Let Timing Work “For You” In Your Job Search

Timing can make or break your job search. If your resume | CV just happens to get in the hands of the right hiring authority at the right time, it may result in an interview or an eventual a job-offer. There is more rejection in a job search than acceptance. However, when you hear the word “no”, realize they may be saying “not now.” The following are strategies you can implement to put timing on your side:

1. When you submit your resume | CV online – simultaneously send one by mail addressed to the individual who would be your bosses’ boss
2. Proactively send resumes | CV’s to hiring authorities who are not advertising. Often this person may have a person on their team they would like to upgrade, and your resume could entice them to move ahead with replacing this person.
3. Set up Google Alerts on your company targets, so you can anticipate their needs in advance and submit your resume early in the hiring process.
4. Set up a consistent follow up process with your professional and personal networks. They need to know you are actively conducting your search.
5. Do things at times when you will run into people who are working i.e. grocery shopping, getting your mail, etc.
6. It may be time to consider a holiday or part-time job to get back in to the workforce where you will hear about other available jobs.
7. Volunteer your services to enhance your skills and resume.
8. Consider working contract or temp to update your current experience on your resume or CV.
9. Follow up with hiring authorities when you are not hired. Often these hiring authorities will have other positions available that may fit your credentials.
10. If you are not hired, follow up showing your high level of interest in working for their company and confidence in your ability to do the job. In this competitive job market, the person hired often accepts a counter-offer, turns down the job or accepts another offer. You want to be the candidate that is the strongest back up candidate that is considered.

Implement these techniques and timing will be on YOUR side!

Seven Tips to Stay Motivated Throughout Your Job Search

There may be times during your job search that it takes effort just to get out of bed. If you’ve never been in sales, the roller coaster of highs and lows in a job search can be extremely frustrating. The challenge is how to stay motivated every day.

1. Control How You React - You can’t control the economy, job market or results of your job search. You do however have 100% control over how you choose to react – which is empowering during your job search. No one can upset or frustrate you, unless you give them permission. Throughout your job search there will be times when the best decision is to choose not to react. Try to develop the attitude, “So what, now what – next!”
2. Set and Attain Minimum Daily Standards - When you set and achieve minimum standards, you will feel a daily sense of achievement. This consistency of activity will improve the results you achieve throughout your job search.
3. Embrace New Techniques - Take time to complete the fifteen-step process in our Career Portal under the three phases of a job search which includes: Plan – Search & Connect – Interview. This process will reveal techniques successfully implemented by professional recruiters. These new techniques will give you a competitive edge over other job seekers.
4. Spend Less Time on Your Computer Get Out of Your House - Spend less than 20% of your time responding to job boards or website posting. Join a job club to increase your professional network and gain from the experience of others. Other job seekers will provide you with honest feedback and often leads.
5. Participate in Hobbies, Sports, Volunteering or Exercise - You need to nurture yourself while you are unemployed. Exercise will help keep your mind sharp and body healthy. Hobbies bring joy and provide to you with a sense of satisfaction. Helping others through volunteering can improve your self-esteem, enhance your networking efforts and will help you stay motivated in your job search. It can also serve as a welcomed break from your job search.
6. Identify an Accountability Partner or Mentor - During your job search, you often feel alone which can negatively impact your motivation. Having an accountability partner or mentor can help keep you motivated and on track.
7. Consider Yourself Self-Employed vs. Unemployed - If you have an area of expertise, consider working as a consultant. If possible, accept a part-time job, work as a contractor or accept temporary work. Consider accepting work in an entirely new career or industry. If you have a college degree, consider substitute teaching. 

Follow these seven steps and you will continue to be motivated throughout your search.

Create Your Next Job

It’s important to be incredibly proactive in your job search. You can’t sit around waiting for your dream job to tap you on the shoulder. Study the profession or industry you are targeting and determine 50 companies you’d most prefer. Conduct extensive research, set up Google Alerts and figure out their challenges.

Next, craft a solution for them that you can share directly or through social media. You want to get noticed as a problem solver who is offering to help them with no expectation of anything in return. When you are perceived as an expert in your field, that is when recruiters and hiring authorities hunt you down.

Read what your potential hiring authority reads, hang out on line where they hang out, post on blogs they read, comment on articles they write and follow them on LinkedIn and Twitter. Be their greatest fan while you are positioning yourself consistently as an expert in your field. You will be amazed at how much more fun it is to have hiring authorities approaching you with potential opportunities.
 

Improve your Ability to LISTEN

You will greatly improve the quality of conversations you have if you learn how to listen. You need to learn when to talk, when to stop talking and when to ask questions. It’s also important for you to learn to “understand where another person is coming from” vs. trying to provide an immediate solution.

See the world through the eyes of the person talking and you fine tune your listening skills to uncover this person’s priorities and challenges. It’s also important to listen carefully and closely without interrupting. Your questions should never be self-serving. They should uncover what’s most important to the other person. It’s very difficult to find indviduals who have mastered the art of listening which is one of the most valuable soft skills.

When you practice interviewing, pay special attention to your ability to listen!

Learn How to Standout in Any Networking or Interviewing Situation!

The Super Bowl Commercials prove how a single message can be a strong catalyst for action, prompting viewers to BUY in a matter of a few seconds.

An effective two-minute personal commercial is the backbone of your job search! You will use your two-minute pitch during job interviews, in your cover letters and when you are networking.

In fact, this answers the difficult question: "Tell me about yourself?"

This personal commercial will change throughout your career, but helps you advance your career and become an effective networker throughout your entire career. It is important that you constantly change this pitch. It is also important to MASTER more than one, depending on your audience.

Keep the following in mind:

1.       Who you are pitching to?

2.      Why would they be interested in you?

3.      Who is your competition?

4.      What you bring to the table that your possible competitors do not?

Too often, the pitch is too long! This is not your "life story" it is your two-minute commercial which usually takes only 30 seconds once you have it mastered.

The primary goals of a Personal Pitch in a Job Search include:

1.       Let the decision maker know you are intelligent

2.      Display your high level of interest

3.      Share only relevant information

4.      Come across at the right level

If you are not currently employed and someone asks you, "What do you do?" an effective answer could be, "I'm currently a free agent on the open job market and it's really exciting!" Then you give your two-minute pitch to let this listener know who to refer you to!

How many times have you met someone not employed and when you ask that question, they focus on why they are not working? You have no idea what they have to offer a prospective employer.

Your pitch needs to be enthusiastic, positive and make the listener want to ask you additional questions. You need to practice, practice, and practice until you are very comfortable with the various pitches you write. Finding a job involves SALES SKILLS. If you are not a salesperson, you need to become one and mastering your pitch is your first step in selling yourself.

You will be amazed how many more interviews and job offers you will receive when you know how to make an excellent first impression with a prepared pitch! A good pitch is also very empowering and helps increase your confidence level, which is critical when you are in transition.

The primary goals of a Personal Pitch throughout your Career include:

1.       Career Advancement with your Current Employer

2.      Enhance your effectiveness as a Networker

3.      Share Accomplishments with Potential Employers

4.      Inform others of WHO and WHAT to Refer to You

Think for a moment of the last social or business networking event you attended. Did you have an effective way to approach other attendees? Do they know what you do?   Do they know who to refer to you?

Master your Two-Minute Commercial and You Will Enjoy Amazing Results in Your Job Search and in Advancing Your Career!

If you want more information on how to write your  Two-Minute commercial please visit http://thr.dontinterviewaudition.com/.   If you would like information on other Career Counseling options, please visit us at www.thrpartners.com  or contact us directly at (803) 980-8477.