7 Tips for Successful Job Hunting

A few years ago I went through a rather tough time when I lost my job. I worked for a large telecommunications company and they were letting go of their employees by the thousands - literally. I was in denial in my last days, hoping that I’d dodge the bullet, but when I got *the call* from my boss to have a meeting with him the following Monday morning (he never did that), I knew my time had run out.

It was a long year and a half before I found full-time employment again. Stress was my constant companion. At times, there seemed to be no hope in sight. But I made it.

If you’re suffering from job loss, here are a few bits of advice that should help you:

Tip #1: Network like crazy
“Get out and meet people,” is what I heard people say. But if you’re an introvert like I was back then, then it’s one challenge among many you have to face. It’s still good advice and will definitely increase your chances to getting that next best job.

I’m a strong advocate of LinkedIn. Basic membership is free and it can help you get introduced to people that work at companies you want to work for. Believe me — it works. I found my job that way. They even offer a free toolbar for your web browser that can tell you how many of your connections are related to the company’s web site you’re viewing.

Tip #2: Network some more
More people get jobs through people they know than they do by responding to an ad. That’s a fact. The importance of face-to-face meetings can’t be ignored. Ask friends if they know of any places that offer such services (don’t forget to ask them if their companies are hiring, too!).

Churches often sponsor their own networking meetings and not just for church-goers. Recruiting agencies could help point you to some I’m sure. Each networking meeting I went to offered emotional support and job leads, and in some cases, had computers to assist me with my job search.

Tip #3: Keep your resume to no more than two pages
Sure it’s tempting to put everything you’ve ever done down on paper. But the truth of the matter is that the longer your resume is and the more cluttered it is, the more likely you are to be pushed to the side. Recruiters need simplicity. You give that to them by making your resume easy to read and to the point.

Tip #4: Confide in someone
If you’re married, talk to your spouse. If you’re not married, then find someone you can go to that will be supportive — a priest, a friend. Doesn’t matter who, but it does matter to know that you don’t have to go it alone. There’s no shame in being without a job.

Tip #5: Get free business cards.
VistaPrint is a service I used to print professional business cards. I just put my contact information on them and handed them out to people when appropriate. Not only are you making it easy for people to contact you, but it also makes you look like you mean business. Hiring managers like that.

Tip #6: Pray
Yes, pray. Pray for strength to make one more call or send out one more job application. Pray for vision and hope as they are easy to let go when things don’t go your way.

Tip #7: Keep a record of what you apply for and follow-up
If you’re serious about finding a job, you’re going to be busy looking for every opportunity you can and that can add up after a while. If you keep a record of what you applied for, to whom and when, then you’ll make it easier on yourself to follow-up with those companies. Don’t let yourself get buried under the competition. Call attention to yourself by following-up with recruiters. Be professional and don’t be pushy with them, but by simply making the effort, you’ve already pushed yourself up a notch or two, thus increasing your chances of staying on the recruiter’s mind. Perhaps using Google’s Notebook might be a place to record this information. That way you could access it from any computer.

There’s lots more advice out there, but these seven things can help you lay the groundwork to make your job hunting a success!

[tags]job hunting,job loss,job searching,unemployment[/tags]

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