Last time, I explained the overview of my job search based on my own experience.

This time, I'd like to explain the things you need to do and the things you need for a job change.

In reality, even if you don't know anything about the process or what needs to be done, you can find all the necessary information on a company's mid-career recruitment website.

If you register on a job search website, you'll most likely be assigned a consultant or agent who can provide you with all the necessary information. Registering on job search websites used to be a bit of a hassle back in my day, as you'd have to submit a resume and other documents, but it seems to be much easier now.

While it's possible to proceed with job hunting without knowing anything about it, actively pursuing a job change and applying to several companies simultaneously means you may not have much time to prepare thoroughly. Therefore, it's important to understand the process and what needs to be done beforehand and prepare accordingly.

This time, we'll look at what you need to do to start your job search.

Things to do to start your job search (minimum requirements)

First, let's summarize the minimum necessary steps to take before going through the selection process for a new job.

The next necessary action is...

If you do the things listed above, you can start your job search.

From here on, once you've decided which companies you want to apply to and actually submitted your applications, the selection process will proceed (it generally starts with a document screening).

However, the points listed above are the bare minimum, so relying solely on them will make it difficult to choose a company that suits you or to gain an advantage in the selection process.

Therefore, based on my own experience, I will introduce some things that are good to do in addition to the bare minimum.

Recommended steps to take when starting your job search.

From here on, I'll introduce the minimum necessary steps, as well as some things I recommend based on my own experience.

1. Self-analysis (specifying the motivation for changing jobs)

While most commonly recommended self-analysis methods focus on identifying your strengths and weaknesses, the type of self-analysis I recommend is different.

My recommended method of self-analysis"Analyzing the feelings behind wanting to change jobs"I will focus on that.

At this stage, I recommend being as honest as possible with your feelings and analyzing the situation accordingly.

For example, I'll list things that you wouldn't normally tell others, such as the following.

I'll list all sorts of trivial things, no matter how silly they may seem. I'll even list embarrassing things that I can't tell anyone.

The important thing in this self-analysis is"Clearly define what you want to solve through your job search."Is important.

If you focus too much on analyzing your strengths and weaknesses, or your skills and techniques, at this stage, you'll only end up seeing companies that seem easy to get into with your current abilities. This will obscure what you truly want to solve and what you want to change through a job change, rendering your job change meaningless.

Therefore, the self-analysis I recommend involves organizing your honest feelings. The key point at this stage is to completely avoid thinking about your abilities or skills (as this will limit your potential).

However, if you have a clear career advancement plan, I don't think you need to do this (for example, if you have a clear idea of ​​the company you want to work for from the time you graduate).

Detailed instructions, tips, useful tools, and summarization methods will be explained in more detail in later articles (it's important to understand the overview first).

Also, depending on the results of this analysis of your feelings, it might be possible to resolve the issue by talking to upper management at your current company without having to change jobs.

In such cases, it's possible to choose not to force yourself to change jobs.

2. Setting Objectives and Goals (Determining the Focus of Your Job Search)

While goal setting is generally introduced and often involves determining career plans and job change dates, the purpose-goal setting I recommend is different.

At this stage, the important thing is to focus on how to achieve the "problems you want to solve and the things you want to change from your current situation" that you identified through self-analysis.

In practice, when setting objectives and goals, you consider the conditions necessary to solve the problems that emerged from your self-analysis (gradually breaking them down into requirements).

First, we'll define our goals and, based on the results of our self-analysis, determine how to solve the problems we face.

The important thing here, just like with self-analysis, is to completely avoid thinking about your own abilities or skills. If you think too much about your abilities, the solutions you can come up with will be limited, and the real problem you want to solve will be hidden.

またGoal setting generally involves setting a schedule and deadline.However, at this stage, it's best not to think about dates or deadlines. For most people, what they want to achieve with a job change is "solving current problems and changing the current situation," not "changing jobs by XXXX/XX/XX."

Moreover, unlike the mass recruitment of new graduates, job changes are handled by individual companies, so there's no need to rush.

Next, we'll make the ideas we came up with during the objective setting phase more specific and turn them into goals.

Setting goals in this way is not only helpful in clarifying your own objectives, but it is also useful because it provides a guideline for what you are looking for in a new job, that is, when choosing which companies to apply to from the job postings.

Setting goals in advance improves the efficiency of registering on job sites and meeting with recruiters and agents.

This goal-setting process is logically linked to self-analysis, so if you set goals for your job change, you can achieve the "things you want to change about yourself."

This is an overview of setting objectives and goals.

Detailed instructions, tips, useful tools, and organization methods will be explained in more detail in later articles (it's important to understand the overview first).

I've written about the process up to this point in my job search overview, so please take a look if you're interested.

3. Inventory of skills and techniques

The skills and techniques I recommend for inventorying are pretty much the same as what's generally recommended.

So, I'll omit the details here, but the content will summarize what I can do, what I've learned, and my strengths.

This task is highly recommended as it will be extremely helpful in creating your resume.

In actual work, the process involves going back and forth between inventorying skills and techniques and creating a resume (almost simultaneously).

The key to this method is using various charts and graphs, but I will explain the detailed method, tips, and useful tools in detail in a later article (it's important to understand the overview first).

4. Self-introduction materials (my personal marketing)

Next, I recommend creating materials for your self-introduction.

Self-introduction materials are generally not a detailed item in job-hunting guides, but I think they are quite important.

fundamentallyThe company's selection process is based on your statement of purpose and work history. However, since all candidates are under the same conditions, it's difficult to make a significant difference based solely on these two factors.(Obviously, the selection process is competitive.)

Furthermore, competition already exists at the stage of using job placement services before the selection process even begins. Since job placement services are basically for-profit companies, it is natural that they want to maximize their profits, and job openings are preferentially introduced to people who are more likely to pass the selection process.

In other words, Even within job placement services, the same kind of competition occurs as in the selection process at individual companies.

Creating and submitting self-promotion materials is a powerful tool for gaining an advantage in these competitive situations.

Furthermore, unlike the hiring process for new graduates, the hiring rules and procedures for job changes are not strictly defined, so employers usually accept and carefully review documents other than the required ones (in my experience, I have never seen them rejected).

Job hunting doesn't necessarily have to be confined to a rigid mold, so I think you should do everything you can.

The specific method for creating self-promotion materials involves taking stock of your skills and technical abilities, and using your resume as a base to create a presentation-style PowerPoint presentation.

The actual detailed methods, tips, and useful tools will be explained in detail in later articles (it's important to understand the overview first).

These are the absolute minimum steps I recommend you take.

Recommended items to start your job search

This section will introduce the things you need to start your job search.

Most of these items are things you'd likely already own if you're working, but since company-issued PCs and printers aren't available for use, I've compiled a list.

Mobile phone or smartphone

I think almost everyone in modern society owns this, but I'll write it down just in case.

When changing jobs, all communication with recruitment services and companies you're interviewing with will be through your personal phone number and email address (obviously, your own company won't go through at all).

To give an exampleDuring the job search process, you're essentially selling yourself as a self-employed individual, so a phone number and email address are essential.

Internet environment

In today's job market, everything from using job placement services to going through the selection process for mid-career hires at companies is done via websites, making it essential.

Also, since job search services and company communication involve frequent exchange of documents as well as emails, I think a solid internet connection is necessary (though perhaps using your mobile phone carrier's data plan might suffice).

Well, I think most people have internet access these days, so it shouldn't be a problem.

Lightweight mobile PC (A4 notebook)

I think many people own a PC, but since there might be some people who only use smartphones or tablets these days, I'll write about that as well.

My top recommendation is definitely a mobile PC with a reasonably long battery life and a larger screen, rather than a desktop computer.

The reason is that implementing the tasks listed in this article will involve handling a lot of text and diagrams (and naturally, using company-issued equipment will likely get you caught).

moreoverThe reason for recommending mobile over desktop is that it can be used in meetings with recruitment service representatives and agents, as well as in company selection interviews. A helpful way to think about it is to view the selection interview as a business meeting where you can sell yourself.

Therefore, when I was looking for a new job, I always carried a mobile PC with me and would show things directly to potential employers on it, or project them onto a monitor if one was available (I also used videos).

またCreating documents and materials for your job search cannot be done during work hours and must be done in limited time outside of work (and it takes quite a bit of time). Therefore, I strongly recommend a mobile PC because you will need to make time to work on them while commuting, out and about, or even in bed before going to sleep.

While A4 notebooks are generally recommended, B5 size is also an option for thicker, heavier laptops.

The PC I fought through (FMV UH series)

Thickness

Since I'll be carrying it around quite a bit and doing more work outside, something lightweight with a long battery life would be convenient. Alternatively, if you can use Office and a keyboard, a tablet might also be an option.

Fujitsu FMV UH series
This is the series I used during my job search. Its main features are its lightweight and thin design. Amazon didn't have the UH series.

Panasonic Let's Note series
I used this at work. Its main feature is its sturdiness. However, it might not be very compact. The links include both new and used items.

Lenovo ThinkPad series
I used this at work. It's good value for money. Its distinguishing features are its sturdiness and slightly heavy feel.

The product links are for random models, but prices vary depending on the specifications of each series, so you should decide based on your required specifications (ability to browse the internet, run Office smoothly, preferred weight and size, etc.) and budget (used laptops from one or two generations ago are also recommended).

Mobile PCs can be expensive, but if you don't need it, you might want to budget for it with the intention of selling it after your job search is over.

To reiterate, unlike hiring new graduates, there are no rules when changing jobs, so as long as the other party doesn't reject you, you should use whatever you have at your disposal.

Color printer (minimum A4 size printing)

I think a color printer that can print on paper is practically essential.

Even with the increasing digitalization of the world, there are still many occasions when job hunting documents need to be viewed on paper.

Furthermore, based on my own experience, during company job interviews, all the interviewers present have color copies of the materials they've prepared and refer to them as the interview progresses.Therefore, it is essential to make color copies of your documents yourself before submitting them to the company to check how they will look.

Naturally, copying documents at my own company is far too risky, and using a printing service is extremely inefficient (the process of printing, checking, correcting, and reprinting would be repeated many times).

The printer I fought through to the end (Epson Colorio, multifunction printer)

Therefore, I think a color printer is necessary (resolution isn't important, so a cheap one will suffice).

Epson Colorio series
This is the one I use. I don't really know its features. I'm recommending a multifunction printer, but I don't think it necessarily has to be one (although it is convenient).

Canon PIXMA series
I used to use one myself. I don't really know its features. While it's recommended as a multifunction printer, I don't think it necessarily has to be one (though it is convenient).

If you've finished your job search and no longer need the printer, you should factor that into your budget.

Microsoft Office

Since the documents required for job hunting are basically created using Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, I think Microsoft Office is essential.

While job placement services don't specify document formats by each company, it's generally understood that using Microsoft Office is the norm.

Based on my own experience, I've used office software at companies all over the world, including in Japan.

Also, I don't recommend using office-compatible software, including free versions, because bugs can occur during the conversion process.

・Microsoft Office 365
It's essential. However, you can choose between a one-year license or a perpetual license based on your general plans. Personally, I recommend the perpetual license as it's always beneficial to have.

PDF conversion software like Acrobat

Documents and materials used in job applications are created and submitted using Microsoft Office, but sometimes they are submitted as PDFs to prevent the recipient from altering the content (although generally, there are no unscrupulous people who would do that).

The process is simple; just install the free Acrobat Reader.

Link to Acrobat Reader (free version)

These are the things I recommend you have for your job search.

Summary

This is getting a bit long, but I'll summarize it.

First, here are the steps I recommend you take to begin your job search.

will be important.

The next necessary steps are as follows:

Next, here are the things you'll need for your job search.

will be important.

Once you've completed these preparations and actions, the next step is to actually look at job postings, apply to companies you're interested in, and begin the selection process.

This information should be sufficient to get you through the initial document screening stage.

It's tough because you have to do a lot of things while still working your current job, and there are many things you need to do, but unlike new graduate recruitment, you don't have to do it within a fixed time frame, so I recommend taking it little by little and proceeding in a way that you are satisfied with (don't rush, and make sure you are satisfied).

Regarding the timeline, you might be stressed out at your current job, or feel pressured by the recruitment service staff and agents, but I think you shouldn't worry about it (similar job openings often come around and reappear).

Next time, I'd like to explain the entire job search process, from the basics of what you need to do to start your job search to the selection process itself.

Thank you for your time.