Trish’s Jobsearch Tips

Job Search Tips and what to do when no one is calling!!!Part 2

Going down that Roller Coaster Ride of Emotions.

One of the worst issues we all have to deal with is our emotions when we are unemployed. Our emotions tend to be on a roller coaster ride. You may have been happy at first, maybe you were in a dead end job or you were just tired of it (bored). Then you realize wow, I need to find another job and fast. Or maybe you decided to take the summer off and enjoy the nice weather.

Either way you need to deal with the emotions you are feeling and get back to a level of self confidence, self assurance or you will find yourself depressed and unhappy.

This is why I highly recommend you make a schedule for your self and stick to it as much as possible. Also keeping in mind the schedule should include your job search, some form of exercise for stress relief (walking, running, dancing or working out) and personal time to do the things you never had time to get around to. But you need to stay focused, so I suggest you put on the radio or your head phones and MP3 and sit down at the computer everyday.

Be sure to keep the music low enough so you can hear the phone when it rings, when there is a recruiter on the other end. Also if you are playing the radio turn it off or down when you answer the phone. Be sure to sound up beat and Thank them for calling even if the position they are calling about is not for you, you never know when they might actually have something that might match your skills sometime in the future.

Network, Network and Network some more, and with everyone including the recruiters, HR representatives, on line at the supermarket, and on Linkedin etc.

Talking about Linkedin, check out all of your connections, and your connections, connections because there maybe someone there who can offer you a position or who may know of someone who is hiring. Linkedin gives you the choice of contacting them yourself or asking for an introduction to that person through your connection. This could be another effective tool to finding a new position. I have used this a few times as of yet I haven’t been successful but I haven’t given up.

Making your schedule should be part of your schedule, if you have a PDA you can do this through your desktop and then sync to your PDA this way you always have an updated schedule. I usually only schedule Monday- Friday accept when I have something personal I want to remember then I add this too. But I do update my task list with all of my tasks including my personal goals for the week and try to integrate them at the end of my day still allowing my 4-6 hours of time to do research , job search etc. I also try to schedule in time to update the blog. If you don’t have a PDA then you can use Outlook which ever version you have or Google Calendar which I mentioned is free. This will assist you in staying focused, at the beginning of each day you should take anywhere from 15-30 minutes to update your schedule and add your tasks, completing yesterdays, I also suggest you set the alarms so it will help you stay on task.

Deal with the fact that you are currently between positions. Deal with your current emotions, allow yourself to be angry, upset, happy and then move on. Get focused, stay on task and you will find that new position, it just may take some time.

As I mentioned yesterday it takes about 40 resumes to generate a call, you have to understand for every position out there, employers are getting on average 100 resumes.

So this is why I have stressed your resume in my blog. You need to find a way to get there attention with out gimmicks. So sit down and review what you have done for the last few employers:

• Did you help save them money?
• If so how much?
• Did create new processes that saved time and money?
• If so quantify it , give it some numbers and add this to your major accomplishments.

These should be at the beginning of your resume under your summary, before your job history and additional skills.

• Do you have a list of all your skills?
• Soft and Hard? example Premier Customer Service, Excellent Time Management, Systems, hardware, soft ware etc. I have separated mine so that it keeps it separate in their minds as well.

By adding these to your resume, your resume may get more attention and may get you that call.

I believe I have covered the emotional roller coaster ride, by staying focused it will assist you in finding that new position and will assist in keeping the worst of your emotions under control.

Well thats it for now, I am still actively looking. I received a call today from a recruiter who is interested in my resume, he has a position that he feels fits my skills. I spoke with him this morning, he sent me the job description and asked me to call him back after I had reviewed them. I did but he must have been busy, I am waiting for a call back from him. So again I realize he is working for the employer and it may or may not be a good fit. Only time will tell and if I get an interview I will let you know. Right now it is a little dry, waiting for some of the resumes I sent last week to bear fruit.

I also sent an email follow up to VP who interviewed me on position that is currently stalled. I let him know I was still interested in doing the second interview if they were able to get the position moving again. This is very important to let them know you would still be interested, just like the other fellow who dragged me all the way to the city after they had made the offer to someone else, you never know where your next lead may come from. So stay focused and don’t let them get you down.

Have a nice day

Trish