Job Search Advice, Resume Writing Tips from a Career Consultant

At the October webinar this past week, each member of the group was given the opportunity to introduce himself. I had them focus on their backgrounds, describe their current jobs and relate why they were engaged in a job search. Not surprisingly I found some valid and most not-so valid reasons for our webinar participants wanting to leave their jobs.

I never run out of fire when discussing how little we are taught regarding career planning. Remember that high school course on resume writing? Did that vocational school teach you how to determine what jobs would be available to you and how to find them? How did you do on the college exam on interviewing? Get the message? My point is that last Wednesday (not to mention Thursday and Friday in my own practice) I heard free-floating souls trying to maneuver the sometimes treacherous job market, making decisions based on emotion rather than logic. No planning, no foresight and no insight! The results? Eventually the talented people much like our webinar attendees ultimately wish they had their old jobs back because they are more miserable in the new ones... or after a sad miscalculation on why leave or how to choose a job, they now have no jobs at all!

I love the idea of blogging because I'll be back in a few days with some ideas on how to avoid the above scenario. Believe me... Most job search miscalculations that affect us for life can be prevented! Come back for the next entry! Oh yes, if you have comments about your experience that pertain to this subject, please comment! I know you're listening!

Hello again from the trenches! How's the job search going? If you're reading this you're probably still looking. My question is to what degree? Looking for a new job can be compared to working out on a treadmill. You can stroll on an even walkway or you can crank up the speed and raise the incline uphill to the max. Either way when asked, you can answer truthfully that you work out on a treadmill everyday. So now that we know that "looking" is a matter of definition, let's make sure we know the best ways to "crank it up!"

No Microwavable Job Search - Since this is the age of drive-thru church, weddings, banking and food I suppose we can't be blamed for believing that there are instant answers for short-term job search. Clients actually call me intending to find new jobs within 30-days. They feel they have allowed time for preparing / sending out resumes, holding multiple interviews with multiple companies and collecting job offers. The disappointment that sets in because of unrealistic expectations will cause what I call "job search immobility" so beware and understand what a quality job search requires.

Everything Works! - Urban legends run rampant in job search and the savviest job seeker listens to none of them. Decades before the Internet folks were "dissing" newspaper classified ads while companies were spending millions to advertise for repeated hires! The intelligent candidate has always known that the classifieds are a great source of company information even if his exact match did not appear that week. Have you ever sent your accounting resume, not in response to, but in addition to the ad that was seeking an executive secretary? You'd be amazed at what a company just hasn't time to advertise. Today we hear equally untrue legends about how Internet and mass mailings don't work. Know who gets a better job selection in the shortest time? The candidate who does it all!

A Little Less Conversation, a Little More Action - Great strategy for job search, Elvis! A strong measure of the predictability of your job search success will be reflected in the number of hours per day and days per week you spend actively looking. If your most recent employment required 8 hours of work per day why would you work any less to reinstate something so vital as your income? Did you get two weeks vacation annually from your prior employer? Take those same two weeks this year too. When you are your own boss, it's too easy to lose both your commitment and momentum even when you know that looking for a job is a full time job. Once you lose momentum it is twice as tough to get it back.

Don't Pre-Judge Opportunities - Just because Aunt Lillian's neighbor's son, Luke, didn't like his job at the distribution center doesn't mean that it won't present you with the opportunity of a lifetime. Negative messages that begin with words such as "I've always heard," will also create immobility because human nature will eventually allow you many reasons "why not." A wise candidate will never miss an opportunity to present himself. The more folks who are aware of your mission, the more likely something good will happen.

August was a very quiet month for my clients and it was quite a challenge encouraging them to "keep on keeping on." During the month of September even the toughest, most specialized clients found job openings and were granted interviews because they had kept the momentum going when it appeared nothing was happening. We are going into the holiday season within 60 days and for the committed and disciplined candidate the same momentum will bear fruit. How hard will you be looking for a job?

Note: Please be patient with resume critiques and job search questions. The response has been phenomenal and we are currently a bit backed-up! However, if you are willing to do what it takes to look for a great career opportunity, we at Worthington and CareerBoard are willing to help!