How To REALLY Look For A Job
Are you looking for a job -- really looking? Or are you simply waiting for employment to fall into your lap?
If you're like about 75% of the job seekers I've met over the past nine years, you're probably doing too much waiting and not enough searching.
Stop.
Now.
Instead, here are two ways to be more proactive -- and much more effective -- in your job search.
1) Stop waiting for job leads to appear. Start making your own.
Here's a real estate analogy that directly relates to your job search. (Trust me.)
Where would you rather buy a 3-bedroom house, in Japan or the United States?
Considering the price would be about $2 million in Japan vs. about $200,000 in the US, you'd likely opt for an American home. And why is Japanese real estate so pricey? Mainly because only about 15% of Japan is habitable. The remaining 85% of land there is too mountainous to build on. So prices are driven into the stratosphere by the intense competition for prime real estate.
Well, the traditional employment market is just like Japanese real estate.
Advertised job openings -- those listed on the Internet or in newspaper classifieds -- are only about 15% of the market. Yet, this is where about 80-90% of job seekers spend most of their time looking ? so the competition is fierce. And, like Japanese real estate, you are far less likely to find what you want.
It's far better to spend most of your time looking for jobs that are not advertised, since you'll have less competition.
And how can you find unadvertised job leads? The two best ways I know are:
a) Calling employers to ask for an interview (explained in a prior article of mine, here - http://www.gresumes.com/marky-stein-clients.htm)
b) Networking more effectively
Since so many people get networking so wrong, I'll tackle that one next ...
2) Stop waiting for people to hand you job leads. Start networking right.
Here's a recent email from an unhappy job seeker with a common -- and completely wrong -- negative attitude about networking:
--- Past experience has shown that most people will only help you when it directly benefits them, such as when there is an incentive hiring plan. For many years, I have tried to keep in touch with numerous people I knew very well. Most refuse to even answer. No returned emails, calls, etc. If people won't even answer, they certainly will not help you. I would speculate that 98% of the time when I contact past acquaintances, I get the cold shoulder.
Jim, Pennsylvania ---
Like most job hunters who network unsuccessfully, Jim is asking the wrong questions. And getting the wrong answers. And not getting hired.
Instead of, "Why won't anyone return my calls or give me job leads?" Jim (and you) should ask, "How could I give people a reason to contact me with job leads?" This simple change in mindset will make all the difference. Try it and see.
Here are more questions to ask yourself if your networking is not panning out.
* How can I make networking a two-way street, and do something that benefits the people I want job leads from?
* What news/tips/advice/suggestions could I give to people in my network FIRST, which would ethically obligate them to help me in return?
* Who else could I be networking with?
* How many new people have I met this week who could give me job leads AFTER I help them out in some way?
I've said this before, and I'll say it again: Networking is like skiing. If you give up and say, "It didn't work for me," it's because you weren't doing it right. Period.
Here's hoping these two ways to uncover job leads and network better will help you get hired fast. Now, go out and make your own luck!
Kevin Donlin is President of Guaranteed Resumes.
Since 1996, he and his team have provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in all 50 states and 23 countries. Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, CBS MarketWatch, The Wall Street Journal's National Business Employment Weekly, CBS Radio, and many others.
As a reader of this publication, you're eligible for a special offer. Get your Free Job Search Kit ($25.00 value) at the Guaranteed Resumes Web site - http://www.gresumes.com
 Google News Updated : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:51:10 GMT "Chihuahua" bites Crowe, DiCaprio at box office - Reuters Reuters - LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The new terrorism thriller "Body of Lies" failed to take the top spot at the weekend box office in North America on Sunday, becoming the latest victim of moviegoer aversion to movies dealing with Middle East intrigue. 'Chihuahua' still has bite in second weekend at box office ‘Body’ Talk, Baby Talk Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:19:10 GMT Texas new No. 1 in coaches poll after wild college football weekend - USA Today
USA Today - By Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY The date won't quite live in infamy, but college football followers should remember Oct. 11, 2008, for a long time. Kansas fails to move up in polls Texas grabs top ranking in AP Poll Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:18:35 GMT Lisa Marie Presley delivers twins: report - Reuters
Reuters - LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis Presley's only child, gave birth to twin baby girls on October 7, celebrity news TV show "Entertainment Tonight" said on its website on Saturday. Twin girls for Lisa Marie Presley Lisa Marie Presley Welcomes Twin Girls Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:17:01 GMT US-POLITICS Summary - Washington Post
Washington Post - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama has opened a 6-point lead over Republican rival John McCain in the US presidential race, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Sunday. John McCain and Sarah Palin try new tactics Pittsburgh Paper Picks Obama, Pans on McCain/Palin Ticket Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 15:22:18 GMT Stem cell promises, obstacles remain four years after bill's approval - San Jose Mercury News San Jose Mercury News - EDITOR'S NOTE: This is first of a two-part series examining the progress and potential pitfalls in California's $3 billion stem cell research program. Researchers find easier way to make stem cells New method generates stem cells safely from mice Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:34:39 GMT Spotlight on Apple notebooks: 1989 to 2008 - CNNMoney.com
CNNMoney.com - On Tuesday, Oct. 14, Apple will unveil the latest addition to a long line of portable computers that dates back nearly 20 years - to the ungainly, 15.8-pound “Macintosh Portable” that PC World named the 17th worst technology product of all time. This week in Apple: New notebooks, new writers, and more Woz Don't Buy A Mac Laptop* Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 15:23:15 GMT Obama Gains in States Such as Iowa, Florida Give National Boost - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By James Rowley and Kristin Jensen Oct. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is moving ahead in a series of new polls from Florida to Iowa, gains that are helping him maintain a national lead over Republican John McCain. Video: Kids Vote On Campaign '08 Newsday poll: Obama has double-digit lead on Long Island Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 15:51:54 GMT Website Traffic Promotion |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... As a Certified Personnel Consultant working for Find Great People... Read More You've just been granted an on-site interview in another town.... Read More The AIDA formula is as old as dirt. It was... Read More Is it opening doors to new opportunities? Does it compel... Read More There are several types of online resume formats that can... Read More The challenges of raising a child by yourself, whether you're... Read More I am having a hard time understanding why a valuable... Read More (Des Moines, Iowa - February 2, 2005) Behaving appropriately during... Read More Like huge anchors on cruise ships, other people... Read More That's not you? Great! Bad habits are hard to break... Read More Working abroad can be an exciting, rewarding and horizon broadening... Read More Proof reading from home is an excellent way to make... Read More My table-mates introduced themselves as the reciprocal protocol began. We... Read More Are you thinking about switching careers? If you are, you're... Read More The question confronting most people who want to find a... Read More I spend a bit of time on airplanes. So, I... Read More What do you want to be when you grow up?... Read More As an employer I receive many job applications each week.... Read More Inherent within the human spirit is a desire for fulfillment,... Read More I will not pretend that this is the easiest topic... Read More Going through the motions of a bad interview is like... Read More The message came from Human Resources. There's nothing to worry... Read More While more people are finding employment, more employed workers are... Read More Have any of these situations happened to you? Forgetting your... Read More Is your resume dead? Don't be so quick to say,... Read More
Adsense
websites
Three Ways to Transition to a New Career
Traveling for An Interview? 10 Tips to Get You From Here to There
How to Transform a Boring Note Into A Killer Cover Letter - Part I
Is Your Resume Doing ITS Job?
Online Resume Formats
Ten Great Careers For Single Parents
Hiring the OverQualified Employee or Mining for Gold
Make A Lasting Impression With Interview Etiquette
Booster & Drainers
How To Stay Calm in Tryng Times
Planning To Work Abroad
Before You Begin, Know What To Expect - How You Can Make a Living Proof Reading From Home
What Did You Say?
Switching Careers - 7 Key Steps
Find A Job In A Fast Growing Field Using Labor Market Information For Your State
The Path of Least Resistance
Doing What You Love
Successful Job Seeking ? The Importance of Your Cover Letter
Are You Living Your Career Dreams?
Tips on Finding Employment as a Corporate Flight Attendant
When Bad Interviews Happen to Good Candidates
Staying In The Game
Discontentment in the Workplace
How to Overcome a Bad First Impression
Resurrecting the Perfect Resume, Part One
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Career Success: Take Charge of Your Career
People react very differently to the waves of change that... Read More
How To Get A Job Writing Speeches
Jobs in speech writing are amongst the most difficult to... Read More
Occupational Health and Safety - Stress and Workaholism at Work
There has been a lot of hullabaloo recently about the... Read More
How To Conduct A Successful Job Search Campaign
1.Define your objective: Know what kind of work you most... Read More
Job Interviews: Ill File a Grievance!
I recently went to a retirement party with my husband... Read More
The Organized Job Search
Many people, under financial or other pressures to find work... Read More
Find Those People
"The Emperor's New Clothes" was a favorite childhood story of... Read More
Job Search Tips - How to Increase Your Success
Finding a job can be a painful and difficult experience.... Read More
Career Planning for Gifted Adults
"James is so restless and energetic. I wonder if he's... Read More
Are Online Degrees Valid to Prospective Employers?
Online distance learning has gained rapid popularity with the advent... Read More
Networking Masterclass - Part 2 Practicing Altruism
Practicing Altruism The 'Golden Rule' occurred in the Greek and... Read More
How to Track Your Right Career
Are you lost in the wilderness when it comes to... Read More
Gray Hair, Black Prospects
If you're reading this article, I'm sure I don't have... Read More
Sawbones
I was rushing through the white-tented terminal building at Denver... Read More
Layoff Survival Guide - Do You Have The Career Management Horsepower It Will Take To Survive?
In a recent survey of over 662 career seekers, some... Read More
Make A Lasting Impression With Interview Etiquette
(Des Moines, Iowa - February 2, 2005) Behaving appropriately during... Read More
The Top 10 Mistakes Job Seekers Should Avoid In Contacting An Employer
There are numerous tools and resources available to guide job... Read More
A Cover Letter Tip Guaranteed To Land You More Job Interviews!
Looking for a new job?I'm about to reveal one of... Read More
Im just me - An Overview of an Web er.. Designer, Developer, Consultant and Friend
I am going to give you a breakdown of my... Read More
Reviving Your Resume
A resume may not be who you are, but to... Read More
Age Discrimination is Alive and Unwelcome Here!
Common sense appears to be a rare commodity these days.... Read More
Words. Words. Words.
They're only words. Some believe the school-yard taunt: "Sticks and... Read More
Book Summary: How to Work with Just About Anyone
This article is based on the following book:How... Read More
Relocation Issues...Who Will Pay?
In light of recent unemployment figures, and a continual downturn... Read More
Effective Resumes
A resume is normally the first contact point between an... Read More
Careers, Jobs & Employment |