From a job seeker's perspective the coming weeks are generally horrible. Businesses shut down, recruiters go offline, hiring managers go on vacation and job placements are on hold. If you are open on the market you'd generally feel that your efforts have to be put on hold as well while you patiently wait for "the market" - to draw parallels to the stock markets -, opens again. The more anxious you are to get back in business the worse this gets. But why not look at this differently? My take is that this is actually the best time of the year to do your job searching house-cleaning
Take a look at my job searching wish list for this year's X-mas; apply it to yourself and make all the wishes come through:
1. Is your job-searching strategy working? Do the math - how many 1st and 2nd interviews have you had relative to the number of applications you've passed, to the number of positions you have applied for? There is no golden rule per se but if your volume of applications is huge and your volume of interviews low, something isn't right. Are you targeting the right jobs or shooting left, right and centre? Review your overall approach and fine-tune it. Be the surgeon with her precision knife. Target jobs that you qualify for and that YOU want!
2. Or could it be that your resume/CV is not fully up to scratch? Do you use a one size fit all approach when you apply (that type of resume is ALLWAYS tossed). Is that the reason you are hardly ever called upon?. The least you should do is to have variants of a standard. If you are good in logistics, sales and carry an age old experience as a test car drive; make three variants. Make sure to use the version that highlights best your logistical abilities when you apply for such positions. A jack-of-all trades style simply does not cut the mustard.
3. When did you last check your encyclopaedia of relevant questions to ask in interviews? Review, adjust and refresh.Â
4. Have you updated your online profiles? Double check every site and head-hunter registration you have ever made and make sure to bring your registered details up to date.
5. Cheesy I know - but did you send an e-card to your network and to the recruiters with whom you liaise to pass your X-mas wishes? Make sure your network knows that you are still alive, still in the market and still hunting.
6. Are you on LinkedIn? If you have a bit of off-time, check out the groups, job relevant ones and register. There is an abundance of excellent advise to capture from these contributed by MANY people in the same shoes as you are in. In addition, there is strong commentary by professionals. Used well and right, LinkedIn is a gold mine of advice for a job seeker.Â
7. On the topic of LinkedIn - how's your network? Have you scanned to see if you can connect to someone you know who knows someone? It's real and very permitted - 2nd hand referrals. Do it. Some people may also offer to introduce you to specific contacts in
their network. Imagine that you seek employment in a specific industry, perhaps even with a specific company. Most likely, someone in your network will be connected with someone either in or affiliated with a your target industry / company. Explore this avenue - it works.
8. But before you really do that - clean up your act. I have made solid referencing on my blog and site on exactly that. Hence no more repeating here except to say DO IT!
9. What about brushing up on your learning? Pick out the latest relevant book on your target job type or your industry. Download (and even pay for) the latest market statistics
on your product, service or whichever is relevant. I'm not suggesting you sign up for a course (it's Christmas - right!) but spend a day or two working on making sure you are current.
10. And share - this is the time of sharing. Sign up to be an expert authority on a blog site. You can do it! Share your mind, thoughts and skills with others. It's free and very gratifying - and by the way can work to your advantage when your prospective employer do their applicants back ground checking.
So you thought Christmas was about vacation - think twice (but do make sure to spend quality time with your family and friends. You - and they - deserve it.
Merry X-mas
Take a look at my job searching wish list for this year's X-mas; apply it to yourself and make all the wishes come through:
1. Is your job-searching strategy working? Do the math - how many 1st and 2nd interviews have you had relative to the number of applications you've passed, to the number of positions you have applied for? There is no golden rule per se but if your volume of applications is huge and your volume of interviews low, something isn't right. Are you targeting the right jobs or shooting left, right and centre? Review your overall approach and fine-tune it. Be the surgeon with her precision knife. Target jobs that you qualify for and that YOU want!
2. Or could it be that your resume/CV is not fully up to scratch? Do you use a one size fit all approach when you apply (that type of resume is ALLWAYS tossed). Is that the reason you are hardly ever called upon?. The least you should do is to have variants of a standard. If you are good in logistics, sales and carry an age old experience as a test car drive; make three variants. Make sure to use the version that highlights best your logistical abilities when you apply for such positions. A jack-of-all trades style simply does not cut the mustard.
3. When did you last check your encyclopaedia of relevant questions to ask in interviews? Review, adjust and refresh.Â
4. Have you updated your online profiles? Double check every site and head-hunter registration you have ever made and make sure to bring your registered details up to date.
5. Cheesy I know - but did you send an e-card to your network and to the recruiters with whom you liaise to pass your X-mas wishes? Make sure your network knows that you are still alive, still in the market and still hunting.
6. Are you on LinkedIn? If you have a bit of off-time, check out the groups, job relevant ones and register. There is an abundance of excellent advise to capture from these contributed by MANY people in the same shoes as you are in. In addition, there is strong commentary by professionals. Used well and right, LinkedIn is a gold mine of advice for a job seeker.Â
7. On the topic of LinkedIn - how's your network? Have you scanned to see if you can connect to someone you know who knows someone? It's real and very permitted - 2nd hand referrals. Do it. Some people may also offer to introduce you to specific contacts in
their network. Imagine that you seek employment in a specific industry, perhaps even with a specific company. Most likely, someone in your network will be connected with someone either in or affiliated with a your target industry / company. Explore this avenue - it works.
8. But before you really do that - clean up your act. I have made solid referencing on my blog and site on exactly that. Hence no more repeating here except to say DO IT!
9. What about brushing up on your learning? Pick out the latest relevant book on your target job type or your industry. Download (and even pay for) the latest market statistics
on your product, service or whichever is relevant. I'm not suggesting you sign up for a course (it's Christmas - right!) but spend a day or two working on making sure you are current.
10. And share - this is the time of sharing. Sign up to be an expert authority on a blog site. You can do it! Share your mind, thoughts and skills with others. It's free and very gratifying - and by the way can work to your advantage when your prospective employer do their applicants back ground checking.
So you thought Christmas was about vacation - think twice (but do make sure to spend quality time with your family and friends. You - and they - deserve it.
Merry X-mas