Job Hunting Guide

The Easy 10 Step Job Hunting Guide

by James C. Gonyea

STEP 1 - GET YOUR HEAD ON STRAIGHT
(in other words, understand the realities of the job hunting process)

Getting into the right frame of mind is as important to landing a job as knowing how to conduct a job search. Positive thinking is a powerful tool, one that has allowed millions of people to achieve great things in life. If you don't believe in yourself and in the job hunting techniques you employ, then you will lack the motivation and tools necessary to succeed. Here are a few concepts that you should read and, if necessary, read again and again until they become part of your normal thinking process.

Job hunting is one activity in life where it's all about you! In particular, it's all about what you have to offer employers, otherwise known as your knowledge and skills, or, in short, your talent. Job hunting is about you selling you. What your talent is and how it can be used by an employer is known as your “employment value.” Knowing this before you begin your job search is crucial to finding rewarding employment. Do not expect employers to discover your employment value on their own from a review of your resume or from an interview - it's your responsibility to know this. Besides, if you let them determine your value, they may - and often do - come to the wrong conclusion. In short, know who you are and what you have to sell.

Here's the Golden Rule of job hunting, “employers are only concerned about themselves - specifically, how they can succeed and prosper as a business.” That's capitalism, the American way! If this were not the number one priority of business, then businesses would fail and all the good they could otherwise do would never be realized. Therefore, any discussion of you in regards to the employer's business must center around how you can help the employer continue his or her success, not how the employer can help you! Any other topic is irrelevant and of no interest to the employer. Therefore, know your talent and how the employer can utilize it for his or her own good.

Knowing your employment value before you begin your job search will enable you to more easily take control of the search process and define a goal. Imagine trying to find something when you don't know what that something is? Where do you look? Anywhere, everywhere - both are equally possible, but will take you forever to find. Knowing what to look for before you begin looking will give you clues as to where to look.

Finding a job is a job in itself! Don't cut corners! Be prepared to devote adequate time and energy to the process. If unemployed, be prepared to spend at least 30-40 hours per week at the process. If employed, be prepared to have an extra “job” for several months until you find your new job.

Job hunting can be stressful and can produce anxiety and, sometimes, depression. Eat properly and build time into your daily schedule for adequate exercise, mental relaxation (i.e. meditating), socializing and sleep. Give your body what it needs to deal with the stress.

It may - and probably will - take you more time than you expect to find employment, so start as early as possible and be patient. There is no typical length of time - it may take days, weeks, or even months.

Recognize that it's normal to feel insecure when you're without an income. The best way to deal with this situation is to budget your money and work hard at finding your next job.

Have a goal, but be flexible and prepared to pursue alternate options. While knowing what job you want is important in determining the direction of your job search, you must also understand that there's no guarantee that you're going to find the job you want. While following a well designed job hunting process will increase your chances of landing the job you want, keep in mind that along the way you may discover other, more appealing jobs, or you may out of necessity have to accept a job that does not meet your original career preferences.

There's plenty of help out there for you, so you don't have to go it alone. If you're willing to ask for help you will find friends, relatives, business associates, and professional career advisors ready to lend a hand. Drop the “I can do this myself” attitude - the task is often bigger than any one person.

It's far better to follow a well tested plan than to approach job hunting in a casual, haphazardous manner. Author and career expert David Campbell found this to be true when working with his clients and, as a result, coined the following quote that says it all, “If you don't know where you're going, you'll probably end up somewhere else.” How true it is!

Job hunting can be done successfully! Yes, you can master the skills necessary to find and secure the job you want. While it doesn't take a rocket scientist to learn these skills, each skill is important to the process of finding employment. Give them their proper due.

What you get in life, including employment, is determined primarily by you and the decisions that you make, or fail to make. There's no such thing as you “deserve” employment, or “as an American I have a right to good employment.” It's not up to chance, or luck, or fate, or the actions of others - it's what you decide to pursue and accept. Therefore, since you have but one life to live, why not go for the gold!

OK, you're ready for Step 2.

Introduction
Step 1: Get your head on straight
Step 2: Conduct a self-assessment
Step 3: Determine your job hunting objectives
Step 4: Prepare your career portfolio
Step 5: Organize a support group

Step 6: Identify target employers
Step 7: Apply for employment
Step 8: Interview for employment
Step 9: Accept or reject the offer
Step 10: Evaluate the process