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No more excuses, do you want a job or not? Are you just going to sit there and complain that nobody is going to hire you? No. That's not you. You've never been that person, but you're pretty darn close so we need to make moves fast. What we're about to list is 15 moves you MUST make when Unemployed. If you aren't able to check all these off yet then you're not ready to complain. It's time to be brutally honest here.
Some of these you might already know, yet you haven't truly applied them. Take this as an opportunity to re-evaluate your current game plan. Remember, insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different result. Time wasted is time lost. These 15 points are essential in getting you the job you want. We would like to point out that although these aren't in any particular order, we do feel number 1 is most important. Leave your thoughts and let us know if these were helpful or somehow harmful to your quest for employment.
15. Build 3 resumes instead of one
If you're one of our regular readers, then you know we've discussed this before. Aim for 3 different positions that are similar to what you do. Create 3 different resumes and monitor your results. Is there one that is catching fire more than the others? Maybe it's time to scratch the other two out and redo those? Keep switching it up until you find the right combination for you. Everyone is expecting results, but not everyone is willing to define what those results are exactly.
14. Get in touch with everyone you know
Someone, somewhere has an opportunity that they are connected to. This is the reason you need to stay in touch with co-workers, especially during a mass layoff. Collect phone numbers like their C-notes and keep your ear to the street. Shuffle through old emails and find old recruiters who hired you in the past, call old jobs back up, make it well known that you are AVAILABLE FOR WORK.
13. Consider switching careers
Maybe the industry you were in isn't thriving anymore. Maybe it's time to take a new path in your career. Most states offer job training for the unemployed but most unemployed people don't take advantage of it. Keep your options open, keep an open mind for new opportunities you may not have went for before. Maybe it's time you did your homework and found out what resources are available for you in your area.
12. Show up in person
Showing up in person has it's advantages. Think about it, if they see your face and hear your name enough they will begin to feel like they know you. Consider it as giving them the illusion you're already part of the team. Another reason this is a good idea is it shows the hiring manager you're serious about wanting to work for them.
11. Change your diet
This might sound silly to you but appearance is very important. If you show up to a job interview and you're sporting that new belly you built in your time off, chances are it's not going to leave a good impression on the interviewer regardless of what you have to say. Imagine the confidence you'd have if you lost weight and built muscle? You don't want them to see the old you, you want to show them the new you. A new job, a new you.
10. Learn a new language
The last thing you want for yourself is to look back at the time you had off and realize you accomplished absolutely nothing. For someone in the field of customer service or sales, picking up on a few Spanish lessons could go a long way on the resume. How many bi-lingual job postings have you come across that you passed on? Think about it. Isn't it time you had the advantage over others who aren't willing to take that extra step? Put yourself in a better bargaining position.
09. Fill in your experience cracks
How many times have you come across a job posting that required you have certain experience with a computer software that you had no knowledge on? Wouldn't it be nice to be able to apply for that position? Why not look that software up? YouTube has tutorial videos on almost every computer software imaginable and guess what? It's free! How about interning for the experience while unemployed?
True story - we knew a woman who wanted to get into accounting but didn't have the experience. She found a thrift store looking for someone to help with book keeping. She volunteered for the entire time she was unemployed and found an accounts receivable assistant position shortly after. Experience is experience and if you have it, you're ahead of everyone else who doesn't.
08. Sign up with the job agencies
Yes it's true they get paid on placing you, yes it's true not everyone is a valuable resource for them, yes it's true they won't help you if you're not what they're looking for, but closing a door yourself because you think it's going to be shut on you isn't acceptable behavior for any adult. Take responsibility and put yourself out there. You can never stretch yourself too thin when putting your availability out there for work.
07. Make it personal
This might sound horrible, but pulling some heart strings along the way in your search might be in your best interest. Most people want to help, so let it be known you need some REAL HELP. Don't just joke around, be passionate about it. When having a conversation with someone who could potentially play a huge role in your search, break out of professional character and let them know on a side note that you really appreciate what they're doing for you. The more personal of a connection you make with someone, the more they'll want to help you.
It really does work, just take a customer service call for example - If you call up a company about a problem with a product or service of theirs and you start to engage this customer service rep on a more down to earth level, chances are they'll be more willing to help you than some snubbed nose grumble on the other line. Consider this when speaking to a job recruiter or hiring manager.
06. Exhaust your applications daily
Do you honestly believe putting in 3 applications every few days is productive? How about putting in 100 or more a day? Not possible? Then you're not on enough job boards. Maybe it's time you sign up with Careerbuilder, Monster, Indeed, Craigslist and all the other lackey's behind these giants. It's time you stopped avoiding certain jobs and apply for all the ones you are qualified for. If sweeping floors at a high school is going to keep you from being homeless, swallow your pride and make the right choice. Some of the application processes are lengthy and repetitive? Excuse me, did you have something better to do? Tighten your belt and get it done.
05. Brush up on the skills you already have
It's easy for your skills to fall out of shape when they're not being used. This is a big reason the long term unemployed are having a hard time finding work. More and more companies are being pressured to hire the long term unemployed so instead of proving them right, show them that you still got it. If it's a trade you hold, sharpen your area of knowledge so you can run circles around the interviewer when it's go time.
For those office people out there, lets focus on things like typing, Microsoft office, and other programs of interest you might be asked to recall in your new opportunity. Our friends over at JiPoshy recently wrote an article on 7 typing games to help you improve your speed. Who doesn't want to have fun while increasing their WPM?
04. Stop believing the statistics
Some statistics are being abused by people who are full of excuses. Stop entertaining the negative media when it comes to job statistics. Most studies are done on a piece of the whole and the conclusion doesn't necessarily reflect the same for the entirety. Saying that nobody is going to hire you because your too old, too young, overweight, underweight, under-qualified, over-qualified is simply not true.
Yes most people take those things into consideration, but very few let it have a substantial impact on their decision making. When job opportunities appear, most of them are urgently seeking someone to fill the position. After all, the secretary can't keep carrying all of these extra responsibilities much longer. If the only qualified person is over 55, are they going to turn them away for age? Ask yourself - "Does my mentality have more of an influence on me than my reality?"
03. Do a social media cleanup
Are you aware that your social media profiles could potentially be your downfall when searching for employment? It's true. Some hiring managers are curious, sneaky, and slick enough to do a search on you. Having an old Myspace profile of you pop up with half-naked pictures all over it isn't a good thing. How about a Facebook profile with a default picture of you holding a bottle of booze? Maybe not the image you wanted to project on a computer screen for your potential employer.
Go through all your social media profiles and make sure anything that could be considered offensive is either private or deleted. The email you use may also be connected to other profiles that have slipped your memory over the years. Dating sites of you giving the duck-face with your top off, forums you may have joined where you spoke your opinion a little too much or YouTube accounts where you went on a negative commenting spree all must be considered as well. People do check these things, don't be caught with your pants down.
02. Job Fair's are a good thing
Going to a job fair can be hard for people who don't carry an outgoing personality, especially when the event is over-saturated with people who do. The good thing about the "Job Fair" concept is it matches a face with the resume. Your chances of making an impact is much higher in person than over a computer. You're basically at the interview already, you have your moment to shine. Avoiding a job fair is only limiting you to the people who comb resumes online and are willing to take a chance off of your experience.
It's possible a hiring manager can like you so much they will hire you over someone who has more experience than you. Believe it to be true because it is. Showing up to one of these events gives you the advantage over everyone still searching a job site who passed on the opportunity to show in person.
01. Follow up, Follow up, Follow up
How many times has someone called your cellphone, and you didn't receive the "missed call" notification? How many times has that happened and that person didn't leave a message? Can you imagine if that was a job opportunity? The biggest mistake we have found in all of our research, all of our observation over the years in the job market, is lack of follow up.
How ironic it is that you would spend so much time on the application, want the job bad enough to get in direct contact with someone, learn new skills for a position, just to have it passed onto the next person because they're keeping a very open line of communication and you're not? For most situations a weekly follow up is sufficient, but a daily follow up may be necessary for some businesses that move a little faster.
Bottom line - The squeaky wheel get's the grease! Let's show incentive by picking up the phone and following up with who we spoke with. Keep in mind that converting an email conversation to one on the telephone can also increase your chances of standing out.
Good luck!