If you have been in search mode for awhile, you are probably sick and tired of it by now. Money is tight and the end of unemployment is looming. You just need a job!
Step one is to "just get a job", however, that isn't as easy as it sounds. You may be presenting yourself as overqualified or desperate in the eyes of many employers. If you are applying for jobs you are overqualified for, make sure you adjust your resume. Sure, some may call this "dummying it down", the reality is, you are tailoring it for the position. Adjusting might include:
- Eliminating or decreasing the "leadership" functions in your last position.
- Demonstrate use of the specific skills the immediate job requires, don't imply or force the employer to read between the lines.
- If you honestly haven't used the required skills in awhile, consider using a combo-functional/hybrid resume.
Remember, networking is the best way to hear about all jobs as well as overcome any obstacles that might be glaring on the resume.
Even before you start the search, you will want to make sure there is at least a little interest in the jobs. You will find more satisfaction and be less frustrated if you can use skills that you are good at and enjoy using. This is why self assessment is so important. To many, it seems like a waste of time, especially if the need for income is dire. Relax, and dive into self exploration. It is well worth the time and we all need a little reinvention right now.
When I was 10, I wanted to be an Archaeologist. Really. There was a barn behind our house and one day, I started digging back there. Why? Why does a 10 year old do anything... Each day I dug, I would find something new. I found old bottles, high button shoes, rusty tin cans, an old light bulb (which hangs on our Christmas tree), a thimble case, and all kinds of treasures and junk. I began to learn about old bottles and how to tell their age by the how far up the bottle the seam ran. I had books on the subject which I read and I displayed my bottles at the town's historical society. It was a passion. I wanted to learn more and more about the items I was finding. 10 year old's don't often do research, but I wanted to.
Finding a passion that will keep engaged and interested is not as hard as it sounds. The more difficult part is finding a way to make a living using your passion.
What could I do today if this was still my passion? I could work in an Antiques Store. I could work at an Historical Society. Those 2 options alone will probably produce at least 40 target companies I could now begin to pursue. I would first start talking to friends and neighbors to cultivate contacts. Next, I would get in my car and visit all the target companies. Building relationships at each stop. Scoping out their businesses and making early decisions. I would write employment proposals to all my target companies explaining why they needed me on their team. I would relentlessly followup by phone with each owner and ask for a face to face meeting to discuss my proposal (bracing for some higher level of rejection). Someone out of those 40 organizations certainly needed someone with my passion and determination on their team.
Oh, but I am not done yet.I will research local and national associations related to history and antiques. I am going to attend meetings related to history. Oh, I am still not done. I'm going to go on LinkedIn and scour the search function for key words related to antiques and history. I am going to look up people on Facebook. I'll post interesting ,research-based notes on my FB page. I am also going to write some articles and submit them to magazines and on-line forums related to the topic. Still working the social media route, I am going to Twitter to see who's tweeting about antiques and history in the area (Twellow is probably where I would start).
Out of all of this, something might happen. There are no guarantees in life. Having fun and feeling good about what you are doing is more than half the battle.
Love how you played out the plan with a real life example. Brought the whole process to life for me! Picked up the old bottle on the desk with my name on it that a friend bought at a garage sale for 10 cents. Checking the seam right now...
Posted by: Craig Watkins | September 16, 2009 at 09:03 AM