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5 Reasons You Should Have A Job Search Plan (And How Career Coaching Can Help)

A  job seeker works on her job search checklist.
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Your job search can be so much more than just looking at online job listings and sending out generic resumes and cover letters that you send to every other company.

Whether you're a college student, recent graduate, or mid-level job seeker, you could learn more about yourself and the types of jobs want with our career growth club's resources.


Here are our top five reasons you should have a job search plan, and what we learned from a career coach.

The Importance Of A Disruptive Checklist

A job seeker begins his job search checklist.

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If you don't know where to start with your job search, a disruptive job search checklist can help you keep track of what you need to do besides revamping your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, and more.

It's important to take some time to reflect on your skills, strengths, weaknesses, and fears before you jump ahead to job applications and interviews. A disruptive job search checklist can help you address all of these concerns and more as you look for your next job.

How To Identify Your Fears And Goals

A job seeker writes down her fears and how to overcome them.

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Entering the job market during a pandemic can be a daunting experience, especially if it is your first job. However, there are simple steps that you can follow to boost your confidence and have a clear image of what you want.

For example, we recommend that job seekers identify their fears by writing them down on a checklist. Once those fears are identified, you can come up with a fear-fighting mechanism: a mantra or a phrase you repeat to yourself when those fears occupy your head.

As you launch your journey in search of a job, it will also help if you identify your goals as it will give employers reasons why they should hire you. Ask yourself how your skills can improve a company's performance or work operations.

Identifying your goals helps you create your personal brand that makes you stand out from others, and you can start by answering these simple questions in our disruptive checklist.

How To Make Long-Term Goals

A job seeker thinks about her career goals.

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Securing a job could be defined as being a short-term goal that is fulfilled once you are hired. However, sustaining a job and developing your skills are part of planning for long term goals, such as a 30-60-90 day plan.

Our career growth club can help you determine these goals. When you work on expanding your network and developing a reading ritual to research different companies, you can make progress in achieving your goals.

Learn More About Yourself And Your Priorities

A job seeker makes a list of what she wants and does not want in a new job.

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If you're a college student or recent graduate, you may be thinking that you should be grateful for any and all job offers and opportunities that come your way. In reality, you should think about your own needs and wants, too.

A disruptive checklist can help you visualize exactly what you want, need, and don't want in a job or company in the long term. Once you have these written down, you can research companies that match your needs.

You may also discover that you are asking too much or too little from a company during your job search. Want to learn more about yourself? Take this free workplace persona quiz to find out what kind of employee you are.

How To Improve Expand Your Network

A job seeker has an informational interview on the phone.

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Networking can be just as important to your job search as writing a good resume and cover letter. If you have a profile on LinkedIn, a disruptive checklist can help you keep track of different ways you can reach out to people who work at companies you might be interested in working for someday.

A checklist can also help remind you to keep these positive connections as you continue to build relationships with your peers and potential mentors. If you want to reach out for an informational interview, our disruptive job search checklist can help you with that, too. Keep making these connections, and don't forget to keep in touch!


Your job search is crucial to building your career. Therefore, you need to make sure that you are on an effective and fruitful search mission.

Want to learn more? Check out our career growth club, where you'll have access to even more job search resources to help you plan and achieve your goals.

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