I thought I would jot down a few recommendations based on my latest job search. I hope others can benefit from the experience!
1. Read this article:
Tony Beshara article. Then read it again. Once you're done that, read this book (by the same author): The Job Search Solution by Tony Beshara. We humans have a tendency to want to find everything we can on a topic, but I suggest the better course of action to find something that hits the mark so well (like this article and this book) and re-read it over and over again. I think this book in particular is the best book I've read on the topic.
2. Recognize that you have just landed a new (unpaid) job. From the moment you become unemployed, you have just been forced into a new job whether you like it or not. You are in sales, and the product is 'you'. Every available moment, every available encounter is a chance to sell yourself and try to get a new job. Every day you need to be working the phones and pounding the pavement, talking to anyone who will listen. If you don't like it, too bad. The alternative is no job and no money. Get over it and start selling.
3. Have a plan. No one gets anywhere in life without a plan and job hunting is no different. What's your focus area? What companies or type of companies do you want to work for? How will you find your job (hint: looking online is not the only answer). How many hours per week will you devote (hint: at least 40 or more, time permitting). How many calls/emails/interviews will you have? It is a numbers game, plain and simple. More "hits", more potential for success.
4. Never stop. Until you have a job offer, you have nothing. (recognize the quote?) I made the mistake of thinking that because I had 3 highly prospective jobs in the works, I took my foot off the gas. Job offers are notoriously fickle. A million things can derail the process. Never stop, and once you land in a job keep searching and networking (as a secondary priority) to find your next dream job.
5. Get all your benefits. Make sure you are getting all your unemployment benefits from the government. Especially important if you have no other source of income or severance payments from your prior employer. Remember that when someone is giving you money (ie. the government) they have the right to attach conditions to it. Don't resent if they require weekly reports, meetings etc. You'd do the same for someone you gave money to. Just accept it and go get a new job.
6. Focus on the activities and the results will take care of themselves. Sure results are what counts (ie. getting a job) and are the easiest to measure but a lack of activity will be sure to guarantee a lack of results. Activities are under your control (ie. making phone calls/emails/interviews) while job offers aren't always under your control.
7. Keep forward momentum. I found this to be a key factor for job hunting. So long as you have items planned in the future (ie. job interviews, coffee meetings, networking events, etc) it improves your chances of finding a job and builds a positive mindset. The quickest way to ensure that you don't get a job is by losing momentum, or failing to keep the communications and the meetings going. This also highlights another problem with only applying online. While it still needs to be done and it does work (even if the percentage of success is low it's still greater than zero), if it's not generating interviews and meetings, then it's not generating forward momentum and you need to include a different strategy. Not to mention that important people (ie. decision makers) and meetings need to be arranged in advance, preferably several meetings a day in case people cancel on you. Also, keeping forward momentum boosts your confidence during interviews and helps ease the sting when job opportunities don't work out. Keep the momentum going.
8. Stay positive. People (myself included) underestimate the mental fortitude required to cope with change, deal with peers and friends, deal with rejection (you will see lots of that), and stay positive to fight another day. Time wasted feeling sad/lonely/depressed/angry/frustrated/annoyed/etc is time wasted in finding a new job. Do whatever you need to do to survive, talk with friends, a therapist, self-help CDs, books, hypnosis, meditation, exercise, whatever you need. Failure to stay positive will be the quickest way to sabotage your job hunt.
9. Remember that this too shall pass. This is a very powerful statement but so true. It's easy to get caught up in the here and now of the job search but all it takes is one job. Then your only concern will be, "How do I get a better job?" We as humans are never satisfied, which is a good thing for the advancement of the human race! Just remember that this too shall pass.
10. Be kind to yourself. Despite the 24/7 pressure of finding a new job, it's impossible to devote every available moment to job hunting and will wear you out. Make the most of your time by being productive during normal calling hours, and apply online at night (when people aren't at their desks). Be sure to take a few days off here or there. Soon you will have a new job and will regret that you didn't enjoy the time more while you could.
11. Bonus - (a funny story). I'll leave you with a funny story that happened to me during my job search. My daughter was in kindegarten and my wife walked over to pick her up from school. A number of parents were standing around with the kids after pickup and one of the parents mentioned that the school needed a new crossing guard. My daughter proudly announced to the group, "Maybe Daddy can do it, he needs a job!"
I hope that helps. Good luck to all!
