Job Seekers: Change How You Look for Work

The majority of hiring happens through referrals!

by Hannah Morgan on August 24, 2011

 Are you spending the bulk of your job search hours connecting with
people?  I know most of you are not. You spend the majority of your time
submitting online applications and tweaking your resume for
submission.  STOP IT TODAY!

When I was working with one job seeker, he asked what advice I had to
help him improve his job search.  Simple I said, I forbid you from
applying for any more jobs. Go talk to people instead!

A friend sent me this article from the Wall Street Journal, quite a fascinating read!  Job-Hunt Tips from the Depression-Era Playbook.

During the Great Depression, unemployment was above 24%.  (And we’re
complaining about 9%, jeez!) Many were able to find work or created
work.  This article tells the tales of some of the survivors of the
depression.  Read and learn!

The article also sites a  paper presented at the Brookings
Institution this March by Princeton economist Alan Krueger and Columbia
Business School’s Andreas Mueller.  In their survey of over 6000 job
seekers, this is what they found:

The
body of proof is out there across so many studies…people prefer to
interview and hire people they know or whom are referred by people they
know.  You can argue the unfairness, but the facts are the facts!

For the next 30 days, I challenge you to drastically change how you
are spending your time! If you are unemployed, you should be spending at
least 35 hours a week in job search related activities!  Finding a job
is a full time job.

It
will take time and great effort on your part to make this transition. 
Be patient.  You won’t feel immediate gratification. Here are some
thoughts on how you can begin to make this happen:

• Schedule time weekly to meet with people either via phone or in person (get a calendar, you are going to need it!)


• Be sure you contact ALL your friends and family on a regular basis
  you remind them you are still looking with suggestions on how to help.


• Contact all you past supervisors and managers to let them know you are looking for new opportunities.


• Get in touch with past colleagues, vendors, and supplies and let
  them know.  Remember to touch base with them regularly from now on.


• Turn every activity into an opportunity to meet new people- build relationships.


• Attend professional association meetings or conferences or chamber
  of commerce events to meet people within your target companies.


• Embrace the power of social media/networking to begin building new relationships!

Phew!

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If you would like some “Tough Love” to keep pushing you to change how
you are looking for work, register for my upcoming accountability
group!  You can learn more here.