David Letterman, move aside (again), because here is my top 10 list for why people get disgusted with their job search!

#10: You send out 32 resumes, and then notice a typo

#9: Your subway gets delayed causing you to run to your interview like an out of control locomotive

#8: Your ink jet printer doesn’t resemble a jet of any kind

#7: The person interviewing you yawns about 7 times, so much so that you see their tonsils and back fillings

#6: The person interviewing you spins around in their chair several times during your interview and you secretly hope the chair dislodges from its base

#5: You get your 57th automated response saying the same thing “don’t call us, we’ll call you”

#4: You sweat profusely during your interviews

#3: When you walk out of the interviewer’s office, you walk into their glass wall, smashing your head and nose

#2: One more question about your strengths and weaknesses will visibly make you sick…..

Drum roll please: And the #1 reason why you are disgusted with your job search: “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore!”

There is just something about shouting and screaming this phrase out that will help you tremendously. Get it out with as much zest as you can muster: “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore!”

And now that it’s over with, let’s get back to your job search. There are 6 steps to any job search and as Coach Lombardi once said – it’s about getting the basics right that will win the game:

Step #1: Identify your target: your industry, your function, your geography

Step #2: Marketing materials: make sure you have an exceptional resume, a well written cover letter, a great online profile (on LinkedIn.com)

Step #3: Research: do “google alerts” on the companies that you really want to work for and become an expert

Step #4: Networking/interviewing: networking is about creating a long term mutually beneficial relationship of give and take … so it’s not about asking for a job. It’s about talking to people and following up in a creative way. Ensure you know exactly how to interview well and test your readiness with someone who knows good technique from bad

Step #5: Staying motivated & organized & troubleshooting your job search: make sure you balance your search with other activities, so you don’t lose your patience or your mind for that matter. Volunteer for others less fortunate than you. Make sure you walk for at least 30 minutes a day to feel better. And take notes after each interaction: are you messing up in one particular area and if so, get help in that area.

Step #6: Negotiate and close: Keep your focus through the entire job search. When you get close to an offer, that is when you have to focus more than ever. When you do get that offer, make sure you negotiate for cash and non-cash items because everything is important to consider.

________________________________

Connie Thanasoulis-Cerrachio is a career coach and co-founder of  SixFigureStart and has worked for the bluest of blue chips for the past 25 years. Her companies include Citigroup, Pfizer, and most recently as the COO of Campus Recruiting for Merrill Lynch. Connie also co-authors a career blog for Vault.com.

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Current DateTime: 06:35:19 29 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 26203782

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