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How to Conquer Job Hunting ApathyJack, downsized from his last job, was frozen in a place called Apathy. Had been for months now. Knew he had to get moving, had to find a job, but ? just couldn't seem to get his act together. Oh, he'd tried ? a little. But his lack of immediate success just made him that much more apathetic. Listless, almost indifferent, he dithered, wasting time on unrelated tasks. Found excuses not to move forward. Procrastinated ? and hated himself for it. His family and friends tried to be supportive, but that only seemed to deepen his gloomy outlook. He was stuck. Getting Back in the Game Sound familiar? If so, read on ? there are things you can do to quickly get unstuck! Irrational fear, not the lack of ability or opportunity, is the usual cause of apathy during a job search. Sometimes we fear we are too old, too inexperienced, too long out of work, too ? something. At other times, fearing rejection, we assume that no one will ever want us again. Or that if they do, we won't be able to hold the job. We fear it's a bad job market, the wrong career track, the wrong time of year, our health, ? oh, lots and lots of things lead us to apathy! What to do: Put your fears aside Worrying about the past or future never helped anyone, but thoughtful, persistent action will. Others, many in worse straits than you and tired of "sawing sawdust," have found their way forward. So can you. Plan and, if need be, plan again "Those who fail to plan," it's been said, "plan to fail." But not every plan will work, so be prepared to rethink your plan. Check your tools Ask yourself such things as: Do my résumé and cover letters impress rather than bore? Do I know how to find job opportunities? Are my interviewing and negotiating skills as polished as they should be? Is my personal appearance acceptable? Correct or improve what you can. Gain exposure If no one knows you exist, nothing happens. So identify and use all marketing channels appropriate to your goals: job ads, recruiters, networking, information interviewing, and many others. Once you have correctly gained exposure to the right hiring personnel, favorable things should start to happen. Start small Just getting started is often the hardest part of a job campaign. Therefore, begin with something easy-answering ads or contacting your references again. Then move on to those job campaign actions like networking that typically take more time and effort. Study the Process. Most job hunters today have only a vague idea about how to go about marketing themselves. If you take the time to learn and apply effective job-hunting techniques, however, you will surely shorten the time it takes you to find a satisfying position. Seek Professional Help If despite your best efforts you are still struggling, then consider seeking professional help from qualified and experienced career coaches or consultants. Such knowledgeable personnel can help pinpoint your problem areas as well as suggest paths of action that you may not have thought of. Yes, job-hunting apathy is a real challenge. But if you have read this far, then you know how to lick it. (Jack did!) So! No more worrying, no more procrastinating, no more self-recriminations-just get that ball rolling! (And start right now!) Pierre G. Daunic, Ph.D. is a Senior Consultant for R.L. Stevens & Associates Inc. http://interviewing.com/. For over 24 years R.L. Stevens & Associates has been the Nation's most successful privately-held firm, specializing in executive career searches generating quality interviews through both advertised and unadvertised channels. |  | | | RELATED ARTICLES How to Get Paid More Without Being Pretty or Good Looking Guess what. The results are out they are ugly. Pretty people do get paid more money. Are Online Degrees Valid to Prospective Employers? Online distance learning has gained rapid popularity with the advent of the internet, which has proven to offer great supporting facilities and convenience for online education. However, just like everything else with pros and cons, the internet has also opened doors for the widespread sale of bogus online degrees. According a report by USA Today, there were already 400 diploma mills in the year 2003 and the numbers are rising. In fact, many of these unscrupulous operations are run by organizations in an industry that is worth $500 million a year. Booster & Drainers Like huge anchors on cruise ships, other people can hold you down. Not intentionally, but their negativity impacts you. It's hard to be winning at working when you're anchored in place. It's hard to see the next great idea and enthusiastically embrace it, when you're feeling a sticky heaviness. And it's hard to think creativity when you're feeling empty. Like a balloon with air pouring out, deflated and flat at the end, I hung up the phone, drained. For the most part I'd offered a supportive ear with occasional contributions of asked for advice. Several days in a row, he called or stopped by my office, with a second, and a third, and a fourth verse of the same song. After each encounter, my energy felt zapped. It got to the point where Jay's presence alone started my energy leaving, replaced with an empty heaviness as if his negative energy was seeping into me. It took me awhile to figure it out, but Jay was an energy drainer. I've learned over the years, if I spend too much time around people with negative energy to share, my optimism, and enthusiasm for work (or life) are adversely affected.     You may know people in your own work life who hold you down, zap your enthusiasm, cheer you into self-destruction, and occupy so much of your time and energy that you can't offer the best you to anyone, including yourself. And you know people who do the opposite. My solution? Use that feedback. Spend less work time with the drainers, and more time with people who offer you an energy boost. Once you've identified how it feels to be around energy boosters, look to fill gaps, especially on work teams, with people who bring positive energy to a meeting, who are fun to be around, whose enthusiasm and positive approach lifts your spirits, enhances your creativity, and adds to your work life. Find and stay close to these energy boosters. I use a simple measurement to identify energy drainers and energy boosters: the laugh factor. The more laughter I find in the process of doing business, the more energy I know is in the room. The more energy in the room, the more gets done. I look for people I can laugh with, have fun with and share ideas with. My work results are better when I'm around people who make me feel energized when I leave them. Yours can be, too. (c) 2004 Nan S. Russell. All rights reserved. Writing CVs and Resumes for Professionals with Examples Tips on writing your Skills and Achievement Based CV (ABCV) by Mike Kelley at First Impressions Career Planning for Gifted Adults "James is so restless and energetic. I wonder if he's hyperactive." Recruiting on the Web Requires Special Record Keeping for Legal Purposes With the age of the Internet upon us, recruiting methods have expanded dramatically. Staffing companies now regularly use the Web to locate qualified candidates for their open positions.The most common methods include searching Job Boards and Corporate Websites. Job Boards, whether belonging to the staffing company or otherwise, allow recruiters to post specific positions, asking applicants to submit their resumes or follow a link to a registration page on their website. Corporate Websites are now allowing recruiters to post jobs for general or specific positions and permitting candidates to register with the Staffing Company and/or apply for a specific position. Are You Living Your Career Dreams? Inherent within the human spirit is a desire for fulfillment, a longing to carry out our creative aspirations by reaching new heights of accomplishment. Yet often the yearning for fulfillment can be suppressed by fear and apprehension. Perhaps we aren't feeling good enough, smart enough or able enough to pursue and fulfill our dreams. Career Tips: How To Start A New Career These days most people accept that jobs are not for life anymore. People are more mobile and much more likely to change jobs every few years and even careers a number of times throughout their lives. And it is increasingly common that we may also find that we need to change jobs because of retrenchments, redundancies and closures. Having confidence in your skills and experience and your ability to deal with the challenges of starting over can give you a greater sense of confidence about your career, and whatever life brings your way. How to Insure Job Security The attorneys I coach have one common problem. They don't have enough hours in the day to do everything they need to do. Most are working long hours and that "To do" list keeps growing not shrinking. So it is no wonder that when I suggest that they find time to market their practice they think I am just plain daffy! When Bad Interviews Happen to Good Candidates Going through the motions of a bad interview is like peeling back the layers of an onion. Sally learned this lesson the hard way, hands-on during an interview that should have been a piece of cake. Sally applied for a position that fit her qualifications perfectly. When she received an invitation to interview, Sally believed she was a shoo-in for the job. Feeling confident, she approached the interview in a lax manner. She didn't prepare and prematurely celebrated an offer she was convinced would be extended. Great Interview Skills Going for a job interview can be a harrowing experience. The reasons are varied: A job applicant may not have the necessary relevant working experience or may be worried about the inability to answer difficult questions. Even the pressure of needing a job to pay for the living expenses can cause a job applicant to "freeze" or go numb with anxiety during the interview. So You want to be a Bodyguard? Then let me start by helping out. The politically correct phrase these days is not "bodyguard" but personal protection specialist, executive protection specialist or close protection operative, depending on your place of training and other preferences. From The WorkWise Collection: Job Hunting in the New Economy To succeed in today's global marketplace, companies must hire the best and the brightest. Having talented employees can make the difference between success and failure. 8 Steps to Getting On-Track When You Start a New Job Starting a new job can feel like moving to a new country. Your language skills may be modest. You have little knowledge of the laws, let alone the customs and traditions of the society you are entering. All you have is a passport and the goodwill of management as you enter unfamiliar borders. About Your Work I like Simon, one of three judges on American Idol. I find his feedback refreshingly honest. And while his words startle me with their ego wounding potential, the traditional feel-good, let-you-down-easy, sugar-coated feedback is not much of a gift. It's hard to tell someone they're not good enough and their dreams are not going to happen, at least in this venue. But not telling them is no gift either. Some contestants rise to the challenges he throws at them. Some don't. And, some can't. Which one are you? The Computer-Friendly Resume The evolution of technology is changing the traditional methods for job searching and recruiting. More and more companies are now relying on computers to initiate the process of hiring and are filling their database with candidates with skills that are easily searchable. Traditionally, submitted resumes were first received and sorted by humans. What else, right? But now, for many firms, this step has been handed over to their computers. Your Resume is Just One of the Tools in Your Job Search A resume is a tool. It allows employers to see what skills you have and what benefits you bring to the table. When an employers looks over your resume they will most likely scan for highlighted points. Most HR people do this. This way they weed out your resume. Resume Objectives: How Do You Know if Resume Objectives Are Right for You? Some experts say NEVER bother with resume objectives.While others say they should be an essential element onevery resume. Your Self-Image in the Workplace When communication breaks down in your office or factory and workers lack motivation, what are the roots of the problem? Book Summary: How to Work with Just About Anyone This article is based on the following book: |
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