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Seven Habits of Highly Successful
Job Seekers
by Linda Matias
In the job search craze, there are those who land a job right away and
those who struggle through the process of finding one for a long time.
‘Luck’ is usually the response one hears from disenfranchised job
seekers when they find out that their neighbor down the street was
offered a position after only a two-week search. With many job seekers
vying for only a few open positions, the truth is that ‘luck’ rarely
has anything to do with it.
Realizing that their job search campaign doesn’t have to be a
never-ending struggle, successful job seekers approach the process
with patience and persistence. If you want to be among the highly
successful job seekers follow the seven steps outlined below.
1. Search with purpose
Instead of trying to fit into a mold set by a hiring organization,
target companies that match your goals and career values; doing this
will allows you to focus your energy into searching for a position
that is a natural fit.
After all, you don’t want to find yourself embarking on another search
within a year’s time because you made a decision in haste.
2. Always be prepared
Be ready for your day’s activities by 9 am. Opportunities rarely land
on your lap and you have to be prepared for the surprises that may
come up during the day. You don’t want to be caught sleeping when
someone calls to discuss an employment opportunity.
If you find yourself answering the phone like this: "hello? . . . well
. . . um . . . well, like I was kinda sleeping. . . how long is this
gonna take? . . . who are you again? . . . like I, um, contacted so
many places, cuz, you know, like, I can't like find a job . . ." then
it is time to reprioritize your needs.
Waiting until your unemployment insurance is about to end before you
begin aggressively looking for a position can be a costly mistake. You
don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you are running low
on resources and desperation is about to set in. This is when mistakes
are made and your job search may begin to suffer.
3. Develop a job search plan
Organize your job search, map out a strategy, set priorities, and
establish goals. Begin your search with a clear focus and a plan.
Participate in a number of activities including answering classified
ads, posting your resume on the Internet, and going on informational
interviews.
4. Bypass Human Resources
A human resources representative is also known as a “screener.” The
screener’s job is to review resumes and match your experience with a
checklist of requirements set forth by the hiring manager. If there
are enough matches, the human resources representative forwards the
resume to the decision maker.
Unfortunately, not much is left to the screener’s interpretation. This
is why most opportunities are lost – because the screener doesn’t have
the luxury of making a decision based on instinct; he or she is
instructed to follow the lead of the hiring manager.
Since the decision makers (e.g., VP of Sales, Director of Marketing,
or CEO) are the ones who determine who is ultimately hired, it is
advisable that you apply directly to them.
5. Write follow-up letters
Well-written follow up letters can make a difference as to whether you
get hired. A follow-up letter is more than a simple note thanking the
interviewer for his or her time. It should be a sophisticated letter
that either re-affirms your interest in the position, serves as an
opportunity to mention an important point you neglected to bring up,
and/or provides an opportunity to offer new insight on a topic that
was discussed during the interview.
6. Avoid toxic job seekers
Job clubs are a great way to generate ideas and for networking
purposes. However, some are also a breeding ground for negativity.
These support groups can inadvertently affect your job search. Take
inventory of the job seekers in attendance. Do they offer words of
encouragement? Are they supportive of your efforts, or do they feed
into your insecurities?
If after such meetings you feel emotionally drained and start to
believe your chances of landing a job are bleak, then it’s time to
search for a new support team.
7. Be good to yourself
There are two types of job seekers. One, that has a laid back
approach, and the other that always feels "there aren’t enough hours
in the day" and compulsively searches for a job without taking a
breather.
Following in the footsteps of the latter is the fastest way to
reaching burn out and when careless mistakes are often made. Though
your job search should be your primary activity, don’t allow it to
consume your every waking moment.
Every so often take a mini vacation; spend time with people who
support you, listen to music and participate in activities you enjoy.
Clearing your mind replenishes your energy and will allow you to
continue searching for a job with a fresh outlook.
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Linda Matias is President of CareerStrides and The National Resume
Writers' Association. She has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal,
New York Newsday, Newsweek, and HR-esource.com. Visit her website at
www.careerstrides.com or email her at linda@careerstrides.com.
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