5 Big Do's for Your Career Search

Sadly, it needs to be repeated.

1. Know how your resume will look to them. This means, if you send a pdf, look at it first, how does it look? If you send it through a newspaper, know what format it comes out on the other end. Physically, how does your resume look to the person who makes the decision if you go on to the next round.

2. Include a cover letter and make it personal. When I work with companies, I bin (AKA throw it in the trash QUICKLY) any resume without a cover letter. And, believe it or not, many come through that way. Include a cover that shows me you spent time reading the job description and doing your homework on the company. And, hey, make me like you or at least be interested enough to move you to the next round.

3. Include an objective or something to make me see that you want THIS job in THIS industry. Take 30-seconds to refine it for each job you submit for.

4. Match the resume to the position you want. If I ask for someone who can manage a team of distributed people tell me about your experience doing that. Specifically, tell me how many, where they were and how you managed them. Make it easy for me to say yes to you.

5. Send it in via Email and Hard Copy Mail. The competition is fierce. Be assertive. DON'T EMAIL IT IN 5 TIMES... I'd bin you for annoying me.

Email me for 5 more tips. Happy Hunting.

5 Tips for Pursuing Employment

It’s a wild emotional rollercoaster ride- being gainfully employed and feeling secure than then given the dreaded “we don’t need you anymore” or “we can’t afford to keep you on” line.

At first you may rationalize that a few weeks or months off will do you good. After all, you’ll be getting unemployment (if you are lucky). Why not take a rest?

But at some point you’ll start to worry. You’ll hear of others not getting jobs and not being able to care for themselves and their families. You’ll start to wonder what kind of job you’ll have to take to make ends meet.

You’ll go through various stages- anger, depression, self-pity, annoyance, defiance, sadness, guilt…. It won’t be easy. But, it will pass if you put yourself on the right track.

Here are 5 Tips for getting you on the right track:

1. Get up every day at a decent hour (say 7 AM) and get out of the house.
2. Volunteer at least 20 hours a week at a place or with people you will enjoy and feel like your contribution matters (animal shelters, religious institutions, senior centers, non-profits of all sorts, hospitals, etc…).
3. Go to at least 2 networking groups or social group events each week. (Google groups in your area for various areas of interest- there are also groups for the unemployed)
4. Have a resume ready to go for each area of interest you have or area you may want to target (a general resume, a technical resume, a “field-specific” resume like healthcare).
5. Let everyone in your life know that you are looking for your next position (not job) in the xxx area. Make sure people know you are looking and they are looking out for you. Don’t make it sound desperate- keep it positive and professional. Make sure they know what you do or want to do. Help them help you better. And, don’t forget to ask them how you can help them!
6. Bonus Tip #6: It goes without saying, but you should be spending at least 2 hours a day actively looking for open positions and targeting companies you want to work for. Call them. Submit resumes. Don’t just spend your time in the “research” mode. You must be in the “sending” “calling” and “doing” modes. You can’t be interviewed for what you don’t put in for!
   
   If you like these tips let me know and I’ll send you 5 more!