RE-Starting A "Stale" Job Search
Long, difficult career transitions can get to you. The challenge of getting back into a regular routine can be daunting. Back in college I used to refer to the time between Christmas and Spring Break as the "dark ages." While involved in career transition, these same few months are very productive times. Don't waste them by falling into the dark ages.
"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving."
Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
German-American physicist
I’ve heard that in the early 1920's, Henry Ford was making half the automobiles in the world. In 1927, he set in motion a multimillion dollar scheme to supply the rubber for his automobile tires by building his own rubber plant in the wilds of Brazil. Although the plan was well thought-out, Ford was not prepared for the unexpected and the plantation failed.
The key, here, is execution of a well thought out PLAN.
If your current campaign efforts have become stale or non-productive, often the solution is to reposition yourself or select a different target marketplace within which to market yourself. You can always restart a campaign in this manner... at any time. Get a fresh start by preparing for your next steps as if executing a new "business model", manage it accordingly, be flexible, and be ready for the unexpected.
Here are some tips to get you headed in the right direction:
1. Have a "business-as-usual" attitude... Manage your search as if every "next contact" was a new starting point. You will earn success faster. Remember, rejection is part of the process.
2. Have reasonable expectations... Always have a next contact to make. When repositioning yourself or selecting new target firms, you have given yourself a valid reason to re-engage your personal contact network.
3. Set your career objectives with clarity… This will help focus your actual search. Have a Personal Market Plan, including identification of key Professional Resources Online. Look for specific titles, target industries and companies. This focus will expand your possibilities, not limit them.
4. "WORDCRAFT" your resume... "Tweak" your resume, if necessary, to make sure you have a forward looking "story" of what YOU CAN DO. Focus on achievements that support your qualifications for your job goal.
5. Develop confidence in your ability to answer anticipated questions throughout the process…. Prepare as you would for a business presentation; NEVER try to wing it. Prepare for basic questions and tough issues in advance and study them.
Have a
productive mindset during any career transition...-
Practice your two minute drill every chance you get.... its the fundamental building material of your communication strategy--your verbal collaterals!
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Practice your exit statement... most all potential employers and networking contacts will want to know your current situation and why you are available.
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Practice answering both common and tough questions... including pre-offer negotiation tactics.
Now, GO PRACTICE !
6. Modify and improve your Personal Market Plan’s implementation model as needed... As you move through your search, make adjustments as you would a business model. Ask for input from people you respect.
"If you
practice the way you play, there shouldn't be any difference. That's why I practiced so hard. I wanted to be prepared for the game."Michael Jordan (1963- )
American basketball player & business person
regarded by many as the greatest basketball player who ever played the game
...So, when its time for transition to something new...
Bob Maher, CMF... The Careerpilot
Bob created his online presence, www.careerpilot.com, in 1994. He has over twenty years of successful experience in Corporate Recruitment, performance management and Career Management Services. He is an entrepreneur and innovator in the use of information technology in the recruitment and employment process. On the Founder's Council of the Association of Career Professionals - International and quite active in their Professional Development, Technology and Chapter Growth initiatives--a frequent speaker at industry conferences and seminars. Awarded the prestigious "LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD" in 2006.
