What Color Is Your Parachute? The best job-search strategy explained

Too many people treat their job search like buying a lottery ticket: blindly sending your CV or resume to any open position in the hope of getting lucky.

Even on the off-chance that actually works, it will probably be a short-term solution. Why? Because just like finding a relationship partner, a job search is all about the right fit.

The key to building a fulfilling career is to seek work that actually suits you. That may sound like common sense, but a surprising number of people never even try it.

Just as designers and architects believe that “form follows function”, what you do should follow who you are.

Richard Bolles, author of the bestselling book What Color Is Your Parachute?, identifies the key things you need to understand about yourself in order to find the right fit professionally...

Make a list. Start with your areas of expertise/interest. Next, what kind of people do you like working with? Write down your top transferable skills and ideal working environment. Add the salary and responsibility level you’re comfortable with. Finally, what’s your goal in life?

A suitable role should correspond with 2-3 areas of your expertise. Talk to people already in that job to get a clearer picture. Study the companies that hire in this position. If you know someone that’s connected to one of these companies, the process becomes far easier.

Recruiters and HR specialize in eliminating most job applicants. Only 5-6 candidates get to the interview stage on average. If you have any way of bypassing this filtering process, that’s a distinct advantage. If not, don’t give recruiters a reason to dismiss you from contention.

Aim for small companies (ideally with a staff of less than 25) in your desired industry as they’re much more likely to give you a chance. Failing that, consider using a high-quality job agency: it tends to be four times more effective than simply submitting your resume.

If you’re looking for a complete change of career, target a “stepping stone” job – a role that will let you gain more relevant experience before transitioning to your dream position. The best thing you can do is to research extensively and position yourself as a useful resource.