By Jackie Simmonds, NEJS Blog Editor
There are lots of lists out there for you to follow. Top this and top that. At this point in my job search I feel like I have become numb to the top things to do. I value practical advice, even if I have to read it several times before it actually sinks in and I start following it. And these top ten lists are starting to get on my nerves.
I recently saw an article by Jill Czeczuga, and yes, it is a top 10 listing. But going back to the practical advice, it is a list of basics that might be good to tape up next to your desk. After months of searching it is easy to get burned out. If you find that your whole day has slipped away with nothing accomplished, you have just jumped a few levels in Mafia Wars, or you would rather clean the basement out than scan job listings it might be time to do something to get yourself back on track.
Hence the taping of the the list next to your desk.
1. Use the Internet Daily – Make sure you are actively spending your time on the Internet looking for and applying to jobs and networking with those who may be able to help. Check out JobBoardReviews.com to help find the most useful websites to your industry or profession. Do your best to stay focused on your job search for a few hours a day. Be sure to actively apply to jobs, don’t just upload your resume and wait for phone calls.
2. Perfect your resume – Your resume is often the first glimpse a potential employer gets of you and your skills, make sure it accurately details your skills and work history and how they can benefit your future employer. Make sure you have someone proof read it before sending it out and try to customize it for each job you are applying for.
3. Network – Let everyone you know that you are looking for a job. The more people you have out there on your team, with eyes open the more opportunities you will have. Tell everyone in your network what kind of a job you are looking for or any special skills you may have. You can forward your resume to people in your network and ask them if they know of anyone hiring or if they can check within their company for any open positions. Most people actually find and are hired through referrals from a friend or family member than any other source.
4. Go back to school – Now is the time to get the competitive edge over other job candidates. Many people are finding it hard to get to a traditional college or university and are opting for online schools and programs. Look into enrolling in an accredited online college for some online courses and upgrading your training. Increasing your education will improve your resume and get you one step closer to landing a job.
5. Target Local Companies – Get out and start knocking on some doors. If you are not having any luck online submitting your resume online, it’s time to get out and start meeting people face to face. Make a list of companies in your area that you would like to work for, call them directly to see if they have any openings that interest you. If that doesn’t work, put on some professional attire and stop by with your resume in hand.
The rest of this list can be found by clicking here.
The next time you find yourself surfing the web instead of working on your job search pick one of the things on this list, roll up your sleeves and just do it!
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