| Topic Name: |
"Hardcore" Unemployable? |
| Message Name: |
10 Point Plus |
| Date Posted: |
04/11/2002 |
| In Reply To: |
Have you really exhausted all available resources to finding a job? Are you going about your job search in a realistic and intelligent manner?
Let's review the checklist, shall we?
1. You are spending the majority of your time networking, building relationships and doing research.
2. You are not relying solely on shooting your resume off to job postings on electronic job boards. You are selectively targeting your companies/industries of choice.
3. You are not ruling out any avenue of approach, including contacting the company's recruiting dept. After all, they know where all of the jobs are and which ones are coming up. Be politely persistent and you will eventually get their personal attention.
4. You have contacted all of your previous managers and colleagues - for whom you did a great job - they like you and know you are talented, and you have enlisted them in your job search efforts.
5. You have contacted all of your friends, family members, classmates, professional acquaintances. alumni associations, and let them know you are seeking employment. You have asked them if they have any contacts inside your desired company.
6. You have relentlessly researched a company that is particularly attractive to you, and you have found an inside person who will help you out. Anybody inside will do - it does not have to be a big name or an executive.
7. You are not setting yourself up for failure. You are applying for positions for which you have a fighting chance of getting an interview.
8. You are keeping scrupulous contact information in a rolodex or e-organizer, and you are keeping in touch with everybody who might possibly be able to help you find work.
9. You are working at your job search as if it is a full time job - 8 hours a day at least. You are doing productive networking and research.
10. You are getting out and meeting new people and attending any events and gatherings that will help keep you sane and part of the mainstream: job fairs, alumni get-togethers, chairty events, volunteering, taking classes, christenings, bar/bat mitzvahs, weddings, funerals, reunions. And you are letting eveyone know you are looking for a job. (you have had business cards made up especially for this purpose, right?)
Good luck and power to all the job seekers! |
| Message: |
Long post--
BP offered excellent tips for staying motivated working at your job search, but lets add a slight dose of reality here.
Like many others here, I am over 40, was middle of transitioning my career and, well, got stuck. I'm networking, keep Excel spreadsheets of contacts and resume submittals, follow-up on leads, and exhausted my rolodex. Its been almost a year since my job offer was rescinded after getting the MBA, but I have to keep trying. I am looking at my old industry and new one.
A couple networking observations:
1. The climate is tense!! One thing I have noticed is that you have to be careful while networking and informing others you're looking for work. Many employed folks are getting snippy or terse with job seekers. One woman actually admitted she would never forward my resume for fear that I would take her job (huh?). Often, I've found the best approach is ease into the conversation on a non-work or general industry topic. Also to be consistent with the groups you're volunteering, networking, etc. Express genuine interest in the topic.
2. Trading services help. No ones like doing anything for free these days. If I meet a sales person, I offer to distribute brochures, or conduct free research, whatever I can do that help with the "I don't know you, why should I help" dilemna.
3. Although I'm 44, I look much younger and have learned to never disclose my age unless its to my benefit or can somehow give me a connection with the contact, esp to women my own age. Insecurity is rampant. I'm finding its not only your qualifications but WHO LIKES YOU.
4. I have managed to get a couple of part-time and temp positions, even arranging (actually begging) w/ one of these employers to let me keep the position as "open" on my resume, to help narrow the time gap. (Yes, I do occassional work for them, but not much.)
Sometimes, you just get stuck and have work hard and be creative to overcome the obstacles. Sooner or later, something will break.
|
|
