Motivation During a Job Hunt
May 6, 2009
“A downturn is really the time to prepare for the inevitable upswing!”
Staying motivated when things aren’t going the way we’d like can be challenging. Recently someone left me a note on my blog asking me how can they stay motivated while looking for a job. After thinking it over, I came up with the above quote.
I learned about what lies at the heart of this quote while I was a basketball player and once I became a basketball coach this theory was one to live by. When you’re two or more points down in the game is when you have to really prepare for the tide to turn. You have to tap into your preparation resources and strategize to swing things your way. Sometimes you may still lose the game, but you can take heart that you were well prepared for the opportunity to win and then move on to the next game. This analogy of bring in a game, experiencing a downturn and being adequately prepared fits many different times in our lives, but especially when one is looking for a job in a saturated market.
Losing anything can make us feel like we’re no longer in control of our lives, and this is especially true when we lose a job. So I suggest that you get to work. I mean get to work on yourself and those things that are in your immediate control. For example:
Polish up your resume.
I mean really polish it up. Send it to a resume makeover specialist and get that baby to shine!
Decide if you want to continue to work in the same field or change career paths.
Examine your life’s purpose and mission statement for indicators that your interests may have shifted. If you don’t have a written purpose and mission statement do some research on how to and get to writing!
Research the industry and company that you’re interested in.
What’s the culture in the specific company you’re interested in? You should know more about the industry or company than the person you’re going to interview with. (the internet makes this very very easy to do)
Try to find out something about the person you’re interviewing with.
Today the movement is towards authentic connection and more transparency.
Use social networking to your advantage.
Yes, you’ll have lots of time on your hands and you should devise a schedule that will have you doing part of your job search on the net. On the net, be vocal about your job search. Ask for leads from peers. Be sure to use Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin to create free profiles. On Facebook and Twitter you can even search for companies that you’re interested in and begin to engage with them socially but remember to be subtle. There are lots of articles and tips on blogs out there about how to use Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin to your advantage.
Learn from others.
A great site that will give you inspiration and further insight about job hunting is howigotmyjob.com. Real people sharing real stories about how they got their job.
Give yourself an attitude makeover.
Yes, losing your job stings your pocketbook and it can definitely deflate your attitude. This is the time to make attitude adjustment your top priority. Spend at least 15 minutes a day reading articles or a book that are all about keeping the right attitude that will help you move forward.
These tips will help you stay motivated and keep you focused on moving forward as you attract the job that will fill your pockets and give you fulfillment in you quest to live your dreams.
Denise is the creator of the “Dream BIG Motivated Mindset System” and for the past 10 years has been teaching the system that helps women discover success strategies to improve the bottom line in all areas of their lives. She also offers free weekly teleseminars, as well as online courses with a workshop environment.
I invite you to learn from the top 3 masters of The Secret about The 11 Forgotten Laws that compliment The Secret at http://www.changeyourbottomline.com
Where are the jobs?
April 1, 2009
In this type of economy not everyone is looking to be a successful entrepreneur, some are just looking for a job. The unemployment rate is rising and there is news of layoffs everyday. NYU is even offering a course Where are the Jobs:
In today’s volatile times, there are still industries and industry segments that continue to add new jobs and are projected to have continued significant growth. This course will identify the current and anticipated industry trends and will highlight specific industries and occupations that are experiencing considerable growth .The importance of identifying and highlighting transferable skills will be addressed, as well as suggestions for updating and refining skills to increase marketability in industries with expanding opportunities.
So where are the jobs?
Below are a list of job search site, all claiming that there are jobs to be found out there.
Sologig.com
Sologig.com is a niche website specializing in connecting contract-to-hire, contractors, freelancers, and consultants with quality employers looking for independent professionals. Registration is free, and unlike other project based websites, we never charge you project fees. There’s also no bidding on Sologig – you choose which projects you are interested in and negotiate pricing directly with the employer.
monster.com
We inspires people to improve their lives, we are leading global online careers property that has changed the way people look for jobs; the way employers look for people; and the way companies connect with their target audience. We continue to define and expand an industry that did not exist a mere 10 years ago. Monster works for everyone by connecting quality job seekers at all levels with employers and providing the best career advice available online.
usajobs.com
Your official job site of the United States Federal Government; its your one stop shop for Federal jobs and employment information. There are 46,856 U.S. Government job opportunities worldwide to search
careerbuilder.com
As the U.S.’s largest online job site, CareerBuilder.com puts over 1 million jobs in front of poised job seekers wherever they are – at home or at work – in print and on the Internet. More than 23 million unique visitors come to the site every month to check out the opportunities in every industry, field and job type.
hotjobs.yahoo.com
Find a job, post your resume, research careers at featured companies, compare salaries and get career advice on Yahoo! HotJobs. Start your job search now on Yahoo! HotJobs – thousands of jobs listed daily.
simplyhired.com
Looking for a job shouldn’t be a full-time job! That’s why we built the biggest, smartest job search engine on the web. We search thousands of job sites and companies, just so you don’t have to. We eat, sleep and breathe job search, to help you find that dream job. Use our nifty tools to find local jobs, identify trends, research salaries, and secure that offer letter.
craigslist.org
Craig’s List is an enormous, widely-distributed, mostly-free online classifieds site. Organized by location, Craigslist offers all of the traditional classified ad sections plus quite a bit more. It is a simple site, organized by location – city or state or country – and it is gradually expanding to additional locations. Each Craigslist site has the same “look” and organization – but not content – as all the others, with many categories of classified ads, including jobs and gigs (projects), as well as events, housing, and things for sale.
snagajob.com
Find the job that’s right for you.As the #1 source for hourly and part-time jobs, we connect job seekers with more than 100,000 active job listings from top employers across the country. SnagAJob.com has been hooking up America’s hourly workforce with great hourly jobs. Now, more than 14 million registered job seekers later, we’re the nation’s largest job site for part-time and full-time hourly jobs. We’re more than just a job board; we offer advice and resources for job seekers too.
job.com
Job.com is your source for local jobs, career advice, and services to manage your job search, and, more importantly, your career. Whether you are looking for employment today, or researching employment opportunities for tomorrow, Job.com is here to connect you with hot jobs from some of today’s best employers. With so many local job listings, you are sure to find a job you’ll love. Start your job search now by browsing Sales Jobs, Tech Jobs, Management Jobs, Healthcare Jobs, Accounting Jobs, Construction Jobs, and Customer Service Jobs, or go to our Advanced Job Search to find jobs in your industry.
Searching for a job is never easy; resumes, interviewing, waiting – ugh! And in a slow economy with so much competition it’s even more challenging. Technology has made the search a little easier bringing more people together and allowing you to get yourself in front of more employers. Though things are slow now, all things are temporary!
Good Luck!
