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The Only Truths You'll Need
"The
Only Truths You Need to Know
About Job Hunting"
Reprinted
from Kennedy's Career Strategist, September 1988
One
of the hazards of job hunting is advice from instant experts --
experts because they have recently gotten new jobs. You will recognize
them because they start conversations with, "Everybody knows..."
and "It's common knowledge that ..."
The
fact is, one job hunter could never experience every situation even
if he/she hunted for several years. Rather than let you be slowed
down by worrying about a tale of something which happened once to
one job hunter, here's a compendium of truths about job hunting
which most people consider myths!
Job-hunting
is much harder work than doing the job. Of course, it has to be!
Job-hunting requires a very different set of skills from the ones
you would use on the job. Often job hunting skills are a strong
performer's weakest skills!
The
job hunter does all the work -- always. Never ask anyone not related
by blood or marriage to "call if you hear of any openings." It's
your responsibility to keep checking back with all live contacts.
Contacts
and networking get the quickest and best results. Want ads account
for only 15 percent of the jobs organizations are trying to fill
at any one time. Search firms and employment agencies account for
another 5 to 10 percent.
It
takes 200 to 300 telephones calls or contacts to turn up 10 live
job leads. However, this is an average; you can't count on precisely
five leads from 100 to 150 calls. You must make as many calls as
possible to locate the underground job market, i.e., open positions
in organizations that don't want to advertise or use a search firm.
Attending
job hunter support groups is worth your time. One person's "I'd
never work for them" is another's dream job. Keeping in touch with
other job hunters shortens the search time for everyone.
Repeated
follow-up after each interview enhances your chances of a job offer.
Don't worry about being a pest. Regular follow-up is more important
than a good resume or wonderful interview skills.
If
there's no chemistry between you and the prospective boss, don't
take the job. Ultimately, fit is most important to success on the
job. If you are not favorably impressed when he/she is on his/her
best behavior, what will your life be like working for that person
every day? Very smart people often discount their gut responses
in favor of logic -- always a mistake.
Employment
agencies, headhunters, and search firms are most useful to you in
covens. Never pin your hopes on just one firm or individual. If
you are contacting search firms, contact all that recruit in your
industry and/or for your kind of job.
No
one sells himself/herself into a job. The process is one of revelation
of mutual needs. What each has to offer should be what the other
side recognizes he/she wants or needs.
First
impressions overwhelm or even foreclose second impressions. Decide
what you want the other side to know or understand about you and
then make sure they get that idea. Then test to make sure they got
it.
Do
something to relieve the stress of job hunting. Regular exercise
is one way to do it. A good power walk or a workout three times
a week will break the spell of constant fretting about not having
a job. Some other activity may work for you. Do it or ultimately
face depression and burnout.
You
are responsible for researching each target regardless of the source
of the job lead. Your friend may tell you that the company he/she
works for is wonderful. Remember what journalists are taught: If
your mother says she loves you, check it out!
Surround
yourself with upbeat people. Only one person in your life can be
anxious and needy at one time. Don't spend time with people who
aren't working actively at getting a job. They'll convince you the
situation is hopeless long before you prove to them it is not.
Keep
churning the waters. Visibility inspires confidence. If you are
seen busily pursuing a variety of leads, people will want to help
because they will think you're a winner.
Don't
stop interviewing until you and a new employer agree on a start
date. Maybe not even until the Friday before you show up for the
new job on Monday. Want an emotional letdown to die from? Decide
that a company is positively going to make you an offer and stop
pursuing other leads. When you don't get the offer, for any reason
or no reason, you'll be suicidal.
Forget
how you feel. Concentrate on projecting your best self in interviews.
If you must be in a good mood in order to job-hunt, you could be
unemployed indefinitely. Act. Once you have found a job, spend the
unforeseeable future sorting out your problems with a shrink. If
you get the right job, there's always the chance you won't need
therapy.
See,
hear, and retain information selectively. No one can insult you
if you don't agree to be insulted. If you feel every unreturned
telephone call is a personal affront, you'll never build the momentum
you need to get the job you're looking for.
You
are building contacts for the job after this one. You are not looking
for your last job, merely the next one. If you keep your contacts
warm after you are hired and happily employed, you will never again
have to job hunt from a standing start.
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