(By Dan Simmons)
How many times have you heard of somebody finding the perfect job—even when they weren’t really looking for a new job? Those people know just how important a passive job search can be to the advancement of their career.
Even if you consider yourself pleased with your current position, it would be in your best interests to conduct a passive job search. After all, it’s when somebody isn’t looking for a new job that they could miss a golden opportunity.
There’s a definite strategy for conducing such a search, and below are five tips for executing that strategy:
- Set up alerts on industry job boards, including AnimalScienceJobs.com. Don’t submit your resume to a job board bank, unless you want the world to know that you’re looking for a new position. The last thing you need is for your boss to find out.
- Keep your resume updated with any new skills, degrees, or accomplishments. Update these sections of your resume on an ongoing basis. That way, you’ll be ready when an opportunity presents itself, and you won’t have to scramble at the last minute.
- Engage in networking activities with colleagues, agriculture professors, extension agents, etc. Maintain regular contact with these people, and let them know that you would be interested in any new opportunities that might arise.
- Make contact with a recruiter who can be your “eyes and ears” for new opportunities. Nobody knows the employment marketplace better than your recruiter because they work that marketplace day in and day out.
- Write articles for industry periodicals and associations. This positions you as an expert in your field, enables you to achieve a higher profile, and helps you establish a greater degree of name recognition.
