Creating a Job Search Strategy With the Three Ps

As a seasoned career coach, I am driven to help people find jobs that “light them up.” Because of this mission many years ago, I designed a 10-step methodology to help people turn their job searches inside out and get very strategic and intentional about what companies they might want to explore during their search to find their next great career adventure.

The Three Ps is one of my favorite parts of my 10-step process and will help you become more proactive about your job search. With this approach, you will not be waiting for a position to open or scouring the job openings online, praying for a match as in a traditional job search. Instead, you will create a list targeting exactly which company you would like to work for next. This takes time and intentionality but is very much worth the effort. This is an exercise that will help you start to design your future and create more clarity and direction to take you towards exactly what you are looking for, maybe even something better than you thought!

The first thing to do as you are creating the target list of companies that you are interested in is to keep an open mind and start with a very robust list. Write down every company you can think of that you might want to work for; you will have time to narrow it down later as you gather more information about each organization on your list.

This will help you identify companies or organizations that you may have admired for a while or that you may have recently found intriguing. The next step of this process will involve a fair amount of research to determine which companies you are connected to, who you are connected to at those companies, and the organizations that are worth pursuing.

Research which companies might be the right cultural fit for you. Are they known for quality of life, collaboration, or being listed as a top place to work in the categories that are important to you? It takes some time, but it’s worth the effort, especially as you start seeing your connections and having meaningful conversations.

You alone know the timetable you are working with, so don’t rush this. Take your time and have some fun with this; it’s a research project that has the potential to put you onto a new trajectory for your future.

As you populate this list of companies, you will see that once the list is in place and you start having conversations, you can envision a whole new world of potential.

This target list will also set you up to have conversations with the right people in the right places, even before there is a job opening, thus being ahead of the game. This is key: you want to be connected even before there is an opening and build relationships with people at these organizations as a part of your trusted network. That way, once you’re connected in a meaningful way, you have the potential to be top of mind when the “perfect” job opens.

As you create this list, it is important to consider why you would like to work at a particular organization now. Once you have made the list, transfer it to a spreadsheet on your computer that can become a working document that you can share as needed. It will become an important tool for you to track your meetings, conversations, and interviews.

Once the list is populated, you can determine how to reach out and have a meaningful conversation with someone who works for each company on your list.

Here’s how to get started: The target company list will be divided into three categories/columns: your usual prospects, your pivot companies, and the companies you are passionate about.

The (Usual) Prospects

Under the usual prospects column, you will list any organization or company that feels like a natural fit for you. This could include a competitor in the same industry, a related space, or even a company where you have worked in the past. This is the easiest and most logical place.

Start your target list because it is likely the most obvious and familiar. For example, if you work for a tech company, you will populate this category with other tech companies. Include any tech company that you would like to work for, or that feels like a good fit for you. Look at your main competitors in the space and examine whether you would like to work for any of them, and if not, move on to the next.

The Pivots

A pivot is a conscious change in strategy to a different industry, a different role, or a complete change into a new field. It does take a little more thought, introspection, and effort than a prospect, but it’s worth it, especially when you’re ready for a change and need something new in your life. These are companies or organizations that you may have admired for a while or have a new interest in. Where could you transfer your existing skills into a slightly different industry or organization? This is a great opportunity to research the best companies to work for in your geographical area. If you’re seeking a new job, it means you’re ready for a change for whatever reason, so it’s worth exploring new possibilities.

While it may take you a little bit outside of your comfort zone, it might just be the perfect stepping stone to what might be next for you!

The Passions

This is my favorite part and the most fun category to think about of the Three Ps: exploring your passions! Under your “passions” column, you will want to include companies that align with your passions or that might enable you to do something that you are truly passionate about. In my experience, when we move through the exploration of your passions, it is so exciting to see all of the possibilities as they unfold, sometimes with opportunities you never even thought about. Get creative, explore all of the options, and think about your passions, hobbies, and the things people come to you for naturally to populate in this category. Allow yourself to dream big!

You alone know what will light you up and make you want to go to work every day, and this is your opportunity to expand your network into places that might be able to offer you that! We all have our own paths and our journeys to take, and this is yours. Take your time and enjoy the ride!

Keep going. Have patience as you explore this list and don’t give up, your next opportunity might be right around the corner.