Archive for job search
It is the season for job searching
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This article, Job Search: ‘Tis the Season… So Get Out There! is from late November, but I think it is still worth reading. I wanted to share with you this excerpt….
January and February represent the strongest hiring period of the year. New projects, initiatives, and budgets are put into place and hiring generally skyrockets at the beginning of the year. Although not every January can promise a boom in the marketplace, by actively networking and positioning yourself as a valuable and enthusiastic candidate, you’ll be well on your way to getting that all important call for an interview on January 2nd.
In my Mercer MBA workshop last week, we talked about the concept of sharpening the saw from Steven Covey. Keep your skills sharp so you remain competitive in your job search. Always be looking for a way you can stand out from your peers.
If you found this helpful, and want help taking the next step in your job search, please contact us today for a complimentary consultation.
Hallie Crawford
Certified Career Coach
P.S. Be sure to join us for our FREE TELECLASS: How to Find Your Dream Job in 2012. Register here.
Quit planning, start talking
Posted by: | CommentsThis YouTube video is reminder of the enormous value of talking to people you know about your career. Brainstorm with others and conduct informational interviews in fields you’re interested in, even if you’re not sure they’re a fit yet. Everything you learn can bring you closer to the right career path.
Hallie Crawford
Certified Career Coach
Should you just take any old job?
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I was talking to a career coaching client recently whose husband works at a large rental car corporation. He has been posting for a job opening for over a month. They have received very few, if any responses to the job listing. I know that most people don’t want to take a job they don’t like or one that would lower their morale. It can be frustrating to think you have to settle with any old job, especially something that is lower paying, and feels possibly menial to you. Another thing to consider is if you start working again, you won’t qualify for unemployment.
I give my career coaching clients this advice, if taking a lower paying job is going to make you more frustrated and lose your unemployment benefits then maybe it’s not the best thing to do. Having a job, even if it’s not your dream job, can still be a good thing though. After all, it’s income, it gets you out of the house, it can boost your self esteem in many ways, and it’s a networking opportunity. So it may not be what you want to do long term, but worst case scenario you can try it out.
In this economy, to have a job opening go unfilled is very unfortunate. I encourage you to be smart and strategic about your options, but also consider things you have not considered before. Even if it means taking something just to take it for the time being. If it serves a purpose for you, so be it.
Hallie Crawford
Job Search Coach
How to find your dream job
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I was working with my career coaching client, Margaret, last week and she made a great point. Sometimes it’s hard to identify specific things you want to have in a dream job, especially when you’re not sure what’s realistic or what’s possible and when you don’t have specific examples.
If you haven’t had a job you truly enjoy, it can be tough to know what you want to do. This is because there are only a few examples to draw from to give you a sense of what would work. Margaret and I came up with this homework together. For the next 3 days, Margaret focused on identifying tangible examples of what she wanted in a job simply by paying attention to her current job, talking to friends, reading books, and noticing what other people did in her workplace. It was a simple exercise that gave her several tangible examples of things she wanted in her dream job.
Try focusing on what you like and don’t like at your current or previous job. You might be surprised to see what you come up with.
Hallie Crawford
Job Search Coach
P.S. If you would like more help identifying your ideal career, check out this FREE REPORT: ”Top Three Tools to Identify Your Ideal Career” today.
How to network AND get work experience at the same time
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Struggling to find a job in your industry? Don’t discount the benefit of volunteering. If you volunteer your time in the field of work you are interested in, you still have the option to work a part-time position and make money outside of that industry if needed. This really helps fill gaps in your resume and allows you to network.
Two key benefits of volunteering:
Networking – While you are volunteering you are able to network and make connections within the industry. Knowing people at your ideal place of work can increase your chances of landing an interview down the road. Not only are you meeting people at the company, they get the chance to see how you are taking the initiative to get your foot in the door.
Work Experience – Volunteering is a great way to get experience in your ideal field of work. This will really help build up your resume and help you decide what you like and don’t like about the industry.
Companies like to see people who are proactive in their job search while being unemployed, not just someone who sits on the couch checking job boards. Get out there and do something.
Hallie Crawford
Job Search Coach
Online submitting is not DEAD
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You might think that when you submit to an online application your resume is going into a deep black hole. While it might feel that way, it’s not always the case.
I’ve had two career coaching clients recently who submitted to online jobs. One client got a phone call within 2 hours to set up an interview. He didn’t get that particular job but through that person he heard about another job and was able to secure a job within 3 weeks of submitting to an online job.
My other client received a call almost immediately. Although the job didn’t end up being a fit, he was again able to build a networking contact who put him in contact with a department that would be a good fit. He is actively pursuing that contact now.
So yes you do want to be cautious about ONLY submitting to online applications and job boards, but you don’t want to completely forget them.
It’s like investing when you need to balance your portfolio with different investment choices; you need a good mix of tactics to land your dream job!
How does Emotional Intelligence affect your job search?
Posted by: | CommentsWatch this video as I comment on this clip from the CBS Early Show. Employees are telling their bosses to take a hike despite the tough economy. The two things to pay attention to are:
1) The percentage of employers is 70% who are valuing EQ (Emotional Intelligence) over IQ.
2) How people get to his burnout point.
If you are slightly unhappy in your job, take stock and see if there are changes you can make to improve it. *Watch the CBS clip here: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7388856n&tag=cbsnewsMainColumnArea
Hallie Crawford
Certified Career Coach
Find hot job opportunities in your local newspaper
Posted by: | CommentsWatch this YouTube video as I discuss the importance of reading your local newspaper in order to look for openings in your job search. I read the Atlanta Business Chronicle where I regularly find job opportunities. It may seem old fashioned, but it’s important to keep in touch with what’s happening in your area.
Hallie Crawford
Job Search Coach
