once you have an interview scheduled , it is important to research the organization you are interviewing with , as well as the individuals who will be interviewing you .
in your inbox for direct correspondence and a quicker response time .
6 .
Set up e-mail alerts Once you have a focused e-mail account and have identified places to search for opportunities , set up job alerts within any search sites that have that capability . Set your search parameters to identify jobs that best suit your interests and qualifications , and adjust your settings to receive daily or weekly notifications regarding new opportunities that meet your criteria .
7 .
Update your social media platforms It is always a good idea to review your online presence before beginning a job search . Many employers will conduct an online search of your name prior to inviting you for an interview . Therefore , it is important to maintain a professional online presence . You can start by checking the privacy settings of your more personal social media accounts to ensure they are set to “ private ” so the information you share with your friends and family is not visible to a prospective employer . Then make sure your LinkedIn profile and other professional accounts are up to date .
8 .
Utilize LinkedIn
If you do not already have a LinkedIn account , create one . Make sure you complete your profile entirely by adding a profile picture , background photo , work experience with accomplishments , organizational involvement , and education . Once you have a complete profile , you want to connect with people you know in and outside of the turfgrass industry . Then , you can even reach out to others you do not know personally by sending them a tailored message along with your connection request , providing them with information on why you would like to connect . More and more employers are utilizing LinkedIn , and it is a great tool to showcase your skills and experience , as well as your commitment to your industry .
Use this LinkedIn connection request example to help you get started :
Hello Mike ,
I am also a member of STMA , and will be moving to the Houston area soon . I am looking to connect with more professionals in the area as I look to make that transition . Thank you for your consideration .
Jeremy sportsfieldmanagementonline . com March 2021 | SportsField Management
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