For the past 6 years, I have been working very closely with a number of Private Equity Groups, (PEG). Many of my assignments for these clients have been for Chief Financial Officers. In every case they want a CFO who can help the business by establishing a set of relevant performance indicators which can be tracked and monitored on a routine basis. They know that by tracking the right metrics and keeping the management team focused on that data improves the likelihood of achieving their goals. I am confident that while employed, your supervisor required you to make periodic reports on certain metrics. If it works while on the job, it will surely work to help you land that next job.
Doubtless, we all agree on the importance of planning. We all know the planning cycle. Set your goals and objectives; formulate strategies; develop tactics; track your results; reassess; make adjustments. How will you know where you stand if you don’t have a scorecard? Will you know if your plan is on track, or even if it is viable? What adjustments should you make? Are you comfortable making important decisions about your career without important data? Probably not!
So, as you are developing your job search plan for 2015 consider the key metrics, performance indicators, that you believe are vital to success. Your prime objective is to land a new job. Key to landing that new job is to gain the interest of hiring managers who will invite you to interview. The metrics you will want to track are the activities you complete that move you closer to the goal, getting that interview. Some jobs are posted, so it would make sense to track resumes sent to posted jobs. As we all know, however, up to 80% of people land their new jobs via networking. If that is the case, as I believe it to be, then you will want to develop a set of metrics that track you networking efforts. Those efforts include phones calls, information interviews completed, networking meetings attended, and follow up with your network. Since social media is an important platform for job search you may well develop metrics to track your efforts on LinkedIn. Contributions to Interest Group discussions and additions to your list of connections may be appropriate.
I have also recommended that you start a blog, if you have not already, with a goal of posting once a week. This is a great strategy to promote yourself at LinkedIn or Google+ Groups. Additionally there are a vast array of Professional Associations and Groups who encourage members to post to their websites. Everyone is looking for relevant content!
You should also set goals for personal and professional development. A diet or exercise metric may be appropriate.
Tracking a handful of key metrics related to your search activities will keep you on track. Keep it simple. Pick six to eight of the activities prioritized by those you deem most important. If you need more than a 3 by 5 index card to track your metrics you probably have too many.
The best of plans are useless without accountability. There can be no accountability without measurement. So, if you want to ensure the success of your job search plans, identify the key metrics to track and do so regularly.
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Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
www.newcenturydynamics.com