Feel as if you are getting nowhere fast in your job search?

Here's how to boost your job search while making yourself more marketable:

1) Check out (from you local library) helpful job search resources. There are many books, CD's and articles on the internet to help you. My suggestion is to start with the "guru's" of job search--Bolles and Farr. "What Color is Your Parachute?", by Bolles is a classic. Michael Farr has several books geared to your specific needs, such as, resume writing with your industry in mind, help with interview skills, and much more. A relatively new book, by Dan Miller, is well worth the read. Check out "No More Mondays", it will open your eyes. Keep going, look for more resources!

2) After reading the resources, and reconstructing your resume, if you haven't had a resume critique or profile review, enlist someone in the groups (both BrightFuse and LinkedIn have groups to critique your resume) who offer these FREE services to help you today. Do not pay someone to write your resume! YOU are the best person to do this task.

3) Review good profiles to see how to set up your own. Have someone critique your profile, giving tips on how to make it better. Always be sure to check for accuracy, not just with grammar and spelling, but information regarding your job history. If you cannot communicate adequately, in writing, on your profile, a potential employer will pass you by. This is why it's essential to highlight your accomplishments, not just list job duties, and use your words effectively.

4) Network! 80% of all jobs are landed by networking. When you tell others what you are seeking, give them your information, and then do follow-ups, chances are they will give you a lead. If you are unfamiliar with networking, I suggest you acclimate yourself with this process.

5) Help someone else. Too often, people think helping another will take away from their own job search--not so. When you assist someone else, you add to your chances of finding employment. If you help one person a week, in no time you will have a large number assisting you.

6) Your personal "brand" is worth investing in, since it will set you apart from the crowd. Start by being cautious with what you put out on the internet. Google your name, see what comes up. If it's your Facebook page with a picture of you and your buddies with cold brews in your hands partying it up--not good! The potential employer viewing your page will keep going, fearing you are a "party animal".
Yes, they do check your pages and posts to see how you conduct yourself. Make that first impression a good one.

7) Stay positive! Negativity comes through in an interview, so make sure you have no chips on your shoulders. Never badmouth a former employer or coworker in an interview, it will come back to haunt you.
Look forward, not backwards, you cannot change the past--but you CAN plan for the future. Make wise choices, invest in YOU!

8) Be active! Shipping out hundreds of resumes and sitting back and waiting for the phone to ring is not a productive way to land a job. With millions of other job seekers in the market, be sure you understand how to effectively go about your search. Again, the resources I have mentioned above are a great place to start. Be organized, manage your time well, and keep your interactions with other job seekers professional.

If you have been submitting your resume to online ads and responding to newspaper ads, you must read the following:


"The odds are against you...many of the newspaper ads are blind ads, meaning you can't really tell what the job is or who the company is. Recruiters run these blind ads just to stir up prospects without having real positions available. Many companies run blind ads just to keep their reservoir of candidates. And some companies run blind ads to see if their own employees are looking for new opportunities. If you are spending more than 10% of your time using this method, you are wasting your time and energy that should be spent on more productive areas." -From "48 Days to the Work You Love", by Dan Miller (2007)


What other helpful suggestions can you add to this list?









Edited 10/19/2009 - 12:01 PM

What a great list of advice Judy Anne! Here is a few other things people can do to help themselves become more marketable in this challenging economy:

Update your skills! Take classes, workshops and anything that can add to your skill set. There are many free workshops at your local One-Stop employment career centers that you can utilize. Also, local libraries, local chamber of commerce offices, local community colleges, churches, YMCA/YWCA's and local adult education departments all offer free or reasonably priced classes to update computer skills, learn how to write business letters, cook a meal, plan a party and everything in between!

If you want some actual training that leads to a certificate, look once again to your One-Stop Career center as they provide funding for education if you qualify.

Here is the link. Just find your state.

http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/progsupt/jobsrvce/almis.htm

Thank you Joyce for the additional information!

Absolutely, updating skills will enhance your skill-sets. These can be listed on your resume to show you have taken the initiative to keep current.

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Thank you Joyce for the additional information!

Absolutely, updating skills will enhance your skill-sets. These can be listed on your resume to show you have taken the initiative to keep current.

Wonderful thread and suggestions!!!! :)

I know of a person who was hired about 4 years ago for a career counselor. She told me that her skills from a job 20 years before were the key to getting that job. So, even if it's older than 5 years, keep track of older skills. You never know if it might become relevant to add that position on a future resume.

Absolutely Joye. I believe everything we've learned or experienced will be used someday, it's up to us to decide whether we do or not. I am still using skills acquired as a 8 year old! I begged my mother for a typewriter and taught myself the keyboard. Before I went to high school, I could type 45 WPM. After taking a typing class, I was well on my way to over 100WPM. That skill has been one of my most valued, especially now, since I'm a writer.

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What a great list of advice Judy Anne! Here is a few other things people can do to help themselves become more marketable in this challenging economy:

Update your skills! Take classes, workshops and anything that can add to your skill set. There are many free workshops at your local One-Stop employment career centers that you can utilize. Also, local libraries, local chamber of commerce offices, local community colleges, churches, YMCA/YWCA's and local adult education departments all offer free or reasonably priced classes to update computer skills, learn how to write business letters, cook a meal, plan a party and everything in between!

If you want some actual training that leads to a certificate, look once again to your One-Stop Career center as they provide funding for education if you qualify.

Here is the link. Just find your state.

http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/progsupt/jobsrvce/almis.htm

These are great tips Joyce. I've been doing just that, updating my skills and keeping current on business trends and computer software trends. I didn't realize that there are so many free workshops available until I started to get involved with online webinars. I strongly suggest that folks get involved with online webinars too! Links to other online webinars will suddenly become noticeable and available.

Diane

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Quote:
What a great list of advice Judy Anne! Here is a few other things people can do to help themselves become more marketable in this challenging economy:

Update your skills! Take classes, workshops and anything that can add to your skill set. There are many free workshops at your local One-Stop employment career centers that you can utilize. Also, local libraries, local chamber of commerce offices, local community colleges, churches, YMCA/YWCA's and local adult education departments all offer free or reasonably priced classes to update computer skills, learn how to write business letters, cook a meal, plan a party and everything in between!

If you want some actual training that leads to a certificate, look once again to your One-Stop Career center as they provide funding for education if you qualify.

Here is the link. Just find your state.

http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/progsupt/jobsrvce/almis.htm

These are great tips Joyce. I've been doing just that, updating my skills and keeping current on business trends and computer software trends. I didn't realize that there are so many free workshops available until I started to get involved with online webinars. I strongly suggest that folks get involved with online webinars too! Links to other online webinars will suddenly become noticeable and available.

Diane

Oh yes Diane! Another great idea. I have learned a lot of new things from webinars that I have accessed and most are free. Definitely something for everyone there.

With the way the economy is today, it seems that not very many places are hiring as much as they use to. I have been trying to find a new job for over a month now and still have not land an interview. Every place I have gone to, I left them my resume but they always say they are not currently hiring at the moment. I do wait about a week or so and then call them just to check in and let them know that I am still interested but still they are not hiring. Right now I am current employed with a small college as a Medical Instructor, I have checked out other colleges even though that's not what I really want to keep continuing to do and I have checked out several doctor offices, urgent cares and more. Any suggestions? or is there something I am not doing that I should be doing? I would like to find something with better or more flexable hours so that I can start spending some time with trying to open my own business. I am currently 4 classes away from earning my bachelors of art in health care administration and I already have an associates of applied science in health care administration plus my MA certification.

Angela, here is what I mean by being proactive about how you conduct your job search. You said you left them your resume, but they aren't hiring. My question is this; why are you leaving a resume with a company that isn't hiring?

Next, you tell us you are working as a Medical Instructor, (you are very fortunate to have that position), why do you want to leave now in the middle of bad economic times? And you say you don't really want to be doing that, yet you are still checking into colleges for the same position--why?

If you want to open your own business, continue to pursue that avenue. Do all you can to keep aiming for that goal, it's a good one, just make sure you do your homework to ensure it will be lucrative.

My suggestion would be to stick with the job you have as a Medical Instructor, that's an industry that is continuing to have a pulse (pun intended!). Get Dan Miller's book (mentioned above). Venturing out now into a new job just takes away from what you really want to be doing--establishing your own business.

Edited 8/30/2009 - 8:59 PM

Quote:
What a great list of advice Judy Anne! Here is a few other things people can do to help themselves become more marketable in this challenging economy:

Update your skills! Take classes, workshops and anything that can add to your skill set. There are many free workshops at your local One-Stop employment career centers that you can utilize. Also, local libraries, local chamber of commerce offices, local community colleges, churches, YMCA/YWCA's and local adult education departments all offer free or reasonably priced classes to update computer skills, learn how to write business letters, cook a meal, plan a party and everything in between!

If you want some actual training that leads to a certificate, look once again to your One-Stop Career center as they provide funding for education if you qualify.

Here is the link. Just find your state.

http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/progsupt/jobsrvce/almis.htm

Absolutely, updating skills will enhance your skill-sets. What you are saying is true and good advice to those whose education is low and need help. You have tuned our attention to this place. I am residing in Ghana there is nothing like these are here which can help people.These can be listed on your resume to show you have taken the initiative to keep current.