Create a Financial Plan for Your Job Search

How much have you spent on your job search? If you’re even asking this type of question, you’re missing the point: Putting smart money into your job search is an investment, not an expense. In other words, you can expect the dollars you put into finding the right position to yield exponential dividends in the form of a better job, increased compensation, and the peace of mind that comes with exceptional job satisfaction. Read on to learn the wisdom of creating a financial plan for investing in your job search.

Investment in your career search yields dividends!

An investment is a purchase that is believed to generate future wealth in excess of the principal. Your job search is just such an investment–of effort, time, and, yes, dollars. But where do you put those dollars, and how do you account for them? Following are the core headings under which you must plan for and record the investment of dollars into your job search.

Investment in Your Career Persona

1. Wardrobe. Make sure that you dress the part of the role you want, not the role you have. If this means approaching a better clothier than the one you’re accustomed to frequenting, do it.

2. Conservative presentation. Always dress and groom to a higher standard for your interviews and networking events, even if your target environment is relaxed and hip.

3. Clean car. Unclutter your car and get it a good vacuum. You’ll have a clear, refreshing space to organize before and after your networking events, meetings, and interviews. Rumors also circulate indicating that during your interview someone is looking at the condition of your car, so don’t let them see what you don’t want them to.

4. Reliable mobile phone. Make sure you have a phone that you can use for your job search. Invest in good service to ensure that you have consistent reception. You don’t have to have a smartphone, but know that there are many good apps that you can download for free or at low cost to help you organize your job search. Think about making sure you can dial and receive calls, send and receive text messages, and check your email regularly.

Investment in Your Career Portfolio

5. Your executive resume. It is nearly impossible to detach sufficiently from your own career history to examine it dispassionately and thoroughly. Also, resume writing strategy is a set of technical skills that, together, translate from where you’ve been in your career to where you want to go. Hire an expert who does this type of work every day of the year–it is an investment well worth the time, effort, and financial resources you put into the process.

6. Upgraded LinkedIn account. You don’t need to advertise that you’re a job seeker with a job seeker program, unless you want to, but there are good reasons to upgrade and take advantage of the benefits that LinkedIn offers.

7. Refreshed LinkedIn profile. Hire an expert to craft your universal calling card–your LinkedIn profile. Your LinkedIn profile is the first place people look to find out more about you.

8. Career coaching. If you have less than 100% understanding of where you fit in a company or what your target industry should be, don’t skimp on good advice. Hire a certified executive resume writer and executive career coach to help steer you in the right direction.

Overall, if you can afford to invest in yourself, don’t always go with the least expensive options, as the return might not be what you need. Judge costs accordingly, and know that every cent you wisely invest into your job search will surely give you profitable dividends in the form of a rewarding career.

Image courtesy of http://all-free-download.com / anna langova

Updated July 2018.