Job Search Is No Joking Matter

Job Search Is No Joking Matter As a member of acommunity of resume writers and career coaches called the Career Collective, this post is one of many responses to “How to avoid being tricked by common job search blunders?” (in honor of April Fools Day!) I encourage you to visit other members responses, linked below.Please follow our hashtag on Twitter: #careercollective. Iwant to thank Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, MRW, CPRW, CEIP (www.careertrend.net) and Miriam Salpeter (www.keppiecareers.com) for bringing this team of experts together. Whether you are currently unemployed or plan on changing jobs, right now is the time to get your ducks in a row! It has been said that todays job search is not like it used to be (in the good old days). These are some things you can cross off your list and avoid: Searching Sundays Help Wanted ads in the newspapers Waiting for a response from the company that they received your resume Waiting for a response from the company that they would like to interview you, again Typing your resume and going to the copy shop to have 100s of copies made Using the same generic cover letter and mass mailing this stuff everywhere Logging onto the best job search boards to find yournext job Waiting until your unemployment is almost over to really start looking for a job Phew, no need to worry about those time commitments. Now you can focus on the really important things! Identify several different job titles to pursue Develop a list of companies that hire those titles Craft your LinkedIn profile Draft resumes for each of job titles you are pursuing (you will have to customize each resume whenever you submit it) Take steps to find people who work in those target companies (ie. network) Nurture relationships before, during and after the search! (Ooops, but it is never too late) Gather information, dont ask for jobs Be patient. Be giving. Be kind. If youve been in job search for awhile, this is too basic, I know. For the advanced job seeker (which no-one wants to admit to): Focus your communication. Dont send mixed messages Evaluate what is working and what isnt getting you results Take care of yourself Ensure your reputation and brand are on the webLinkedIn, Facebook, Virtual CV, Google Profile, etc. Commit time to volunteer in something that will feel rewarding Do something every day that pushes you out of your comfort zone Ask for help- financial, emotional, job search Do not hide behind your computer Dont stop reading yetVisit the expert advice for “How to avoid being tricked by common job search blunders?” The April, 2010, Career Collective Links 10 Ways to Tell if Your Job Search is a Joke, @careerealism April Fool’s Day â€" Who’s Fooling Who?, @MartinBuckland @EliteResumes If It’s Not You and It’s Not True, You’re FoolingYourself, @GayleHoward Don’t Kid Yourself! (The Person You See in the Mirror is a Good Hire), @chandlee Avoiding the Most Common Blunder, @jobhuntorg Are you fooling yourself? Bored at work? Is it your own fault?, @keppie_careers Hey, Job Seeker â€" Don’t Be a Fool!, @resumeservice Is Your #Career in Recovery or Retreat? (All Joking Aside), @KCCareerCoach 9 Ways You Might Be Fooling Yourself About Your Job Search, @heatherhuhman Don’t get tricked by these 3 job search blunders, @LaurieBerenson Trying to hard to be nobody’s fool?, @WorkWithIllness It’s not all about you, @DawnBugni Mirror ‘their’ needs, not ‘your’ wants in #jobsearch, @ValueIntoWords Stop Fooling Yourself about your Job Hunt: Things you may be doing to sabotage yourself â€" @erinkennedycprw Same as it ever was â€" @walterakana Don’t be fooled. Avoid these â€" @kat_hansen Job Seekers: You Are Fooling Yourself If...@barbarasafani Follow us on Twitter with our hashtag #careercollective