Blog Post: Time To Ramp Up Your Job Search the Right Way

December is here!  Now is the best time to fill up your “pipeline” for January’s hot hiring time.  And don’t let anyone tell you that January will be “dead” this year.  I’ve spoken with numerous employers and, while some are reducing in size, others are planning to add staff.  In fact, we have just added a couple of new people ourselves, one to work with our corporate clients, and one to work with professional/management personnel who are not yet in the executive ranks!  So don’t believe the gloom and doom.  Denver is hot and January will be a very busy hiring time…if you’ve done your homework in January.

1).  Talk to everyone in your network.  Let everyone and their sibling know that you are on a job search.  Don’t judge who can help and who can’t.  Your next door neighbor might be the brother-on-law of your next boss.

2).  Expand your network dramatically.  December is a great time to make the rounds of holiday parties and meet new people.  If you don’t have a network, now is the time to hire a good job transition coach who can a). teach you how to get a network and b). introduce you to people.  Make sure, if you hire someone, that they can do both, and have a good reputation.

3).  Get your résumé up to date.  Make your résumé accomplishment oriented, rather than like a printed application form.  You don’t have to tell everything you’ve ever done.  If a duty is assumed to be part of a job title, don’t include it.  For example, I’m bright enough to know that an executive administrative assistant made the occasional copy and answered some phones.  Tell people your accomplishments, not things that make them say, “Well, duh!”

4).  Go buy interviewing clothes.  Make sure that you have a good suit or two, shoes in excellent repair, and that everything — eyeglasses, hair-style, ties, etc. — is up to date.  Don’t look like A Very Brady Interview.  ( Marsha , Marsha , Marsha ….)

5).  Understand that this is an employers’ market now.  Get your attitude in order.  Those of you who are younger and may be looking for your first real job — this isn’t school anymore.  Don’t “sass” employers or send rude emails.  And never “paper” your résumé.  “Papering” your résumé means sending out hundreds of résumés with a “To Whom It May Concern” cover letter.  Don’t.  most of us who are employers just throw that résumé away.  If you aren’t bright enough to at least find out someone’s name at the company, how are you going to be bright enough to serve customers?  Answer?  You aren’t, and don’t deserve a job.  Write cover letters to an individual, and take the time to follow application instructions!

6).  Update any required certifications or qualifications.  Now is the time to make sure that all your paperwork is in order.  Don’t wait until you’re called in for an interview to update your credentials or certifications that might be required for the job.

7).  Review your manners.  Rude, demanding applicants get what they deserve — unemployment.  Polite, well-spoken and courteous applicants also get what they deserve — a great job. 

8).  Rehearse your interview.  Everyone thinks they’re a great interviewer.  Trust me — you’re not.  I’ve trained literally hundreds of people in interviewing (thousands if you count the group trainings I’ve done).  I’ve honestly never met a truly good interviewer who wasn’t professionally prepared.  The best graduation gift a parent can give a graduating son or daughter is professional interview training.  If you can’t afford to hire a coach to train you to interview well, buy books and DVDs on interviewing (don’t go for the cheapest ones, get the best ones…they’ll pay off).  Then rehearse, rehearse, rehearse.  Find out how to handle the “killer questions,” avoid making a fool of yourself, and close to get the job.  Remember, you only get one chance to impress a future employer and they’ll never tell you the real reason they didn’t hire you (or, at least, not often).  Don’t blow your one chance through being lazy or cheap and not getting properly prepared for an interview.  Also remember that, due to the economy, you will get fewer interviews, so don’t console yourself with the lie that there will be plenty of other interviews if you “blow” this one.  There might not be.  So make “this one” count!

9).  Get realistic right away.  Check out a reasonable salary range and benefits package for someone with your experience and don’t expect more than that…and be prepared to take a bit less.  Don’t believe people who tell you exorbitant salaries.  Especially don’t believe people who tell you that, if you give them money, they’ll get you an exorbitant salary or a title that is above your experience range.  They’re lying to you.  Also, stay away from any company that promises that they’ll do the work, but you’ll get employed.  Finding a job is hard work on your part.  While a good coach or employment firm can help somewhat, you must do the hard work, interview well, and do the job.  Anyone who tells you differently is crooked and trying to bamboozle you out of your money.

10).  Plan your attack.  Let’s be real.  If you’re not making at least five to eight new networking contacts a week, you aren’t really looking for a job.  Plan out to whom you’re going to speak.  Plan what companies you want to get into.  Plan, plan and plan some more.  You’ll have other years to play around during the holidays.  If you’re unemployed, this is your year to get employed.

In this coming month, it is vital that you optimize your resources, correct any deficits you may have, and execute an effective plan of action to get employed in the January hiring boom.

Feel free to call us at 303.480;5484 if we can be of any assistance, or write to me directly at jheckers@heckersdevgroup.com or Jacquelyne Barrett at jbarrett@heckersdevgroup.com.  We’ll do our best to answer your questions.

Happy Holidays and the best of luck in job hunting.  Here’s to your new job in January!

J.

John Heckers, MA, CPC , BCPC, is a transition coach and executive coach in Cherry Creek, Colorado, who has over 28 years of experience helping people with their careers.  Mr. Heckers has been nationally and internationally published in a variety of business and professional publications.  His colleague, Jacquelyne Barrett , MHR , has over 10 years in guiding people’s careers as a Human Resources Professional.  Both welcome your calls and emails.