“Working Strategies: Job search requires daily action plan” plus 1 more |
| Working Strategies: Job search requires daily action plan Posted: 09 Mar 2011 12:47 PM PST For the AJC Is it possible to get a job in three months in this economy? The answer depends on so many variables, it's hard to say "yes" with confidence. Even so ... I'm going to do just that. And then I'm going to lay down a challenge to all job-seekers within the sound of my keyboard to secure an offer by June 21, the official start of summer. Why summer? By some accounts this is an awkward time to start a new job, what with the kids home from school and the competition from college students. And some would argue that companies slow down their hiring then, or that summer is their least favorite time to be at work. The thing is, there's going to be something "wrong" with any season if you think about it, so one of my first edicts for this job search challenge is to stop thinking. When it comes to a job search, too much thinking leads to living in one's head. I have known job-seekers to delay making calls because they imagine the other person is in meetings, or that he or she is overwhelmed because it's Monday or exhausted because it's Friday. Pretty soon an entire week has passed with no calls made, but lots of thought on the subject. Hence, the first rule of this job search is to do more acting than thinking. Rule No. 2 is to create a schedule that emphasizes daily productivity, which leads to rule No. 3: Take no days off from the search, even if you're not feeling well or get an "emergency" request from a friend. When these things happen, ask yourself: Would I have stayed home from work for this? If the answer is no, you need to stick to your job search. That said, you do get to stop at the end of the workday, and take the weekends for yourself. The goal is not to work to exhaustion at this, but to work productively every day, no exceptions. I'm not being sarcastic when I say that this is a project, not a lifestyle. You're trying to finish the project, not make it more bearable by doling it out in small parts. So those are the rules; now for the steps. In the next week, you have some preparation to do, so you can jump in with both feet on March 21, the first full day of spring. That will give you three full months, and a very symbolic "new start in the springtime" besides. To prepare for the new start, you need to: a) evaluate your past process to identify what has worked and what hasn't; b) create your daily action plan, including quotas. To evaluate your past search, start with troubleshooting: Are you getting interviews but no offers? You may need to increase the number of interviews in order to improve the odds of getting an offer. Or you may need to improve your interview performance. Perhaps you're not getting interviews. That suggests you're going for the wrong jobs, using the wrong resume, not reaching the right people, or not reaching enough people. If you have absolutely no idea what's wrong or what to do about it, it's time to see a job search strategist to get some advice. Let's assume for the sake of this 90-day challenge that you have a job goal, a resume that demonstrates your ability to perform that job, and a reasonable hope of telling your story once you get an interview. Those are your basic ingredients for a job search. Now it's time for the action plan, which I will outline in next week's column. I might as well tell you right now that this plan is all about getting on the phone and going out the door to connect with employers directly. If you think that won't work, ask yourself if you have evidence that it doesn't. Because I have two decades of experience with job-seekers to tell me that it does. Assuming you're willing to give this a try, you can prepare by developing a list of at least 50 companies within commuting range that could conceivably use a person in the position you are seeking. To find 50, you may have to check phone books, trade groups, chambers of commerce, or even drive your territory with a clipboard. Small or large, they all go on the list. Important: Do not make any assumptions, including whether the company is hiring, pays enough or offers benefits. Such assumptions fall under the category of thinking too much, and you know which rule that breaks. Ready, set, go -- I'll see you back here in a week. Amy Lindgren owns Prototype Career Service. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecareerservice.com or at 626 Armstrong Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
| Job-Search Lessons From American Idol Posted: 09 Mar 2011 06:19 AM PST  Miriam Salpeter If you ever take a break from your job hunt to watch American Idol, it's time to connect the dots. No doubt a show that's about winning the ultimate career break for a singer—a recording contract—holds some important lessons for job seekers. So after you vote for your favorite singer this week, consider these essential lessons gleaned from one of America's favorite television shows: [See 10 Ways to Use Social Media in Your Job Search.] Self-awareness is key. Have you watched the audition shows? Granted, some people try out just to get on television; they know that the worse their audition, the more likely they are to grab 15 minutes of fame—even if it is at the expense of their credibility. However, it seems some of the contestants who have really terrible voices and no chance to win a ticket to "Hollywood" are delusional about their abilities and don't realize their skills won't cut it. It's easy to laugh or joke about people who are trying out for something they will never win, but be sure that isn't you. Are you "auditioning" for jobs you don't really have the skills or experience to do? Reaching for a job you do have the skills to accomplish is worthwhile, but chasing after opportunities you're not qualified to earn wastes your time. If you have been unsuccessful, but haven't already asked for an outside opinion about your job hunt, reach out to some professionals in your targeted field and ask them if they honestly believe you have what it takes to get hired. [See How to Get a Job When You Lack Experience.] Rehearse. How many of these American Idol contestants forget the lyrics when it's their turn to impress? Certainly, nerves play a role, but you don't want that to be your problem when you get your big interview break. Practice answering the question, "Why should we hire you?" in many different ways; it's the question at the root of all interview inquiries. No, you don't need to memorize answers to interview questions, but practicing your replies always helps. Consider preparing several stories to describe when you succeeded, a time you worked in a team, and examples of obstacles you've overcome at work, including working with difficult people. Be able to explain the situation, task, action, and result involved with your interviewer. A little preparation goes a long way. Learn from past mistakes and be yourself. It's easy to wonder why these new contestants haven't learned a lot from watching past shows. Many seem to make the same mistakes as prior contestants. An oft-repeated judges' comment to Idol contestants? "Who are you? What are you trying to be?" Last week's episode featured judges reminding singers, "Karaoke isn't going to cut it. Don't be a poor imitation of someone else." Viewers may remember this refrain from previous seasons; why aren't new contestants learning from past mistakes? Trying to imitate a song someone else made famous probably won't help these aspiring Idols excel and achieve their dreams. Judges admonish them to "make it their own—do something different with it." [For more career advice, visit U.S. News Careers, or find us on Facebook or Twitter.] Similarly, when looking for a job, you can't expect to succeed by copying another job seeker's work—a sample resume, for example, or a friend's materials. Effective job search requires candidates figure out what they offer in terms of what their target employers want; trying to imitate or be someone else will not help you land opportunities. Just as an amateur Idol singing a Michael Jackson song sounds like a poor imitation of the original, a job seeker who hasn't invested the time and effort to make sure his or her materials are authentic and resonate with targeted employers will fall similarly short. Lucky for job seekers, unlike on American Idol, there's more than one winner in the job-hunt game. Learn from these lessons, and you'll be well on your way to a job where a boss is singing your praises. Miriam Salpeter is a job search and social media consultant, career coach, author, speaker, resume writer and owner of Keppie Careers. She teaches job seekers and entrepreneurs how to incorporate social media tools along with traditional strategies to empower their success. Connect with her via Twitter @Keppie_Careers. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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