Starting a new year can be both exciting and cringe-making at the same time, especially if you are in a job search. Life is full of successes, challenges and failures, and you want to maximize the first, moderate the second and quickly learn from the third. Particularly in the job search, you always want to work smarter, even if you have to also work harder, in order to get that crucial traction that leads to the “golden interview” that pays off. There is a lot of advice and counsel available for the job searcher already, so for this new post, I’ve chosen 3 important points. Take a moment to review the points below and be prepared to adjust your current approach.
1. A Clunky Resume: Having written resumes and CVs for over 18 years for clients at all levels and in most industries, I have seen my share of good, bad and just OK job search documents. The majority of clients swing between producing either under-written and over-written resumes, not knowing what to leave in or leave off. Being so close to the source, people cannot gauge effectively what they have to package and sell to the potential employer. So you have to be willing to take a hard look at your current resume, and even hire a professional like myself to help you “muscle” it up properly. Remember – people are not mind-readers who will automatically be able to “connect the dots.” Too much is riding on the resume to risk going out with a document that hurts your search.
2. An Unorganized Job Search Campaign: Over recent years, I have seen the proliferation of career and interview coaches. These resources, like a good resume writer, can only have a positive impact on your job search. They will help you get focused and organized But if you yourself don’t development a big plan, if you don’t have a process to follow, you will never make real and actual progress toward that new job. My experience with thousands and thousands of clients is that the right job just does not appear out of the blue. Though it may feel like the lottery, you do have more control over how hard you work the job search process. Check out my Blog for the one about the components of a successful job search for guidance.
3. A Fearful Attitude: Nobody should get used to fear of the unknown – it paralyzes necessary action. Many events – car accidents, bad health, job termination or death in the family – all can play a large negative part in how we make choices or what directions we choose to take in life. But as the old saying goes, you can’t “take counsel of your fears” as you move forward in your job search. And that is the key – to move forward confidently with a provocative resume and a well-ordered job search campaign. As light dispels darkness, purposeful action can blow the fog of fear away. As a rule, most people like and appreciate those who live their lives with a forward-moving attitude. Even better, the right employer will want to hire you for that right job because of you be a positive asset to their company’s culture and business goals.
No doubt, the economy continues to stumble along, making advances in some areas, but not in others. Too many people are unemployed and many despair of finding another job. But you don’t have to be the person who gives up or exudes negativity. Instead, you can make yourself the right person at the right time in the right place. It may take a lot of confidence, persistence and focus, but it will be only a matter of time – not “if” but “when” you will accept that new job. And what looked so fearful before, will fade away in the bright sunshine of reality.
