Job Search Strategy and Resources: How to Make A Job Search Plan in 7 Steps

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Take control of your job search with these tips, strategies, and resources for each stage of your career move.

[FEATURED IMAGE] An interviewee hands their resume to a hiring manager as they embark on a job search.

Key takeaways

  • The best job search strategy for you depends on your desired role and background, but generally includes strengthening your resume through targeted updates, networking, building a portfolio to showcase your experience, and earning credentials like certificates to help you stand out.

  • You can make a job search plan by clearly defining your target, researching in-demand roles related to your goal, tailoring your resume to align with qualifications, identifying skill gaps to fill with certificates or online courses, crafting a cover letter template you can easily customize to support each application, reaching out to the contacts in your network and beyond, and preparing for interviews (even if you haven't landed any yet!)

Explore key strategies and helpful resources as you prepare for a job search. If you’re ready for a new role, consider enrolling in Google's Accelerate Your Job Search with AI Specialization. You’ll have the chance to learn how to identify your skills, develop your resume, and prepare for interviews in as little as eight hours. By the end, you’ll have gained in-depth knowledge to prepare for your next interview.

How to make a job search plan (step-by-step)

Looking for a guide you can download to reference later or print for desk reference? Check out How to Plan Your Job Search. The next few sections go into detail about each step of the process, plus provide links to other helpful resources and guides you can use when you get stuck.

Step 1. Define your target

A clear target helps you search faster, tailor your resume more effectively, and focus your energy on roles that actually fit. Get clear on what you want to pursue. You do not need to map out your entire career, but you do need enough direction to focus your search and make better decisions about where to apply.

  • Pick 1 to 3 job titles that match your skills or interests

  • Choose the industries or types of companies you want to target

  • Decide whether you want remote, hybrid, or on-site work

  • Set a salary range that makes sense for your needs and experience

  • Write down your must-haves, such as schedule

  • Review job postings to see what qualifications and responsibilities come up most often

Resources for defining your job search goal:

Find a career that works for you.

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Step 2. Tailor your resume

Before you start applying, make sure your resume reflects the kind of role you want now, not just the jobs you have had in the past. A strong update is not just about fixing formatting. It is about making your experience easier for employers to understand and more relevant to the roles you plan to pursue.

Start by reviewing requirements for the roles you're interested in

Start by looking at several postings for the roles you want. This will help you understand what employers are asking for and what language they use to describe the work.

  • Read multiple job descriptions for each role you are targeting

  • Look for skills, tools, and responsibilities that appear repeatedly

  • Note the qualifications you already have

  • Identify any gaps you may want to address through training, projects, or certificates

  • Save a few postings that feel like a strong match so you can use them as reference points

Tips for updating your resume

Once you know what employers are looking for, revise your resume so it clearly shows why you are a fit. Focus on relevance, clarity, and specific examples of your work.

  • Update your resume summary to better reflect your current target

  • Revise your bullet points to highlight relevant skills and accomplishments

  • Use keywords from job postings where they apply naturally to strengthen your performance with applicant tracking systems (ATS)

  • Add measurable results when possible

  • Remove older or less relevant details that do not support your current goal

  • Make sure your formatting is clean, consistent, and easy to scan

A targeted resume does not need to be completely rewritten for every role, but it should be updated with your goals in mind and adjusted when needed. Here's a roundup of resources you can rely on for additional guidance:

Resources for reviewing job openings and updating your resume

Refreshing your references

Employers often ask for a list of references—former colleagues or managers, professors, clients, or personal connections—who can speak to your skills, accomplishments, and character. Learn more about who to request as a reference (and how to ask them):

Step 3. Build or refine your portfolio

If your field uses portfolios, make sure yours is ready before you start applying. Employers may use it to quickly assess your skills, your experience, and the quality of your work.

  • Include examples that match the type of role you want

  • Choose work that shows your process, not just the final result

  • Add short descriptions that explain the goal, your role, and the outcome

  • Remove older samples that no longer reflect your current skills

  • Make sure links work and the portfolio is easy to navigate

Your portfolio does not need to be perfect. It just needs to show relevant, polished work that supports your application.

Resources for building your portfolio

Step 4. Set aside time weekly to accomplish a few small job search goals

A job search can get overwhelming fast if you do not break it into manageable pieces. Weekly goals can help you stay consistent, make progress you can measure, and avoid putting all your energy into one part of the process.

  • Set a target number of jobs to apply to each week

  • Set a weekly networking goal, such as reaching out to a few contacts or attending an event

  • Make time for application tasks, like tailoring your resume or writing cover letters

  • Build in time to prepare for interviews, even before you have one scheduled

  • Review your progress at the end of the week and adjust if needed

The goal is not to hit a perfect number every time. It is to create a routine you can keep up with.

Step 5. Network mindfully

Networking can help you learn more about a role, make useful connections, and hear about opportunities before they are widely shared.

  • Reach out to people you already know, such as former coworkers, managers, classmates, professors, mentors, or friends

  • Be specific about what you are looking for, such as the job titles, industry, or type of company you are targeting

  • Ask for insight, not just leads. For example, you might ask what skills are most important in a role or how someone broke into the field

  • Request short informational conversations if someone has experience that is relevant to your goals

  • Follow up with a thank-you message and keep in touch if the conversation was helpful

For example, you could send a message like: “Hi Maya, I’m currently looking for content marketing roles and saw that you’ve worked in the field for several years. If you have time, I’d love to hear how you got started and whether there’s anything you think employers are looking for right now.”

Networking does not have to mean asking strangers for jobs. It often starts with a simple, thoughtful message to someone who may be able to offer perspective.

Step 6. Prepare for interviews

Don't wait until you get an interview to start preparing. A little practice now can help you feel more confident, give clearer answers, and respond more effectively when opportunities come up quickly.

  • Practice answering common questions like “Tell me about yourself” and “Why are you interested in this role?”

  • Prepare a few examples that show your skills, results, and problem-solving

  • Review your resume so you can talk about your experience clearly and consistently

  • Research the company and role before each interview

  • Prepare a few thoughtful questions to ask at the end

For example, you might prepare one story about solving a problem, one about working with others, and one about handling a challenge. These examples can often be adapted across different interviews. The goal is not to memorize perfect answers. It is to be ready to speak clearly about your experience and interest.

Resources for general interview prep

Resources for industry-specific interview prep

Step 7. Apply strategically

Once you have found roles that fit, start applying. Sending out a high number of applications can feel productive, but be sure to prioritize roles that match your target and submit materials that are tailored and complete.

  • Apply to roles that align with your skills, experience, and goals

  • Follow the application instructions carefully

  • Include all required materials, such as your resume, cover letter, and portfolio link if needed

  • Double-check names, dates, links, and attachments before submitting

  • Keep track of where you applied and any follow-up steps

For example, if a role asks for a resume and writing samples, make sure both are included and clearly labeled. If the posting highlights a few specific qualifications, make sure those are easy to spot in your application.

Where to begin: Tips for choosing a career path

Whether you’re entering the job market for the first time or considering a switch to a new role or industry, you’ve got options. Explore in-demand, high-paying jobs based on your desired lifestyle, degree, or target industry with the resources below.

If you've read the above articles and are still unsure which career you'd like to pursue, you might consider taking a career quiz online. Career quizzes can be a great way to brainstorm ideas, but remember that the advice given is limited and impersonal.

Free job search resources

Feeling stuck? You have the tools to get moving again. Coursera's Career Resource Hub offers a powerful collection of free job search resources designed to support you whether you're starting out, switching fields, or aiming for a promotion:

- Industry-specific interview prep to ace your toughest questions

- Custom study guides for today's most in-demand skills

- Career quizzes for finding your ideal role (or the skills you'll need to get there)

- Cheat sheets and topic glossaries to support your independent study

- Career path maps to visualize your opportunities

- Career transition guides for making a smooth and successful change

How to get your first job

A first job represents an opportunity to gain work experience and build skills you can take with you in your future career. These positions are often called "entry-level" or "junior" roles.

Look for jobs that leverage your degree

If you already have a degree—or are in the process of earning one—consider these jobs that might align with your degree level or area of study:

How to get a job without a degree

How to change careers

We change careers for various reasons: the desire for a new challenge, more advancement opportunities, a bigger paycheck, or a better work-life balance, among them. Regardless of when or why you choose to change careers, a shift calls for thoughtful planning.

Browse in-demand career paths

In these career fields, job candidates with the right skills are often in demand and paid well for their expertise. Start here to learn more about some of these lucrative industries: 

How to apply for jobs online: Job search sites

With so many job search sites, it can be difficult to choose one or keep up with several. Here's a list of five of the top job search engines, according to Money [1]:

  1. LinkedIn

  2. Indeed

  3. Glassdoor

  4. Simpify

  5. ZipRecruiter

You might also consider job search websites geared toward specific industries. For example, Dice is an excellent platform for connecting to tech jobs.

If you've completed a Google Career Certificate on Coursera, you've gained access to the Google Hiring Consortium!

By subscribing to Career Chat, our weekly LinkedIn newsletter, you can stay updated on career trends and tips. You can also check out these free resources as you plan your next move:

Whether you want to develop a new skill, get comfortable with an in-demand technology, or advance your abilities, keep growing with a Coursera Plus subscription. You’ll get access to over 10,000 flexible courses. 

Article sources

  1. Money. "5 Best Job Search Sites of October 2025, https://money.com/best-job-search-sites/." Accessed June 22, 2025.

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