Raise your virtual hand if you’ve read the book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey? It’s considered a classic – among the top productivity books ever.

So what would be the seven habits of highly effective job seekers?

I read Covey’s book many years ago and it amazes me how the seven habits fit almost everything – including landing a job.

So, let’s apply Covey’s seven habits to your job search.

Habit 1: Be Proactive

Don’t let your job search happen to you – you should to happen to it. Don’t wait for job openings.

Build up your connections, your network. Create proactive job seeking tools like resumes, postcards, letters of introduction and send them to offices. Create videos, articles, and other content that you can share on social media begin building a reputation for yourself.

Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind

Define your dream job. Where is it? What type of work will you be doing? How will that job help you springboard to the next?

Know what you want so you can avoid chasing what you don’t want. Don’t apply for jobs that are problematic or compromise your vision. Jobs you apply for should align with your goals and ideals. They should serve the purpose of getting you incrementally to where you want to be.

Habit 3: Put First Things First

Look after your overall wellness. If you are compromised in your personal life – emotionally or physically – focus on you first.

Landing a job takes time, preparation, patience, and focus. If you lack any of that your chances of success are diminished and you risk further health decline.

Everyone goes through tough times. Maybe all you need is a week or a few months away from the search. But recognize and take care of it, then return ready to hit it hard.

Habit 4: Think Win-Win

Too often job seekers forget that employers have specific needs, too. Offer yourself up as a win or solution to their problem.

Acknowledge their problem in your resume, cover letter, and other materials you use to market yourself that you are the solution.

They need you as much as you need them, you just have to articulate that in a way that convinces them.

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood

The only way you are going to understand what their “problem” is (see habit four) is to do some homework.

It may seem the answer to their problem is to fill an opening. However, all hiring employees have a framework or type of person in mind. They want a specific personality, a unique skill set of identifiable traits.

Study the job announcement carefully, visit their website and social media pages, talk to people that know their office. Gather this information so you can speak their language and show you truly understand what they need.

Habit 6: Synergize

Read articles, talk to mentors, hire a job hunting coach, get help with your resume or other materials. Sure, you can go it alone if you want, but studies show those that get outside help get to where they want to be and they do it faster.

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw

Realize that each day is filled with ups and downs. Similar to Habit 3, you need to continually do things to help you get through the low points.

Could be physical exercise, shopping with a friend, going to Church – anything that will help renew and refresh your overall outlook.

That will project in how you interact with employers. They will see your optimism, confidence, and determination and seek to have you join their team.

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Doug Perry is an expert resume writer and job search coach. He and his wife, Tracie, who is a dental hygienist, created GetHiredRDH in response to the challenging dental hygiene job market and have helped thousands of dental hygienists through tips and individual services. If you need individual, click here to contact Doug.