Job Search Plus Holiday Stress

In the last couple of weeks I’ve had a number of clients tell me that they are overwhelmed by everything they need to do to launch and carryout a job search. They tell me that they cannot believe everything they need to do, all the meetings, classes and lectures they need to attend. Yes, it’s overwhelming... getting a professional resume put together, researching target companies, creating a contact list, developing positive responses to common interview questions and we’re just getting started. It’s a lot to do. That’s why I tell my clients and friends that people in Job Search are not unemployed... they’re working full-time.

“OMG, what about social media? LinkedIn and getting my profile complete and not to mention how long it takes to fill out some of these job applications...” Gee, I’m getting stressed just writing this, so what do you need to do, especially since the holidays are just around the corner?

I don’t know who first said, “Plan your work and work your plan.” But, this little cliche is a good device for decreasing stress in your life. Stephen Covey has another cliche that says, “First things first,” and I’m a big fan of Franklin Covey planners because they really help organize the goal setting process into daily activity where you can actually measure your progress toward a goal.

It’s important to realize that for most people planning decreases anxiety and stress. It allows us to see what needs to be done and what is next to do. If we follow Covey’s advice to do first things first, we are able to evaluate what activities are important and urgent and what activities are dependent on other activities which have priority. Okay, that is easy to say.

When we are at work, customers or bosses provide priorities to our day. With your career plan or job search you have to provide the priorities and create a sense of urgency. I sit down with some clients and we develop a formal plan of action for their career or job search. Some clients already have the plan but they haven’t written it down. Often when we keep things in our head they get confused or muddled. Sometimes we forget something that is essential in order to proceed.

Writing a plan down, putting it on a time line is a further way to eliminate stress.  It allows you to see in concrete terms how something is going to work. With a plan and a schedule written down you are able to fit in other activities that are necessary but ancillary to your job search. Christmas shopping for example or my favorite holiday activity, Christmas parties. I always want to make sure I have time for going to Christmas parties. They’re great networking opportunities.

Sit down and plan out what you need to do... if it’s a struggle, give me a call! I do this with clients all the time. When necessary, hire a coach or consultant to help you get up and running quickly. Remember the holidays are stressful enough, do some planing and enjoy the holidays.

Holiday Job Search

   Don’t listen to people that tell you that no one is hiring during the holidays. Don’t slow down just because it’s Thanksgiving. Don’t relax since Christmas is almost here.  People are getting jobs every day and lots of folks are celebrating this Thanksgiving because they landed a job this week. Business doesn’t stop for the holidays. In fact, many companies are interviewing in November and December so they are ready to add headcount in January. 


   The holidays are a great time to interview and land a job. Sure some folks are distracted, but most are working hard and are in a little better mood due to the holidays. There’s Christmas music starting the day after Thanksgiving on radio stations around the country. The stores are hiring seasonal help getting ready for the “Black Friday” shopping surge. People are feeling a little more optimistic this year. It’s a great time to be doing a job search.


   So don’t give in to the temptation to slack off after Thanksgiving. Get out there and network. Reconnect with people you haven’t spoken to in awhile. Use the holidays as an excuse to contact them. “Just want to call and say hi. It’s been a while since we last talked...” Then ask if they can meet for coffee. Wouldn’t it be a great Christmas present if you landed a job at their company and they get a referral bonus?


   Your job search needs a sense of urgency and momentum. The momentum is easy: just increase your phone calls everyday. Follow up with more people everyday. Schedule two to four meeting everyday. Use the holidays as a reason for the urgency. “I thought we should meet before the holidays to discuss any ideas you might have. I’d really appreciate your help and advice...” 


   It’s the season of giving and what better way to help someone feel good over the holidays than letting them help you in finding, interviewing and landing a job. Happy Thanksgiving.

The Gift of GAB

An Irishman & motivational speaker

   I have this friend, Conor Cunneen. We have worked together and offered each other support as we transitioned into new careers from our corporate gigs. Conor is a great example of someone who looked at his “transferable skills” and re-invented himself. Check out this example of Conor’s re-invention: Click Here


   The gift of GAB talk is filled with points that might be of benefit for us. GAB is an acronym for Goals, Attitude and Behavior.


Goals, 
   After a termination from your job, the structure, deadlines and routine of the job is gone. The discipline from the job is missing and we need to replace it with our own personal accountability. A refresher in the basics of goal setting is often all you need to get back on the wagon, so to speak. See Goal Setting for Job Seekers


Attitude,
   Having a positive hopeful attitude with expectations of success is essential for people doing a job search. It's where the smile comes from which is the most powerful non-verbal humans have to offer the world.  With so much competition out there why have anything other than a positive attitude. Drop your “stinkin’ thinkin’” and stop making excuses and start moving toward your goals. As Conor states in his book SHEIFGAB, “The key question is, What do I want my attitude to be?”


Behavior, 
By putting goals and a new attitude together your behavior becomes directed and more active. There lies the path to success. Job search is work. That’s why Conor challenges everyone he hears say that they are “unemployed.” In stead, he says that you are, “NIGEP = non-income generating employed person.” This is the most important work you have to do and may be the most important work in your whole life. 

WARNING

   Remember the old adage, "If you don't have anything good to say..." As a job seeker, you cannot afford to pass negative thoughts, actions or energy... you don't know where it will land. Like a stray bullet that hits an innocent bystander, a negative comment can paste you with a reputation as a whiner and complainer, in short, a problem,  when you want the reputation of a problem solver.  Remember you can choose your attitude and you have control over what you do and say. Take control over the things you can take control over and see what happens. Like the fellow said, “If you think you can you can, and if you think you can’t you can’t. Either way you’re right!”

Next week I’ll focus on developing and working from a job search plan. Good hunting. 

Tapping the Hidden Job Market

I always tell people the stat that only 20% of jobs are advertised and that leaves a hidden job market of 80%. Some people ask me how can that be true. Kevin Crews www.kevincrews.com explained this to a group of job seekers last Friday at Harper College.


Kevin said that if you look at the job requisition process it becomes very clear. In most companies the process follows a pattern similar to this:

1. A manager recognises a need in their department or area
2. The request to hire is written up and submitted to HR &/or Finance
3. The request is reviewed and passed on for executive approval
4. A job description is written and approved
5. The hiring manager reviews the needed skills and expected responsibilities with a recruiter
6. A job posting is created and presented as an internal opportunity and employee referrals
7. The job opening is then posted on-line and or in the paper or with an external recruiter.
8. Resumes are received by HR and screened
9. Phone screening and interviews

The Career Strategist

Steps one through six are where a large percentage of the “hidden” job market resides. These steps can take as little as a few days and as long as a few months before the formal interviewing process can happen. In some companies some of these steps are skipped and others where there are even more steps. It’s important to realize that during this process you have an opportunity to learn about the opportunity by networking with people who work there.

But why would people care to tell you about the position? That’s easy: companies pay referral bonuses to their employees, $500 to $5000 are typical, depending on the position and the company. So when you ask a contact if they’ll refer you; you’re asking, “Would you like to make $1500.00 extra by introducing me to the hiring manager?”

Now isn’t it a good thing that we stress the importance networking. Check out other entries in my Blog that cover how to of networking. Hint: use the search utility and search on the keyword networking.  Good Hunting and call me if I can help you with your job search or career progression.