I am Currently Out of Work. What Should I Do to Give Myself Every Chance to Quickly Get the Next Job?
In order to be clear about the optimal path forward for you it is really important to understand what might be the key problem/challenge facing you. If you have not already done so, answer the following questions:
1. How long is it since you have been ‘in’ a job? This is a key question as the longer you have been out of work the more pertinent the questions that follow.
2. Let’s be clear about everything you’ve done so far to get ‘that’ job. What have you done and what appears to work and what in your opinion doesn’t? Audit these things. (There will inevitably be areas you haven’t had a chance to think about or don’t know)
3. Sounds like a crazy question, particularly if you like many are worrying financially, but are you ready for the next challenge?
- Emotionally? It’s really important to project a positive outlook.
- Do you know specifically what you want? Yes (skip to 6), “sort of” (skip to 5), No (skip to 4)
4. You have no idea what you want to do. You have had previous work, so think about the questions in 5 below. You need to begin ‘working out’/‘constructing’ what might be a good job for you. The way to do this is to draw on your past work (and non-work) experiences and think about which skills you enjoy (and are proficient) in using. Once you have a list of skills, this will eliminate some jobs and ‘direct you’ to others. Do this and CONTACT SPARKIN and, skip to 7.
5. “Sort of.” The good new is that you have some sense as to what worked for you either in your job or the environment you worked in, possibly you have a sense of both. Clarify i) and ii) below and then skip to 7.
i) What aspects of your past work did you enjoy?
ii) What type of environment do you want to work in?
6. It is great that you know what you want and you have a specific objective/brief. More important, if you have a goal that excites you, you will be more able to sustain the inevitable frustrations of the search for that new job opportunity. Now, make sure, do you have the following, then skip to 7.
i) A specific benefit to offer. (Clarify/develop one/CONTACT SPARKIN COACHING)
ii) An identified target audience. A target list of prospective employers. i)above will drive ii)
iii) A resume that is not simply a chronological account of everything you have done? It should be a selective rendition of that experience. If you can distill your thoughts in writing, this will make them easier to succinctly articulate.
7. Area of greatest opportunity. - If you have a clear or better sense of what job you want next, read the press of that industry. See which companies are doing very well and very badly. Both present fertile opportunity. One is probably looking for extra talent whilst the other is looking for new ideas.
8. How to be inspiring? It is important for you to be interesting to potential contacts that can help you and potential employers that can hire you. During your job search, ensure that you give yourself rewards/breaks to do unrelated activities.
9. To get a job requires sending out resumes and making phone calls/sending emails, which lead to meetings. Which then lead to more meetings and even job offers. Your ultimate goal is ‘the’ job but remember the intermediate steps are crucial ‘mini’ successes. See them as such and you will maintain a positive mindset and have the endurance to succeed.
If you feel the questions above are helpful in beginning to understand your situation and are ready to learn more, see Coaching/What I Do For You
SPARKIN CONNECTION If you know you want another job and you have a good sense that is more of the same (but with more responsibility/money/recognition) in a different organization.
SPARKIN COACHING
If you feel the above questions are helpful but you are unsure of ‘what’s next’ or uncertain about what the ‘optimal’ next step is or you are unclear ‘how to manifest’ a chosen direction but want to move forward, see Coaching/What I Do For You
To learn about How We Work Together with you and what I charge for coaching, click ‘How We Work Together’