One thing about being unemployed is that people are rarely prepared for it – if you are planning for a career change and already employed, there is a certain comfort that helps with the preparation process and one thing is usually sure, it is a voluntary process.
Being employed usually means that we are in the mainstream, with access to networking opportunities and the, if inaptly named, “Protestant work ethic”.
We are used to getting up in the morning, getting washed and dressed and preparing for the day ahead, which is not always a given necessity for the unemployed, although it should be.
One aspect of being away from the workplace is that job-seeking / networking opportunities are reduced and the longer a person is away from regular employment, the harder this gets. People get to the point where they start feeling out of touch with what is going on in the world of work – which isn’t always a false feeling, as technology and processes change at an ever-increasing rate.
Job-seeking for the unemployed, is by definition, a full-time job that requires constant dedication, clear strategies and thought.
That said, the desperation that can be felt by the unemployed can mar the job-seeking process to a point that actually finding a job gets harder and harder, and even if one isn’t desperate to get a job, the perception can sometimes be transmitted across an interview table.
In some cases stress can play a big part, leading to negative feelings, poor communication, withdrawal, relationship issues and, in some extreme examples – depression.
I don’t pretend that there are ‘magic-wand-solutions’ – there just aren’t.
However, you can do a lot to stack the chips on your side when job-seeking – here are some things to think about when job-seeking or considering a career change. It is important to be brutally honest with yourself on these points:
1. Think about why you lost your last job / why you want to change – are there any lessons that you can take from this to help you in the next part of the process?
2. Do a personal SWOT – have a look at this post to help you really understand yourself. If you understand your strong and weak points, it will be much easier for you to communicate these to others.
3. Keep up to date with what is happening in your chosen job market, even if you have been away from the workplace for some time, you will need to get back in touch with it, by way of discussion forums, professional revues and magazines, networking events, presentations and meetings etc. Networking takes a lot of effort, but it often pays off, and sometimes in unexpected ways – the key is to get out there and start rubbing shoulders with others.
4. Prepare an elevator pitch. OK, this may be seen as old hat by some, but it’s a great way of opening career-oreinted conversations in a clear and focused way, whilst avoiding rambling on. Remember that one-single elevator pitch will not be apt for all situations, this is where preparation comes in – self-confidence is reliant on preparation, as we often say “failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”
5. Consider the type of company that you are aiming at – the size, industry sector, culture, philosophy, atmosphere, training and career prospects, market share, performance and geographical situation.
6. Salary and benefits – what are you aiming for and what can you accept? Some people will accept a lower salary if they feel that there is sufficient latitude for advancement once there is a ‘foot-in-the-door’. However, if the reality reveals that the perceived prospects of advancement are not there, then things can go sour rather rapidly.
7. Never send a standard CV and covering letter – if you really want the job, take the time to tailor your CV and letter to the job on offer, taking into account the aspects in point 5. A standard ‘copy’ CV can be seen a mile away by recruiters and are rarely acknowledged by a letter and even more rarely followed up by an interview.
8. Work with a partner – tandem working is a great way to maintain motivation levels and is also a way of pooling resources, giving and getting feedback and just being able to take the blinkers off and think things through with someone else. Meeting up regularly will ensure that you make that extra effort to prepare your job-seeking efforts for these meetings and will bring encouragement to keep going.
9. Focus on transferable skills, especially if you have been out of work for a while. Women often discount and down-play the time that they have been out of the job market bringing up kids – why should they? Think of the huge organisation skills involved in ‘running’ a household, managing a budget and bringing kids up – big it up, but keep it in line with your job-seeking aspirations as a plus not a minus.
10. Take regular exercise, eat healthy food and keep time for your leisure and hobbies as you would if you were working. Patterns are very important, especially the daily habits that form our workday routines, which can easily be forgotten or abandoned when unemployed, which can also upset sleep and meal patterns, leading to stress and health problems.
11. Network via some of the social networks such as Twitter, using the hashtag #JobSearch, Facebook and their EasyCV, Brave New talent, Twellow.com, TweetMyJobs.com,LinkedIn and any others that can either help with advice, networking or publishing your cv.
12. Research anything you can about the company that you have targeted to apply to – the market, innovations, shareholders, products – in fact anything you can so that in the interview your preparation can be tangibly seen by the interviewer.
13. Don’t get wrong-footed by behavioural-based interview questions – once again preparation is key. Many of these types of questions are not looking for the ‘right’ answer, but how you would or have acted in various situations and this is what the interviewer is looking for. If you are working with others, try to rehearse and feedback on dry-run interviews that include these types of questions – many examples are available on the Internet.
14. Dress professionally for any networking occasion or for an interview, even the ‘informal chats’ get there with at least 10 minutes to spare and have some questions to ask at the end of the session.
15. Send a short, but sincere ‘Thank You’ mail to follow up on the interview – even if you don’t get the job, you have had an excellent opportunity to practice your skills and to network – it’s not a failure, unless you want it to be! It is an excellent learning occasion – it may not seem like this at first though.
16. Ensure that your short-term objectives clearly mesh with your long-term objectives. If you cannot justify your strategy to yourself, then it will be very difficult to convince a recruiter.
17. Smile and be enthusiastic during the interview – it is contagious, it also changes the rhythm and intonation of the voice.
18. Don’t talk negatively about past employers or past jobs that you have had – try to remain as neutral as possible. Not many companies go out to openly recruit negative people – stay positive, pleasant and gracious throughout – the impression that you leave will be enduring.
19. Cross-reference any job vacancies that you are considering with your network – you can glean some excellent tips and advice from your network and sometimes a well-intentioned word here and there can prove to be the difference between acceptance and rejection – don’t rely on this though.
20. Stay positive – in order to be able to stay for what may be more than a sprint, you will need to avoid negativity that can come from rejection. You will be doing a lot of footwork, research and networking – you will need all the positive energy that you can muster up. Negativity saps energy, provokes inertia and increases stress levels – none of these being useful for a job-seeker.
Find ways with others around you to maintain positivity levels and can-do attitude. You are a salesperson – you are selling yourself to a recruiter or a company – take a step back and ask yourself the question, “Would I recruit me?” The answer to this question will help you sharpen your objectives and your strategy for getting that job.
Good luck!
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