Haven’t found a job yet? Try changing your approach.
Although the US unemployment rate is down a couple of points from last year, a large percentage of people are still unemployed, underemployed or just plain unhappily employed. In a time when we have identified our work and financial status with our esteem, this could be pretty devastating. Being out of work lowers not only our vibration about money and finances but also how we feel about ourselves as people. When you factor in the process of searching for a job, that vibration lowers even further.
You find a job that you feel you are perfect for, send in resume and cover letter and hope for the call back. You go to all the employment agencies and you do everything you have been taught to do in order to find a job. You might get some interviews, maybe even some second interviews but then you never hear anything again. How you are feeling about yourself might be at an all time low.
The first thing to do is stop thinking yourself to the point of craziness. The second step is to take a step back and evaluate how you approach the job search. You might find that you might need to approach it from a completely different way. The most important action you can take is to be active in not only your pursuit of a job but also of your mental well being.
Patty Sigmon-Maize has been looking for work for almost a year now. Conversations with her inevitably include phrases such as: it’s hard, the economy is bad, no one is hiring, I’ve sent my resume every where and no one is calling back, etc. (Do you hear yourself reflected in any of these comments?)
It can be defeating, a lot of times you are dealing with the fears of age, no longer having a clear career path and how to find a job in this economy.
Not long ago I checked in with Patty again and I was happily surprised. The conversation went a very different direction. Instead of focusing on the reasons she was not employed, she decided to change the way she approached the job search. She was very upbeat and energetic as she told me about a job strategies workshop she was taking and how it had taught her a new way to actively look for a job: both mentally and physically.
In going to the California Employment Development Department she found the link to Experience Unlimited, an organization that provides job seekers a forum to meet and provide each other support. The also offer the following:
- Workshops on job search strategies, résumés, interview techniques, and networking
- Résumé evaluations and mock interviews
- Networking opportunities
- Access to on-line job listings
- On-line résumé postings through CalJOBSSM
- Special events and guest speakers
- Use of computers, printers, copiers, telephone, fax, and Internet
From joining the workshops, she then learned that one of the local universities was offering a free 6-Day Advanced Job Transition Course being taught by John Hall, who is a job coach to mid career managers and professionals who are plateaued, bored, or in transition.
From this course she learned not only how to get the interview, but how to get 10xs as many interviews, self branding, researching perspective companies but she also learned her fears surrounding looking for a job, what kind of jobs would be right for her personality and more importantly, how to be more involved in you and your job search.
When faced with a huge challenge, there are a lot of people out there that have taken what could be a very scary time in their lives and are turning their situation around and living the happy life most of us just dream about. So the question is why not be one of those happy people? Why not take this time to really explore what will make you happy?
EDD Website http://www.edd.ca.gov/
Visit John Hall’s Official Site to learn more about his Advanced Job Transition Course
Feature Photo courtesy of Blogcatalog.com
Visit our article Michael Losier’s Unempolyed or Employable for more information on how to change your vibration surrounding your job search.
