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[This article
originally appeared in the Nov. 12, 2003, issue of The
Online Job Search Guide, Job-Hunt's free twice-a-month
e-mailed newsletter.]
Sometimes moving
a job search forward feels like trying to run through waist-deep
water - extremely difficult! How do you continue to make
progress on your job search?
Particularly
if you've been unemployed for an extended period of time, as
so many people have in this economy, it's easy to be discouraged,
and do anything else that feels like it is an accomplishment.
But, you
can get that same feeling of accomplishment and move your
job search forward at the same time by following these 6 simple
steps:
- Have a
job search goal.
Your goal could be as simple as "bring in a paycheck"
or as specific as "become manager of a local branch of a
$500m + multi-state bank." Believe
it or not, the simpler goal may be the toughest to achieve just
because your options for action are endless. Your resume will
be unfocused, too, and few recruiters have the luxury of the time
(or the intuition) to figure out what you could be doing for their
company. A
more specific goal, if it is realistic for you, brings focus and
should result in a more effective resume and a smarter job search.
- Develop
your job search plan.
A goal is usually achieved by taking several steps - accomplishing
several things. You can't get a new job without taking some action.
First, you must figure out what you want to do, then pull together
and polish a resume, then develop a list of potential employers,
etc. Sit down and list those major accomplishments, in rough chronological
order of their need to be accomplished. For example, you can't
(usually) apply for a job without a resume, so developing your
resume is an important part of your plan.
- Make a
to-do list.
Break your plan down into the tasks or action items you need to
accomplish to reach your goal. And, many tasks contain sub-tasks
For example, to write your resume, you may want to buy or borrow
a good book on writing resumes, dig out your old resume (if you
have one), add your latest job to your resume, list the accomplishments
associated with that job, line up people to act as references,
etc.). Your list won't be perfect - new tasks will be needed,
and other tasks will prove unnecessary. Don't worry about perfection
in this part of your job search.
- Organize
your to-do list.
Obviously, you must accomplish some things before others, and
you can often be working on several tasks simultaneously. Shuffle
around the items on your to-do list until they are in the order
in which they must be accomplished.
- Give yourself
deadlines.
Assign deadlines to chunks of tasks (do the first draft of your
resume by this Friday; get feedback from someone who knows how
to create an effective resume by next Wednesday; finalize it by
next Friday). Be as realistic as you can. Weekly deadlines work
best for me, but you may want daily deadlines or monthly ones
- whatever works for you. Make a deliberate and unbreakable promise
to yourself that you will meet each deadline you set.
- Each
day, pick one job search "alpha task."
Before you begin your day's work, look at your to-do list and
decide which task is THE ONE TASK which MUST be accomplished
that day to keep your job search moving forward, even if nothing
else gets done. That task is your "alpha task."
Do your day's alpha task as early in the day as possible.
Then, do the
next most important, etc. If you're like me, you'll discover the
sense of accomplishment from getting the alpha task done carries
over into a more productive day. And even if you don't get any
other tasks accomplished that day, you will have completed the
most critical one, and moved your job search forward.
That's progress
in your job search, one alpha task at a time.
Go for it!
You will get
a job, eventually. Really!
Just keep plugging
away at your job search with support from family, friends, your
local employment office, college career center (often you'll qualify
for help from them, even if you attended for 2 semesters, over 10
years ago), local job search support group, etc.
Each state in
Job-Hunt's State listings has local
job and career networking resources where you can make connections
with the support you need, in addition to links to local Web job
sites and local employers. Also, don't forget to Job-Hunt's "Pick
Your Next Employer" section to identify good potential employers
for you.
Get away from
your computer - people are hired by people who know and like them
- get known. Read Job-Hunt's "Tapping
the Hidden Job Market" article for some strategies and
tips.
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About the author...
Susan P. Joyce is a 1994 "graduate of" (a.k.a. "laid off by") Digital Equipment Corporation, the 2nd largest computer company in the world at the time; now gone. Susan has been observing the online job search world and teaching online job search skills since 1995. In 1998, her company, NETability, Inc. purchased Job-Hunt.org, and Susan has been editor and publisher of Job-Hunt since then. |
