The days of simply browsing through the Sunday newspaper
and sending out a few resumes in order to win your next
career opportunity are over. The days of retiring after
having worked for just one or two companies are also over.
Downsizings, mergers, offshoring, acquisitions, corporate
reorganizations, consolidation, and other change
initiatives have required rapid adaptation of workers, hard
career decisions, and frequent transitions. These days, the
average worker will hold approximately ten jobs before the
age of 36. The average worker will change careers several
times during his or her lifetime.
While the timeframe for your job search will vary with the
specifics of your situation, a commonly cited statistic is
that the average job search will take anywhere from three
to six months from initiation to the day you begin your new
job. The U.S. Department of Labor indicates that the
average length of unemployment in the U.S. is currently 18
weeks (a little over four months), but this figure covers
all professions, all industries, and all professional
levels. Another common job search statistic tells us that
you can expect to spend approximately one month job
searching for each $10,000 in salary you are seeking.
Do you have a job search planned in 2008? If you do, and if
you are looking forward to your next job search with dread,
you are definitely not alone! Job searching can be
incredibly stressful. But, with some planning, genuine
effort, and sincere commitment, you can minimize that
stress and land a new job - one that is personally,
professionally, and financially rewarding - faster than you
may have thought possible.
Here is a checklist to help you achieve a fast, successful
job search in 2008.
_____ Set a clear target. Put yourself in the driver's seat
of your career by clearly defining your job search focus.
In general, the more precise and focused your job search
is, the better. For most people, the best and strongest job
targets will include a statement of the job function and
professional level paired with other indicators, sometimes
just one and sometimes more than one, to make the job
target more precise and ultimately more effective. These
other indicators may be criteria such as industry, company
size, company culture, or geographic location.
_____ Build your network of support. Don't underestimate
the importance of having a strong support network to offer
encouragement and advice, to brainstorm and share ideas
with you, to help keep you accountable to the goals you set
for yourself, and to help keep you on track throughout the
emotional roller coaster that a job search can be. Family
and friends are often included in the support network, but
also consider joining a job search group or working with a
career coach, particularly one who is very familiar with
job search mechanics.
_____ Adjust your attitude. An enthusiastic, "can-do"
attitude that exudes self-confidence and a clear
understanding of the value you offer in the workplace will
make all the difference. Always put a smile on your face
when you talk on the phone; it will shine through in your
voice. Make eye contact and watch your body signals and
posture when you meet with contacts in person. Your
positive, confident attitude is one that people will like
to be around and will make it more likely that you will be
hired.
_____ Update and revive your resume. Your resume is your
first introduction to employers. Don't underestimate the
importance of making a positive first impression with it!
Your resume should be up-to-date, focused for the current
search, employer-centered, and results-oriented. YOU are a
commodity in the job market and your resume is your
advertisement. If your resume needs refreshing, now is the
time to do it. If you need help with your resume, you
should definitely consider hiring a professional resume
writer.
_____ Cultivate and strengthen your professional network.
With more than 80% of available jobs never advertised, it
is essential that you have the ability to access the hidden
job market. Your professional network will be one of your
most effective sources for information and referrals
relating to the hidden job market. Of course, networking is
all about relationships and so you should continuously
nurture your network relationships regardless of whether
you are job searching or not. But, whether you have or
haven't (If you haven't, building network relationships
would make a great New Year's Resolution), now is the time
to reach out to everyone you know to inform them of your
search and to ask for advice and referrals. Consider using
a website like LinkedIn to help with your effort.
_____ Establish and promote your personal branding. At its
essence, personal branding is about the authentic and
unique promise of value you offer. In relation to your
career, it is about the promise of value you offer that
differentiates you from your peers and competitors in the
workplace and job market. Branding yourself can actually
have such a dramatic effect that you will become hunted
rather than being the hunter for your next job opportunity.
_____ Get organized and create a system for managing your
job search. An organized plan and system will help keep you
motivated, moving forward, and focused on achieving the
ultimate goal. At the very least, you need a calendaring
system, a system of logging inter-related and follow-up
activities, a contact management system, and a filing
system.
_____ Create and follow a written, multi-pronged job search
plan. Answering ads or posting your resume on the Internet
are the easiest, but usually least effective job search
techniques. Your job search plan should include a balance
of techniques to access both the published and unpublished
job market. Further, it should include activities
prioritized and strategically selected to fit in each of
the five major job search approaches: 1) Networking and
referral building; 2) Targeting and contacting employers;
3) Working with recruiters and agencies; 4) Internet job
searching (which also has some overlap with the 5th
technique); 5) Answering advertisements.
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Nationally certified resume writer and career coach,
Michelle Dumas is the director of Distinctive Career
Services LLC. Through Distinctive Documents
http://www.distinctiveweb.com and her Executive VIP
Services http://www.100kcareermarketing.com
Michelle has
empowered thousands of professionals all across the U.S.
and worldwide. Michelle is also the author of Secrets of a
Successful Job Search http://www.job-search-secrets.com
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