Blog Post: A job search is not a walk in the park...

Or for the faint of heart.  It takes perseverance, optimism and complete faith in your abilities.  This is hard for us mere mortals to maintain in regular life, and is a true test of one's abilities in a prolonged job search.

In working with many people, these are some of the traps we can easily fall into:

There are no jobs, so why bother?  While it is a fact that jobs are not plentiful, it only takes one to make you happy.  So, start the search with a new frame of mind, a treasue hunt through the forest, and the journey is part of the fun. 

A job search fun?  PLEASE!  But it can be if we can get past our own obstacles.  I've found in working with people laid off that eventually many come to believe the layoff was the best thing that happened to them.  They didn't choose to lose a job, but the resulting time to evaluate where they were and what they now want in a career led to exciting possibililities and new opportunities for growth.

I can do this on my own.  Yes you can, but ask yourself if your strategies are working.  Are you getting interviews from your resume?  Do you know how to respond to an ad effectively using keywords?  Are you writing effective cover letters to further entice an employer with your talents?  Are you networking and talking to people?  Are you up on the latest social networking?  Do you know how to answer the salary question?  Or find out if you'll be invited to the next round of interviews? 

If you answered no to any of these questions, there are some things to learn to improve your job search skills and shorten that time of unemployment

my next workshop...

Nuts & Bolts of an Effective Job Search: resume, cover letters, research, plan of action

Thursday, August 6th from 11-12:30 at

Jobing.com, 2878 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 410

San Diego, Ca  92108

Cost: $10

I'm upset with my former company, but that doesn't affect my interviewing skills.  Maybe so, but you'd be surprised what I hear when I ask "why are you available on the job market?"  Sometimes one word changes everything.  Someone told me they were laid off for a variety of reasons.  Just the word variety led me to question if his performance was part of the reason for the layoff, and in a real life situation he just limited his chances.  

If you've been laid off it is always good to talk about the company reorganization and how it impacted your position, along with others. End on a positive note...that you look forward to the next phase of your career and appreciate what you learned at ABC company. 

Consider your body language too.  Does your fist ball up when you talk about your past employer?  That might be too obvious,  but what you think you hide well might be visible to others in the tone of your voice, your posture, the way you react, your eyes and facial expression. 

It's valuable to practice interviewing even if you believe you are very good at it.  Anticipating questions and having practiced, well-thought out answers to difficult questions adds to your credibility and poise under pressure.  Not to mention, it makes you less nervous too.

Networking doesn't work. You may not get a job from the first contact, and that is not the point anyway.  Building relationships is the result of networking and that obviously takes time.  Networking can also be done in many forms and forums, so there are multiple avenues to consider and utilize.  Do what works best for you.

You can join associations,social networking groups, attend community meetings and activities, volunteer, give presentations, become a blogger, etc. 

It's just really being a part of the world and going on that treasure hunt.

I have to take anything.  If you absolutely need to do this, then by all means do what you have to do.  But, if you are receiving a decent severance plus unemployment, take some time to relfect on what you want, and see if it is out there.  If not, then adjust, but don't start out defeated.  One of the reasons for this philosophy is financial; how long would it take you to recoup to your previous salary?  If you accept something $15,000 less a year how long would it take to get it back?  Most people are dedicated to the job, and that kind of loss might never be made up, making this a huge financial decision that affects your future.

The other reason for not following this strategy is career, although the principle is the same.  If you accept a position that is lower than you'd like in responsibility, or in a different field and you are starting over, how long is it going to take to reach the same career level you left?  And, most importantly, can you be happy there? 

Many are capable of many jobs, but is it a good fit for long term?  If you accept something because of the notion "I need it now and I don't care what it is" don't be surprised to find yourself job searching again soon.  Something usually happens to let you know this is not the right fit, and then you are right back where you started.

It is rough out there, but not impossible.  If I can help, please contact me at suearth@yahoo.com