Dealing
with a job loss may be one of the most difficult experiences
in your life. Unless you’ve been unemployed, you probably
don’t understand the amount of effort required to finding
that new position. Add the financial pressure and reduced
spending and you have all the ingredients to make anyone say,
"I want to give up."
One of the daily obstacles is your change of routine. You
find yourself all alone, but isolation is not the answer and
may significantly add to the stress of dealing with your situation.
You may have been used to rising early and leaving for work.
Now is not the time to change your routine. You need to be
dedicated. This means the task of job hunting becomes a regular
daily task. Take the time to put on clothes that make you
feel good each day so you'll be more inclined to get out of
the house and seek out others.
The research is clear: it is who you know. Your network is
much larger than you think. Set a goal to meet with one person
each day. The best time to do this is early in the morning
or over lunch. Begin making a list of everyone you know. You'll
probably need everyone on your list at different times. Some
will help with the search process, but others will be an excuse
to get out of the house and share a cup of coffee. This list
can never be too large. Add names throughout your process
and keep it fresh.
Begin creating your resume. Before presenting it to any one
of consequence, show it to several of your coffee buddies
and ask for their feedback. Remember there is no one best
way to create your resume, but there are best practices. Quantify
your accomplishments in terms of time saved, costs saved,
clients gained, revenues generated, and begin creating your
story.
Roll-playing. Your friends can take on the role of the hiring
manager. Use your resume to create to begin your discussion.
The goal is to slowly develop an “elevator pitch”; the 15-20
words of what you are looking for and why you would be a good
fit for their organization.
Contact placement firms and share your resume. This will give
you the opportunity to practice your speech and create opportunities
to find work. If you don’t know anyone, call your friends
and ask them. You may find an interim position or a full-time
position. It won’t hurt and can only help. This is a great
time too to ask an expert their suggestions on your resume
and possible places to look.
Post online. Don’t spend a great deal of time doing this but
they are free. Possible sites might include; LinkedIn, Ryze,
Ecademy, CorporateAlumni.com, BrightCircles.com and Classmates.com.
Search adds; professional organizations might be best for
a professional position.
Contact people in-the-know. These are people you probably
don’t know but people who have been referred to as well as
people at a company you would like to go to work for. Contacting
them by phone is best. These are professionals you want to
speak with for professional advice. If you connect with them,
it could lead to a great new contact.
Your people-in-the-know should be able to assist you in creating
a list of potential employers, positions, salary and benefits
and the potential career path. Evaluate the company in terms
of whether it can offer you the job changes and career development
and vision. Find out what jobs are open that could lead you
toward your next objective in six months or a year. If the
company is an outstanding place to work, don't worry too much
about your first job there. In fact, don't worry too much
about any one job, because the work assignments change quickly.
Follow up on all leads. Document all your attempts to reach
someone. Send your thank-you by mail and updates by email.
If you are rejected, find out why. Be specific. Keep yourself
positive. Remember every rejection gets you closer to your
goal.
Staying connected with people will help you deal with the
stress of job loss and contacting people in the know can help
you stay positive and hopeful of finding the right position.
Back
to the library
Reproduction
of this article cannot be accomplished without the expressed
consent of Human Resource Staffing.
Don Schmitz
is a popular speaker and writer on all aspects of HR and CEO
of Human Resource Staffing. Don holds graduate degrees in
Education, Administration and Human Development.
Contact Don@HumanResourceStaffingInc.com
952 854 6040
