|
Job Winning Tactic: Organize Your Attack
By Virginia Bola, PsyD
Looking for work is an energy-devouring ordeal, often leading to running in circles and not getting anywhere. A systematic approach can help you focus on your goal, avoid wasting the energy you need to conserve for interviews and employer contacts, and lower your stress level.
Some resources you might find helpful include:
1. Newspaper classified. Pro: you know that an opening does exist or a company wouldn't spend money to advertise. Con: there may be thousands of applicants for one position. Value depends upon the kind of work you are looking for and the uniqueness of your skills and experience. Certainly worth a weekend check but cannot be exclusively relied upon unless you have your heart set on a telemarketing position.
2. Registering with agencies. Pro: they only make money when you obtain work so they are motivated to get you employment. Con: they need you to take a job, any job, so they can earn their fees and they work to keep their real clients, employers, happy so often screen you out of the really good jobs if they have any doubt about how well you will fit.
3. Internet resources. There are some good resources -Monster.com and Careerbuilder and the job finder section of most major home pages. Beware of wasting time on groups. While some (a very few) are well-managed and inappropriate postings screened out, others (many) are choked with pornographic messages.
4. Job hotlines. These are useful for a weekly check-in but they are primarily available with large employers and jobs are more likely to be found with small and medium-sized employers. The same caveat holds true for job fairs.
5. Cold-calling. If your skills lie within a particular industry where employers typically cluster together -industrial parks, medical centers, retail - walking into offices cold, with a smile, a resume, and a confident air, can sometimes identify an open position long before any search for applicants begins.
6. Personal contacts. Listed last but of prime importance. By networking -- contacting everyone you know to obtain help, and following up on their contacts -- you may be able to marshal several hundred job hunting aides which increases your chances enormously.
7. Prioritize your activities. Assess each method for what looks most promising, try them for a short period, and determine where you, personally, feel comfortable. Spend the major part of your job search time there to avoid squandering your energy on fruitless pursuits. About the Author Virginia Bola operated a rehabilitation company for 20 years, developing innovative job search techniques for disabled workers, while serving as a respected Vocational Expert in Administrative, Civil and Workers' Compensation Courts. Author of an interactive and emotionally supportive workbook, The Wolf at the Door: An Unemployment Survival Manual, and a monthly ezine, The Worker's Edge, she can be reached at http://www.unemploymentblues.com
Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/1717.html
If you wish to add the above article to your website or newsletters then please include the "Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/1717.html" as shown above and make it hyperlinked. |
Some other articles by Virginia Bola, PsyD | Personal Contacts: The Key to Successful Networking When the word "networking" is used, we tend to think of upwardly mobile college graduates with a bursting day timer in hand chatting up ...
Overwhelmed and Overworked: The Myth of American Productivity Employment finally seemed back on track during the last few months of 2004. Politicians crowed that "Our tax cuts are working." Then, without warning, further job growth slowed ...
Unemployment Survival Barriers: Losing Ourselves When we lose our jobs, no matter the reason, we lose a big part of our identity. Think of the last several times you met new people. After names are ...
Job Search Survival: Emotional Damage Control Looking for work is a roller-coaster ride: high with elation when you think you've found a great position, low with discouragement when you ...
Unemployment Challenge: Downward Mobility All the indicators show an improving economy and, finally, the start of job growth. More than eight million unemployed workers ...
Layoff Survival Technique: Create Your Own Job Security In a time of economic downturn, international turmoil, company restructuring and corporate mergers run amok, thousands of people are either out of work or fearful of losing their jobs.
...
|
|
| |
|
|
|