WHAT NOW? Wednesdays – When You’re Ready to Give Up on a Job Search

[Kristine]

In this tough economic climate, recession - whatever you want to call it, I think it’s safe to say most of us have been affected in some way by the job market. Unless you live in one of the Dakotas, I would guess that you may know someone looking for a job, someone who SHOULD BE looking for a job or you may be job hunting yourself.

I’ve heard growing frustration from some job seekers lately that suggests they are dangerously close to giving up (emotionally at least) on their proactive job searches. Some are facing extended unemployment for the first time in their careers are very discouraged after applying online to hundreds of jobs and getting no interviews. So what now?

My advice is STOP. Don’t give up on your search, but recognize that you may need to change your approach. There are jobs out there. Understand that the way most companies advertise jobs and hire is different than it was 5 or 10 years ago. What you did to get a job in the past may not work in today’s environment. Here are my suggestions on a few basics to consider if your job search is going nowhere:

1) Has your job search been focused enough? Do you really know what you want in a job and are you able to articulate what you’re looking for in your resume, cover letters, networking, etc.?

2) Are you qualified for the jobs you are applying for? If so, are your qualifications apparent on your resume?

3) Does your resume reflect your accomplishments in past jobs vs. just a list of tasks or responsibilities? Is it professional and concise including keywords that reflect your experience?

4) When applying for employment, are you carefully following all the directions given by the employer? Did you know that skipping a step or an online question could keep you from consideration for a job?

5) Do you have a professional profile on LinkedIn and other social networks? Do your profiles represent what you are trying to sell to potential employers? Are you actively networking in person and online?

6) Have you limited your search to major job boards (e.g. Monster, Careerbuilder, local newspapers, etc.)? Have you identified niche job boards for your areas of interest and searched sites that may be more cost effective for employers such as Craigslist, SimplyHired.com, Indeed.com, etc.?

If the answer to any of these questions is YES, I have good news for the job seeker! It may not be you or your experience keeping you from a job, it might be your approach. Stop and fix the basics if you want better results. If you need assistance with any of these basics, there are tons of free online resources out there and people like me who would love to help!

[Maria Valdivieso]

I totally concur with Kristine's suggestions. Excellent points Kristine!

I'm saddened when I learn that some candidates miss out on an opportunity they would have been successful in obtaining merely because they did not follow ALL of the directions given by the employer or omitted some pertinent information to being considered. I say if you're not successful in pursuit of an opportunity, do not let it be because of your own doing. As you reflect back on your job search efforts so far, if you identify a chance that you may have contributed to missing out on an opportunity that could have been yours, I encourage you to follow Kristine's suggestions (she's right on the mark as always) and you will definitely increase your job search success rate!

Thanks Kristine for the excellent advice!