| Most of the time, competition stimulates us, gets our | | | | for which you are applying.b) What have you done in |
| juices flowing, generates creativity, a sense of | | | | the past that is relevant to the position you are |
| excitement, and motivates us to perform at our | | | | currently seeking? Again, if your resume shows a |
| best. Looking for work is another matter! When it | | | | smattering of skills in seemingly unrelated areas, tie it |
| comes to financial survival, to regaining independence | | | | all together in your cover letter so that it makes |
| and self-worth, competition can be crippling.We apply | | | | sense in the employer's mind.c) What can you do, |
| for a job in the fervent hope that hundreds of | | | | better than anyone else, to make the employer |
| others are not also applying. Finding work is too | | | | believe that he has to hire YOU? If you have |
| serious an issue to be considered a game or a sport. | | | | operational skills that the company needs, highlight |
| We need to find that position that will make | | | | them and what they could do to help the employer's |
| everything all right, make us believe in ourselves | | | | business. If your skills are limited or you're applying |
| again, and help rebuild the self-esteem and | | | | for unskilled or semi-skilled work, stress personal |
| self-confidence shattered by unemployment.Unless | | | | qualities that stand out: reliability, courtesy, an ability |
| we are very lucky, there will be competition for | | | | to work with a variety of coworkers and |
| every position we identify. Our remaining option is to | | | | supervisors, flexibility, the desire to work hard to |
| set ourselves apart from other hungry | | | | prove yourself, and a willingness to learn as much as |
| applicants.How?Take a global view and emerge from | | | | possible to show your value.Networking contacts are |
| the dank and slimy job search swamp by utilizing a | | | | helpful only if you can quickly and succinctly explain |
| number of techniques I call knock-out P-U-N-C-H-E-S, | | | | your predicament, what kind of work you are |
| guaranteed to leave your competitors crying "Uncle" | | | | seeking, and ask directly for help whether for |
| and throwing in the towel.1. P is for Persistence.We all | | | | possible positions, information, advice, or merely |
| hate failure. We don't like being rejected, judged, or | | | | additional names to contact.The need for clarity |
| found inadequate in any way. Trudging on, day after | | | | continues in the interview. Answer questions clearly |
| disappointing day, requires all of our reserves of | | | | and directly. Express your hopes and positive outlook |
| energy, reserves that are rapidly becoming depleted. | | | | without bashfulness or mumbling. Before you leave, |
| From having to constantly present ourselves as | | | | get a clear agreement on what the next step will be |
| enthusiastic and creative, we become blue, bummed, | | | | and if you can call the employer at the end of the |
| and bone-deep exhausted. We wonder how much | | | | week to see if there are any lingering questions. |
| longer we can keep up the façade of | | | | After the interview, send a short, personal thank you |
| self-confidence that we secretly admit has long ago | | | | note for the interviewer's time and attention.5. H |
| evaporated. How can we present ourselves as | | | | represents Humility.This is a two-edged sword. Many |
| competent, successful, and eager when in our | | | | of us are so humble that we find saying anything |
| heart-of-hearts we have accepted that we are a | | | | positive about ourselves almost excruciating. We |
| despised failure in a success-oriented culture?The | | | | start to mumble when expressing our qualities and |
| secret is to keep plugging away. No matter the | | | | achievements. Employers and interviewers are well |
| number of disappointments we have experienced; no | | | | aware of this. They know that an interview is an |
| matter the number of rejections we have | | | | uncomfortable and unnatural interaction that makes |
| encountered; no matter the times when our age, our | | | | both sides of the desk anxious and overly formal. |
| experience, our skills have been found wanting - we | | | | Unless the position is in sales, which often demands a |
| have to KEEP GOING. We never know if "this time" | | | | somewhat pushy self-presentation, you may make a |
| is "the one." We have to continue to act, no matter | | | | more favorable impression if you are somewhat |
| how difficult or painful it may be, as if this were the | | | | hesitant in rolling out your skills and abilities. The |
| one position we have been seeking.Ask any newly | | | | applicant who reports strength in all areas, knows |
| hired worker and they will tell you that just as they | | | | everything, and answers every question with "I've |
| were about to give up, along came the gold at the | | | | done that before," may be looked upon with some |
| end of the rainbow. Not giving up, no matter how | | | | suspicion. The job seeker who keeps asking the |
| discouraged you internally feel, is the secret weapon | | | | office manager how much longer he will have to wait |
| in finding a position, no matter how long it takes for | | | | or taps his fingers impatiently on the desk, is not |
| the right opportunity to appear.2. U means | | | | making points with the support staff who may have |
| Unswerving Focus.There is so much going on in your | | | | a significant effect on the eventual hiring decision. An |
| life: family stresses, financial pressures, multiple | | | | employer may seek an applicant with initiative but he |
| demands on your time and your energy. The search | | | | also fears a loose cannon who ignores direction and |
| for work, although prioritized for a long time, has | | | | caution. While we admire the "take chances" attitude |
| moved down the "to do" list somewhere below | | | | that propels a Donald Trump or Richard Branson to |
| Timmy's first tee-ball game and the in-laws' | | | | the self-made billionaire's club, we don't necessarily |
| anniversary party.If you have mastered the art of | | | | want that arrogant risk-taking at our company, |
| multi-tasking (juggling activities around as changing | | | | especially when it is our company taking the risk!6. E |
| deadlines demand), you will have realized that finding | | | | equates to Enthusiasm.This is what will wear you out |
| work is your overwhelming priority and that nothing | | | | more than anything else. It is one thing to be |
| can, or will, interrupt your focus on that, no matter | | | | enthusiastic about our passions, our interests, even |
| what else may be happening in your life. Ignoring | | | | our jobs. It is something else to show enthusiasm |
| peripherals and always keeping your eye on the | | | | over and over, rejection after rejection, and not |
| immediate objective, obtaining a job, ensures that | | | | crash and burn at some point. The sanest approach |
| opportunities are not missed and that every possible | | | | seems to be balance. While your search for work is |
| avenue is explored. While there may be time for | | | | top priority, make sure that you make time for rest |
| other things to maintain your balance, the time | | | | and rejuvenation. Since enthusiasm is an absolute |
| allotted for job search must remain intact and sacred, | | | | requirement in most job interviews, you would be |
| no interruptions allowed.3. N stands for | | | | better served to limit your actual job hunting personal |
| Networking.The often-touted "hidden job market" is | | | | and telephone contacts to 20 or 25 hours per week. |
| merely a term to cover the multiple job openings | | | | Take time to relax: quiet time, exercise, watch a |
| that always exist but are never publicized. Literally, | | | | movie, and replenish your energy levels. You will be |
| millions of positions are filled without classified | | | | healthier, less stressed, and more effective when |
| advertising, internet postings, or agency listings. Such | | | | you do make contacts, than trying to spend 40 |
| positions are identified, and obtained, through | | | | hours a week "pounding the pavement" and ending |
| personal referral: a job seeker knows someone who | | | | up presenting as tired, flat, and desperate when you |
| knows someone else who has a need for the job | | | | reach the interview that could have been "the one."7. |
| seeker's skills and abilities. Networking is merely a | | | | S reflects Self-Belief.Call it faith, call it self-confidence, |
| fancy term for using friends and acquaintances to | | | | call it a sense of trust, call it cock-eyed optimism, it is |
| help locate employment. The process requires that | | | | really, in psychological terms, self-efficacy. It does not |
| when you are in need of work, you make sure that | | | | directly concern what you think about yourself, |
| everyone you know is aware of your situation and | | | | positive or negative. It involves your belief in whether |
| that you ask them for information and assistance. | | | | you are able to affect what happens to you. Do you |
| Beyond exploring job leads with your contacts, it | | | | believe that your actions and words can bring about |
| requires the harvesting of names and additional | | | | the outcomes you seek? If I don't believe that my |
| contacts through personal referrals from your first | | | | efforts will have any effect on results, then the |
| line friends. Like the ripples of a pebble cast into a | | | | world is based on illogic, luck-of-the-draw, random |
| lake, your access to unadvertised positions multiples | | | | chance.If you look back over your own life, you will |
| exponentially as your network of contacts, and their | | | | be able to identify actions or decisions you took that |
| contacts, expand your chances of being in the right | | | | had certain consequences, good or bad. Analyze and |
| place at the right time when that long-sought | | | | study your own history and you will start to clearly |
| employer connection occurs.Many workers draw back | | | | see that consequences follow every action. Move |
| from the process after a few attempts, fearful of | | | | that into the present and future, and it will revitalize |
| exploiting family and friends. At its best, this is a | | | | your belief in the eventual consequences of your |
| mutually beneficial relationship as their self-esteem is | | | | actions now. If you follow the myriad job seeking |
| increased by having the opportunity to help you. At | | | | strategies and techniques identified by experts, and |
| some future juncture, you may be able to return the | | | | repetitively supported by successful outcomes, you |
| favor.4. C for Communication.A job seeker doesn't | | | | will reach your goal.It is that strong belief that you |
| necessarily have to possess the spiel of a | | | | are "on the way" to success that will carry you |
| professional salesman nor the creative presentation | | | | through the long nights of worry, the wasted time of |
| of a marketing specialist but clear, unambiguous | | | | disappointing leads, and the pain of recurrent |
| communication is critical throughout the hunt for | | | | rejection. It will bring you back to the other six areas |
| work.Your resume, cover letter, and completed | | | | mentioned by allowing you to focus, reach out for |
| application need to be clear in at least three areas.a) | | | | support, communicate with humility and clarity, and |
| What position are you applying for? Even if you have | | | | maintain your job search campaign with unflaggingly |
| become so desperate that you'll take just about | | | | enthusiastic persistence.Virginia Bola operated a |
| anything, an employer is looking for an applicant who | | | | rehabilitation company for 20 years, developing |
| specifically wants the job he has available. If your | | | | innovative job search techniques for disabled |
| resume is purposefully hazy (because you are looking | | | | workers, while serving as a respected Vocational |
| for several different types of work), make sure that | | | | Expert in Administrative, Civil and Workers' |
| your cover letter is focused on the specific position | | | | Compensation Courts. |