Job Seekers: 5 Tips for Making the Most of 2010
All signs point toward 2010 being a better year for job seekers than 2009. I certainly hope that’s the case! As of this writing, two December 2009 grads who are contributors over at The Classroom to Cubicle Project have secured jobs — that’s certainly positive. How can you follow in their footsteps and make the most out of your job search in 2010?
- Reflect on the unique skills and characteristics that make you valuable to employers. Make a list, and ask friends and family for further input. This is super important. If you don’t know why an organization should hire you, they won’t, either.
- Go on informational interviews. A lot of people think informational interviews are a waste of time, but I disagree. I’ve conducted several informational interviews in the last couple months, and the individuals I’ve liked I’ve recommended to job openings that come across my desk. In fact, I personally introduced them to the employers.
- Realize your resume is only one tool — and not your most important one. While resumes will remain important for large companies (you know the ones — faceless, no human resources contacts, require you to apply through an online system) for a long time to come, many progressive organizations are placing more importance on your social networking (LinkedIn) profiles and online portfolios. Make sure (1) you have them and (2) you keep them up-to-date.
- Understand networking is more than just meeting people. The goal of networking is to create a two-way, mutually beneficial relationship. If that’s not how you’ve approached networking to date, you’ve been doing it wrong. Create a networking plan that will actually help you (and your connections) move forward in 2010.
- Be a sponge, and take responsibility for your future. I know you’re seeking out advice (or you likely wouldn’t be reading this blog), but remember to actually listen. Take in as much information as you can, and control your own future with it.
What other advice do you recommend for a successful job search in 2010?
This post is part of the Career Collective effort founded by Miriam Salpeter and Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter. Other posts about job hunting during the holidays from the Collective include:
- @KCCareerCoach, Career Chaos, The Art of Being Gracious: Much Needed in Today’s Job Search
- @MartinBuckland, Elite Resumes, Career Trends and Transition 2010
- @heathermundell, life@work, Kaizen and the Art of Your Job Search
- @barbarasafani, Career Solvers, Looking Into the 2010 Careers Crystal Ball
- @resumeservice, Resume Writing Blog, The Resume and Your Social Media Job Search Campaign
- @kat_hansen, Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters Tips Blog, New Year: Time to Assess Yourself and Your Career
- @keppie_careers, Keppie Careers, Help for job seekers in a rut
- @DawnBugni, The Write Solution, Ya, but
- @ErinKennedyCPRW, Professional Resume Services, Advice to Job Seekers in 2010–learn Yoga?
- @Chandlee, The Emerging Professional Blog, Starfish, JobAngels, and Making a Difference
- @ValueIntoWords, Career Trend, Is Your Job Search Strategy a Snore?
- @debrawheatman, Resumes Done Write, Making the most of a new year
- @walterakana, Threshold Consulting, Starting anew – tips for truly managing your career
- @careersherpa, Hannah Morgan: Career Sherpa, The Year of the Tiger
- @WorkWithIllness, WorkingWithIllness.com, Dogs Can Do It, Can You?
- @JobHuntOrg, Job-Hunt.org, Lifelong Learning for Career Security
- @AndyInNaples, Career Success, What Are You Getting Better At? Make This the Year You Become the Best You Can Be!
- @GLHoffman, What Would Dad Say, A Flash of the Blindly Obvious
Rosa Vargas
Heather,
Great tips. The only one I am not endorsing entirely is #3. Are you surprised?
I do agree that the resume is just one tool. Additionally, an online presence is absolutely vital. I believe a resume, is still needed while not the only tool required. A combination of social media tools with a concise marketing document (resume) is the smart thing to do; for now. (But, that’s me!)
Great post!
.-= Rosa Vargas´s last blog ..The Resume as Part of Your Social Media Job Search Campaign =-.
Posted 1-21-2010
Heather Mundell
Heather, this is a great post to help people assess their job search plan for 2010. I especially appreciate your point about going on informational interviews – my clients have had a lot of luck with this strategy. At the very least they’re meeting new people who have a fresh set of eyes and ears for them. They get detailed information about an industry or organization that you can only get from a person (rather than an article). They get practice articulating their value and their brand. And often they get key introductions.
Great post!
Heather
.-= Heather Mundell´s last blog ..Kaizen and the Art of Your Job Search =-.
Posted 1-21-2010
GL HOFFMAN
Good tips, straight-forward and right on the money. One added point about “networking” is that too many people only think about networking when they NEED something. Far better to spend your career showing interest and engagement with your own, ever expanding circle of friends and contacts.
Posted 1-22-2010
Miriam Salpeter, Keppie Careers
I especially appreciate the advice about taking responsibility for the future. I’m a big believer in the power of taking charge and managing your own career. I think if everyone followed that advice, we would all be better off!
Posted 1-23-2010
Gayle Howard
Good article that gives all the right messages to graduates to set up some lifelong career habits. If people spent more time really analyzing their skills, understanding who they are, what they like, what they’re good at and what they want to do—-and then work out a short-, medium- and long-term plan on how to get where they want to be, they wouldn’t get to that situation where so many fail. Knee-jerk reactions to whatever annoys us at this moment in time is not a career strategy and yet so many people seem unable to break out of that spontaneous job search mode! Good advice!
Posted 1-28-2010