Spring rolled out fast from a hard Winter and Summer is almost here. Traditionally, Spring represents new growth, new opportunities, turning a new leaf for people in transition. Spring cleaning is a yearly habit for some to clear out the dust and detritus of frozen weeks and months in the job search. But just as important is the need for job searchers to stay focused on the process and not be distracted by the ups and downs of the marketplace, or even all the activities now available in fine weather. So I’ve listed some quick advice below:
1. Re-check your Job Search Campaign: Is your job search a non-starter? Are you stalled? Check under the hood of your process and make sure you have all 5 components clicking – a. personal network tree, b. recruiter interaction, c. online posting and research, d. association job boards and national newspaper want-ads and e. local career development workshops and job networking events. Pulling these threads tight will give you traction, confidence, a solid sense of forward momentum and even more important – results!
2. Double-check your Resume: No resume is a static document – you should always be able to tinker with it per the job opportunity. Unfortunately, many resume services over-focus on format, graphics, fonts and minor style variables – but this only makes it harder for you to modify and manipulate your document. And it can let the air out of your confidence about your document. Better to focus on creating and updating clear and concise content with a happy balance between print and white space. The reality is – the best resume is the one that works.
3. Hang around Positive People: Part of having a healthy life is making sure you have healthy relationships in both personal and professional settings. Whiny or complaining people may make good reality TV or product commercials, but in real life, you have to be growth-oriented in both safe and challenging environments. A positive personality will always be an asset in the workplace. Filling your life with happiness and encouragement will build that attitude in you also – not a blind faith that only good will happen, but a rugged optimism that takes the bad with the good, and keeps moving forward in the direction that leads to maturity, contentment and new challenges.
My real-life experience over almost 19 years of writing nothing but resumes is that 99.9% (non-scientific estimate) of the clients I do work for have exactly what they need to make the transition they want. But on the other hand, the vast majority have resumes that don’t package them optimally if they have written their own documents. Getting your resume done by a professional is more on the level of working with a professional like a CPA or attorney, rather than buying batteries in a retail store. So if you want to pursue a maximum job search, then you should get a good resume writing professional involved. It can only help to have that outside perspective from someone who writes resumes day in and day out.
