Indeed the old cliché of “new year, new job” never rang more true than it does today. Finding a job isn’t fun or easy…so many of us have held off updating our resume and the end of the month is almost here. Below are some useful tips to help you get started with your job hunt. Enjoy!
1. Network. It’s an oldie, but goodie. It’s also a necessity. To make it fun, think of yourself as Kevin Bacon and see how many folks are within your six degrees.
2. Do your research. Few of us would walk into Best Buy to purchase a TV without researching the brands and features beforehand. Yet, so many of us go to interviews and networking meetings without even glancing at the company’s web site. Read up before you meet, it could save a life – yours!
3. Create multiple resumes. Not all jobs or resumes are created equal. Just make sure you read the one you’re sending first. We wouldn’t want to send the “part-time masseuse” resume to the executive suite.
4. Get up and get out. It’s time to leave the couch, jeans and favorite t-shirt behind. Shower, iron that collar shirt or skirt and attend a business networking breakfast, lunch or dinner. After all, you need to eat and why not be proactive while doing it.
5. Follow up like mad. Remember the days when you actually called the girl/guy you met at the bar the night before? Take a page from that book and be sure to follow up via phone or email with everyone you meet that may be a lead for a job opportunity. No pain, no gain.
6. Review yourself. Here’s one review you can do on your own – and hopefully will score high marks. Take a few minutes to reflect on the work you’ve put into networking, dinners, etc. and see if you’ve delivered on what you have hoped.
7. Grab your sneakers, now. Yup, we said it. Get up, get active and get fit. Exercise will help relieve the stress and tension of job hunting. It will also help clear your mind. We all know great ideas can appear during a nice, brisk jog.
8. Get risky. Now is the time to really decide what it is you want to do. Maybe your old job made you feel trapped or stifled? Don’t just go after the same old, same old. Maybe now is the time to start that new business or take a new career track.
9. Leverage local employment organizations. Even been to the public library or looked into your town’s business association? Both places may offer seminars or workshops on resume writing or job building exercises to help you get and stay on track.
10. Be gracious. All roads do not lead to paradise. Regardless of how successful or unsuccessful a meeting, you need to be considerate. Pull out old Miss Manners or Dear Abby columns if you need a refresher. After all, you never know when or where your contacts will turn up next.
Social media has certainly changed the way we all work and play. For HR, it’s made an incredible impact. Remember the days when a simple newspaper ad brought in hundreds of resumes? Now with Web, a one line job opening draws thousands of resumes – and that’s within the first hour of the post.
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