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10 Job Search Tips
by Annemarie Frank
My "top 10 tips" to searching for a job while unemployed:
Get some personal business cards made with your name & contact information. Four days after being laid off I attended a marketing industry event and everyone was asking for my card. I missed some opportunities for getting my name in people’s hands and just generally felt unpolished without a card. Don’t focus your time on explaining why you don’t have a card ("I was laid off…"). Instead, focus on forging new connections and leaving a positive spin on your situation.
Take some time to think before plunging into your job search. Jot down your likes and dislikes from your previous job/role. What are the types of activities you gravitated towards and "made you tick"? What did you tend to procrastinate over in prior jobs? Write down the strengths and skills you bring to the table and those you need to improve. Write down ideas for industries and job types you may want to explore in order to leverage your existing skills while learning new ones. Write down ideas for how people in your network could possibly help you in your exploration. Putting these thoughts on paper will help you see more clearly and chart out the beginnings of a game plan for your job search.
Ask for targeted help from your network. Be specific or you won’t have much luck. People generally want to help, but aren’t sure how. Think how others can be of help to you and then ask for it. Your success rate will be much higher with targeted requests. If you send your resume out in a generic fashion to your network, you may get some "bites", but you’re wasting your precious connections with a blanket, "shot gun" approach.
Vague = "Can you keep your eyes open for me in case you hear of any jobs?"
Specific = "Can you introduce me to your friend who works in internet marketing at Company XYZ so I can spend 15 minutes on the phone/meet for coffee, etc… with him/her?"
I learned the hard way that looking for a job all day can burn you out and make you depressed. After crashing and burning from 2 weeks of non-stop job search activities via phone, email and web surfing, my motto became "one a day". Every weekday, make 1 targeted and quality job search activity. If you do this faithfully, you will start to see the fruits of your labor within a couple of months. Build up your pipeline in a steady and targeted manner for maximum return while maintaining a healthy lifestyle and enjoying your free time (see #6).
Figure out how you can add value to companies. What’s in it for them to employ you? Is there something you worked on in your prior job that equipped you with skills or knowledge that sets you apart from others? Thinking from an employer’s perspective versus your own can help you generate new ideas for targeting companies. In my prior role, I did a lot of research on Chinese women and their consumer buying trends. I targeted cosmetic companies who were entering or trying to enter the Chinese market in my job search in order to emphasize my differentiated value-add.
Structure your days with intention and create a routine. It’s easy to spend the days staying up watching the late night shows, sleeping in, puttering around and wasting the days away. This will likely lead to burn out and depressed feelings in no time. My routine consisted of waking up between 7-8am every day, eating a healthy breakfast, and completing my "one a day" job search activity (see #4). After my daily job search activity was complete, I consistently went out for a run, helping me to think through more job search ideas. Afternoons were also for enjoying my down time and making the most of it. Attending a matinee movie, checking out a museum, attending a lecture at a bookstore, browsing the library shelves, reading a book in the park, etc… Find simple activities that give you pleasure and schedule them into your routine. Finding structure and rituals in your daily life will add to your happiness and positive mental state.
Ensure you follow-up on a timely basis. Track all your "one a day" job activities and follow-up on a timely basis. People are busy and a non-response does not mean they cannot or will not help. Providing the right "nudge" to people is a very effective technique as most people will feel guilty for having dropped the ball on your initial request and go the extra step for you. In addition, timing is everything in life. A conversation with a recruiter on one day may lead nowhere, whereas 2 months later, there may be a potential job match for you.
Take a break from your job search and indulge in your passion to find inspiration. Searching for a job is tough and you need a break from time to time. Figure out what inspires you and go for it! I booked a last minute trip to Paris for a few days on the cheap, stayed with friends, and simply walked around for hours each day listening to my iPod, soaking up the beautiful Parisian life. I re-charged my battery and returned with a more positive outlook regarding my situation. Projecting a sense of positivity to recruiters, potential employers and your connections shows you are resilient and tenacious in tough times - - a desirable trait in the workplace. You don’t need to get on an airplane to find your inspiration. Think of nearby venues, activities or people who may inspire you. The key is to completely take a break from your job search and focus on things that inspire you.
Create your personal support squad consisting of friends, family and personal connections you find particularly helpful either emotionally or professionally. Lean on them. I never revealed who my support squad was, but I consistently relied on them to help me through a tough time. My squad consisted of a creative & insightful friend, a positive and spiritual sister, a professional negotiator and a management consultant. You don’t need to reveal to the person they are part of your support squad, but you do need to be aware of how others can be of help and rely on them when necessary.
Consider short-term consulting and/or volunteer opportunities to leverage your skills while looking for a job. Many companies have hiring freezes in place right now, but still need help getting things done. Best case scenario is that a temporary situation becomes permanent; worse case scenario - you have a meaningful response when asked in an interview how you’ve been spending your time.
Get some personal business cards made with your name & contact information. Four days after being laid off I attended a marketing industry event and everyone was asking for my card. I missed some opportunities for getting my name in people’s hands and just generally felt unpolished without a card. Don’t focus your time on explaining why you don’t have a card ("I was laid off…"). Instead, focus on forging new connections and leaving a positive spin on your situation.
Take some time to think before plunging into your job search. Jot down your likes and dislikes from your previous job/role. What are the types of activities you gravitated towards and "made you tick"? What did you tend to procrastinate over in prior jobs? Write down the strengths and skills you bring to the table and those you need to improve. Write down ideas for industries and job types you may want to explore in order to leverage your existing skills while learning new ones. Write down ideas for how people in your network could possibly help you in your exploration. Putting these thoughts on paper will help you see more clearly and chart out the beginnings of a game plan for your job search.
Ask for targeted help from your network. Be specific or you won’t have much luck. People generally want to help, but aren’t sure how. Think how others can be of help to you and then ask for it. Your success rate will be much higher with targeted requests. If you send your resume out in a generic fashion to your network, you may get some "bites", but you’re wasting your precious connections with a blanket, "shot gun" approach.
Vague = "Can you keep your eyes open for me in case you hear of any jobs?"
Specific = "Can you introduce me to your friend who works in internet marketing at Company XYZ so I can spend 15 minutes on the phone/meet for coffee, etc… with him/her?"
I learned the hard way that looking for a job all day can burn you out and make you depressed. After crashing and burning from 2 weeks of non-stop job search activities via phone, email and web surfing, my motto became "one a day". Every weekday, make 1 targeted and quality job search activity. If you do this faithfully, you will start to see the fruits of your labor within a couple of months. Build up your pipeline in a steady and targeted manner for maximum return while maintaining a healthy lifestyle and enjoying your free time (see #6).
Figure out how you can add value to companies. What’s in it for them to employ you? Is there something you worked on in your prior job that equipped you with skills or knowledge that sets you apart from others? Thinking from an employer’s perspective versus your own can help you generate new ideas for targeting companies. In my prior role, I did a lot of research on Chinese women and their consumer buying trends. I targeted cosmetic companies who were entering or trying to enter the Chinese market in my job search in order to emphasize my differentiated value-add.
Structure your days with intention and create a routine. It’s easy to spend the days staying up watching the late night shows, sleeping in, puttering around and wasting the days away. This will likely lead to burn out and depressed feelings in no time. My routine consisted of waking up between 7-8am every day, eating a healthy breakfast, and completing my "one a day" job search activity (see #4). After my daily job search activity was complete, I consistently went out for a run, helping me to think through more job search ideas. Afternoons were also for enjoying my down time and making the most of it. Attending a matinee movie, checking out a museum, attending a lecture at a bookstore, browsing the library shelves, reading a book in the park, etc… Find simple activities that give you pleasure and schedule them into your routine. Finding structure and rituals in your daily life will add to your happiness and positive mental state.
Ensure you follow-up on a timely basis. Track all your "one a day" job activities and follow-up on a timely basis. People are busy and a non-response does not mean they cannot or will not help. Providing the right "nudge" to people is a very effective technique as most people will feel guilty for having dropped the ball on your initial request and go the extra step for you. In addition, timing is everything in life. A conversation with a recruiter on one day may lead nowhere, whereas 2 months later, there may be a potential job match for you.
Take a break from your job search and indulge in your passion to find inspiration. Searching for a job is tough and you need a break from time to time. Figure out what inspires you and go for it! I booked a last minute trip to Paris for a few days on the cheap, stayed with friends, and simply walked around for hours each day listening to my iPod, soaking up the beautiful Parisian life. I re-charged my battery and returned with a more positive outlook regarding my situation. Projecting a sense of positivity to recruiters, potential employers and your connections shows you are resilient and tenacious in tough times - - a desirable trait in the workplace. You don’t need to get on an airplane to find your inspiration. Think of nearby venues, activities or people who may inspire you. The key is to completely take a break from your job search and focus on things that inspire you.
Create your personal support squad consisting of friends, family and personal connections you find particularly helpful either emotionally or professionally. Lean on them. I never revealed who my support squad was, but I consistently relied on them to help me through a tough time. My squad consisted of a creative & insightful friend, a positive and spiritual sister, a professional negotiator and a management consultant. You don’t need to reveal to the person they are part of your support squad, but you do need to be aware of how others can be of help and rely on them when necessary.
Consider short-term consulting and/or volunteer opportunities to leverage your skills while looking for a job. Many companies have hiring freezes in place right now, but still need help getting things done. Best case scenario is that a temporary situation becomes permanent; worse case scenario - you have a meaningful response when asked in an interview how you’ve been spending your time.