Okay so if you are like me, you are sick of hearing about what you should and shouldn’t do when looking a job. The things I tell you here in the article will probably be directly contradicted by other articles you find on the internet. So who should you believe? Or trust?
Again, I get it, it’s tough. Just know that my advice comes from a combination of things I used to do back in the day as a practitioner, along with the experiences I have had personally, the mistakes that my human resources and recruiting friends have shared with me, the experiences of my friends and career coaching clients, things that I have read on the internet and finally my HR instincts – so take it for what it’s worth.
Here are some best practices and advice for the modern job search
1. Get your resume and linkedin profile updated. For real! I don’t care what the tech geeks say about the resume being dead, a well-crafted and attractive resume can do wonders for you. Remember it’s better to stay ready then to get ready!
2. Practice your responses to standard interview questions in the mirror, with a friend or on your phone. That’s right, turn that video recorder function on and set that camera or tablet up against something and record yourself. Watch the video, make sure you know what your face and hands are doing when you answer those questions. Pay attention to your body language.
3. Go shopping. If you haven’t been in a while, go and buy new stuff. Go on and buy that bigger size we all have added a few pounds over the years – don’t fret, just do it. Get some new clothes.
4. Do not look on job boards all day. No! Download job apps, set notifications and alerts and use LinkedIn and company career sites. Job boards are cool but there are lots of spammers and scammers on those things, so take control of the job search and apply through company career sites, direct message on Linkedin or email as much as possible.
5. Take time off. I don’t believe you should apply to more than 5 jobs per week when you are in the job market – take your time, be selective. Don’t stay on the computer all day, in fact, apply to 1 or 2 per day, 3 or 4 times a week and then take time off. Go to the library, the park, the movies, a friend’s house, spend time with the family – you must take a break or you will be frustrated.
6. Create a contact list of trusted friends, references and mentors. Send them a copy of your updated resume and explain that you are in the job market. Ask them to be discrete but let them know you are open to new opportunities.
And as a bonus, surround yourself with positive energy, naysayers and negative nancys will ruin your confidence and try to drag you down. Confidence is a very important part of the job search
Okay, that’s it for now. I will probably write a part 2 to this article soon so stay tuned. In the meantime, check out my Instagram page for new resume examples and testimonies. If you or someone you know need help with their resume, cover letter, of Linkedin profile, contact me, I’d be happy to help.
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