Five Tips to Get Right and Ready and Make Finding a Job YOUR #1 Job
As I write this, today is Memorial Day, and while part of what we are supposed to do is reflect upon those who have loved us and protected us, another part is definitely to reflect upon whether or not we have created a memorable life. That is not always easy to do when things are getting harder and harder. What started as a mere warning on a distant shore about the economy, may now be a very frightening reality for you who read this blog. It’s no joke that we have to work infinitely harder to create a memorable existence when our day-to-day lives are threatened by economic uncertainty.
This is why you must make FINDING a job your job right now. It’s too easy to have the attitude of ten years ago and perhaps think the following thoughts. “I’ll go on unemployment.” “I needed a break anyway.” Or to think of a job loss as a stepping stone to a better salary. Believe me, THIS is the wrong economy to allow any of those ideas to take root in your brain. The truth is that none of us can afford to miss a beat right now. Here are the five building blocks of ANY good job search. (For those of you who are available, I also cover this and many other similar topics during my BlogTalkRadio Show on Monday evenings at 5:30 Eastern Daylight Time. You will also find a downloadable history of all of my shows for your convenience.)
Okay, here are my five tips:
Tip Number 1: Have a good cry. There’s no denying that losing a job we loved will be difficult. We make friends, we have a vision of our future, and we devote ourselves to everything around us. Even a job we DON’T LIKE provides us with a paycheck for crying out loud, and it’s not a joke when that’s taken away. So give yourself one good day to grieve. Pour your heart out. But that’s it. There simply isn’t TIME to process this in the way you probably need to. Believe me, you can come back to it later and work through your feelings. For right now, however, you have to dry your tears – or your anger, dust yourself and get ready.
Tip Number 2: Be ready. Get out your resume and update it. Customize it for every ad and interview. Remember, companies now use automated scanners to search for key words, so you want to use as many of their own words from the ad as possible. Whatever you do, get your resume ready! It is your project for this week – and if you’re out of work, it is your project for this DAY. Remember, make Finding a Job Your JOB right now. And make SURE that you you’re your resume with you every moment of every day. If you’re going to the beach with friends, have one in your beach bag. Why? Because the president of Coca Cola and the CEO of P&G also go to the beach. Don’t miss out on a chance meeting or unexpected opportunity.
Tip Number 3: DON’T Delay! The most important thing you can do if you’re out of work is BE LOOKING FOR A JOB. No days off. No breaks. Finding a job DOES NOT TAKE A DAY OFF. Now that doesn’t mean that you don’t eat, sleep, or take a leisurely walk with your kids. It DOES mean that every single day you reach out to connections in your industry, check the job boards and send out a few resumes or inquiries.
Tip Number 4: The schmooze. Those coming out of the sales industry will be all too familiar with The Schmooze. That’s where you reach out, butter up your contact and create a warm environment to sell your product. The difference right now is that your product is YOU. Be ready to offer your elevator speech at the drop of a hat – that’s a QUICK, 60-second spiel about how useful you are and your BEST assets to a company or team. You LITERALLY want to have this written down and memorized. If it’s more than 60 seconds, shorten it. Why? Because it’s easy to sound boastful and/or boring. Sixty seconds should be enough.
My final Tip is Tip #5: Connections. Quite simply, unless you start your own company, you won’t find a job in a vacuum. Reach out to old employers, former colleagues, friends, fans and family and let EVERYONE know that you’re looking for your next opportunity. If someone offers you a project or two on a temporary basis, TAKE IT. Why? You will make CONNECTIONS. You will meet people and SHOW them what you’re made of.
Need a few more connections? Get online! Post your resume everywhere. Put up some great, professional profiles on places like Linkedin and Ecademy. Right a few online articles in your area of expertise for article servers, such as EzineArticles.com. Why is this important? Because there’s a pretty good chance that your potential employer will Google you, and it will definitely impress them to see that you’re an expert in your field!
So there it is! This isn’t everything you need to know to find that next opportunity, but they are definitely five building blocks you MUST have to get started.
To your continued success,
Catherine Palmiere, CEIC, CPBA, CPCC, CPC, CTS, CSS
mailto:cpalmiere@adampersonnel.com