1) Don’t lose your confidence. Remember that you are valuable to a company, probably many, but they just don’t know it yet. Although it may be tough to hold your head up everyday during your unemployment, you should fake it when you go to an interview. Nobody likes desperation, especially someone who is looking to hire an energetic go- getter. So when you go to an interview, walk in as though you own the place, humbly. Remember, you are not “beggin’ for a job”, rather you are “offering your services”.
2) Stop wasting your time. You are probably sick and tired of sending your resume out to anyone and everyone. Well, stop it. Refine your search to companies that are looking for someone who fits your profile. A strategic job search is always going to be your best bet instead of flooding the Internet with your resume.
3) Go to the companies you want to work for. Make a list, put on a smile and a suit and go…yes, door to door. And bring some candies. Sound ridiculous? Well, what did we do before the vast murkiness that is the Internet? We went to the places we would like to work. Although we are using the Internet for everything these days, don’t discount the value of face to face introductions. And if you can’t walk straight in and meet with the hiring manager, you can meet with the receptionist and hand over your resume. What is she going to do with it? She won’t throw it away. It might sit on her desk, but she might give it to her boss on their way in. And he or (she) will have it in their hand. That’s much easier than hoping that thy right person will get your email with your resume, hoping they will actually read it, and then, print it out. So go forth young man/woman…now
4) Make contacts. Networking is still the best way to find a job. Nearly a third of all external hires are found through internal referrals. So become familiar with Facebook and LinkedIn. Find forums, conventions , and events for your field and attend and participate whenever you can. Meet and greet everyone and remember that out of 10 people that you meet, normally only one will remember your name after five minutes. So get business cards and pass them out to whomever you can.
5) Talk to old employers. Listen, maybe this doesn’t sound like great advice. But the truth is, a lot of employers have had to lay-off employees regardless of their skill or performance. That is life. So if you left in good standing, it is worth it to contact your old employers to see if they have any openings or know of anything that would be coming up soon. This also falls into the “keeping up with contacts”category. Keeping a good relationship with old bosses is always a good idea because it can turn into something great down the road.
6) Keep busy with projects. Always find something to be working on. Write a book, do volunteer work for a non-profit or a reputable charity. This is good for you, good for making more contacts, and when that prospective boss asks you what you have been doing since becoming unemployed, you can say “I have been busier than ever!”. This is a much better response than saying “I sleep late, eat cheetos all day, and play farmville. ”
7) Practice your spiel. Get a friend or family member to help you practice interviewing. This will keep your interview and communication skills sharp and you will feel more confident when you do get that call for an interview.
8) Career Switch. Take a good look at where you want to be in five years. Do you want to continue in the same career or are you ready to change? Now might be the time to do it. Here are some options:
