I love New Year's. It's a time to bring new focus, shred the ineffective practices and go in a new direction. To make that happen, we all need some clear goals and resolutions that guide our efforts. Consider this your roadmap to a new opportunity....
1. Kill your TV
Okay, you don't have to take an ax into your living room, but be conscious of how much time you spend in front of the boob tube. TV sucks - as in "sucking up your time." If you really want to accomplish something with your job search, don't turn it on.
2. Step away from the computer...
Of course, your computer is your main source for job search activity. But it is also your playground. I know in my case, I will login to check my email, but then the Yahoo News has that compelling celebrity news... and before I know it, I just wasted 45 minutes reading about the ridiculousness. If you want your computer time to be effective, plan times away from it.
3. Join live networking groups
So if you 're not in front of the TV or the computer, what are you supposed to do all day? Get out of your house! In Denver alone, there are tons of networking groups for job seekers, businesses, professional association and so on. Make a commitment to get out of the house and around other people at least once a week. NOTE: this includes groups you join for fun! Meetup.com is a great source for new groups meeting in your area. Some groups, like the Brown Bag Job Search Group in Denver, have both a live meeting and a corresponding LinkedIn group to make the networking even easier.
4. Check your posted resumes - both for updates and for security
When was the last time you read through your resume posted on Monster, CareerBuilder or Jobing.com? Take a moment and make sure you've got your latest and greatest version loaded for easy use.
While you're at it, check your visibility settings. Resumes should be posted as "Private" - this will stop any annoying "job opportunities" like 100% sales commission job solicitations that are sent to every visible resume online.
5. Update your social media profile
While you're at it, take a critical look at your LinkedIn profile. Does your Summary start with "Results-oriented professional"? If so, change it! Social media is where people, not skill sets connect with others. Write your summary in a compelling and natural way - when somebody says "you're just like your profile!" You know you have it right.
6. Try a new job search website
Are you only using one site? Expand your view... specialty sites like Dice.com for IT jobs or Diversity.com can bring promising leads. Try Indeed.com, which pulls job postings from multiple sites, to reveal specialty sites in your industry.
7. Pick up the phone
Yes, people still do talk on the phone to do a job search. Now is a great time to re-connect with old contacts, or to ask people for more information. Want to know more about a particular company? Create a questionnaire and conduct 5-10 minute phone interviews - you may be surprised by how many people can spare 5 minutes.
8. Learn a new skill
This can be a job skill, or a skill for your job search itself. For example, I will be teaching a class on "Build an Effective Job Search Strategy." Don't just limit yourself to the "practical" skills; learn something that interests you, like cooking Indian food or knitting hats. The point is to keep your brain active and in "learning mode." When you get your next job, on-the-job training will be easier thanks to your regular mental work-outs.
9. Don't screen yourself out
Is there an opening that you'd love to try, but are missing some of the criteria? Apply anyway! Make HR be the one to cut you - don't cancel yourself out. But at the same time, make sure to get your resume directly to the hiring manager. After all, she knows exactly what she needs, and may be more understanding about a missing criteria than the HR department that is more literal.
10. Never give up
We all know the job market is tough and competitive. Job searches are taking considerably longer than before. However, treat each rejection for what it is - another step closer to the job offer.
Comments