Can You Keep A SECRET? (Shhh......)

Today…drum roll…I’m going to share my SUPER DUPER TOP SECRET way of finding jobs.  I know it sounds obvious but in order to get a job you have to find a job.  And since you can’t exactly expect that you’ll get the first job you apply for, or interview for, you have to find lots of jobs to apply for. 

I’d like to say I’ve always been pretty lucky.  Rarely am I unemployed for long, even if it means I have to accept a temporary job or work as a short term project consultant.  But the truth is, luck has nothing to do with it.  Over the years I have developed a method that I use to find jobs, and lots of them!

Tip of The Day

Create and Use an “X List”

Step #1 – Make a list of keywords that describe your professional life.

So, first off.  What do you do?  (What is your job title?) What have you done, in the past? What do you want to do, at your next job?  Do you have a certification?

Brainstorm and write down at least ten words that describe your professional goals and experience.  You can find them on your resume, your Linked In profile (more on that later) or your professional affiliations and special skills list. 

Example:  My last job title was Purchasing Manager.  My keywords are purchasing, procurement, supply chain, buyer, sourcing, logistics, inventory, CPIM (my certification) Six Sigma (special training) materials, public speaking, training, event planning, and operations.

Step #2 – Make a list of at least six job listings websites. 

Here, let me help you.  Start with craigslist.com, monster.com, careerbuilder.com, and indeed.com.  (my favs!)  There.  You have four of them already.  One of your websites should be regionally based like the employment listings from your local online newspaper or your state’s unemployment website.  The last one should be either indicative of your profession or your special skills.

Step #3 – Create your X List

Using either a spreadsheet or a piece of paper, list your websites across the top of the page as column headers.  Then, list your keywords separately down the right hand side, one per row.  If you’re using paper, draw lines to separate the columns and the rows.  (also, if you’re using paper, make 5 or so copies before you proceed to Step #4.)

Step #4 – Use your X List

Every Monday morning, sit with a cup of coffee (or your morning beverage of choice) and literally type every key word on your list into every website / search engine you have and as you do so, write “X” where they intersect.  I know.  This seems tedious, but if I only typed in “Purchasing Manager” I would miss out on all of the job listings that used the other keywords on my list but were essentially the same job!

Step #5 – Document the jobs you find!

On a separate piece of paper or spreadsheet put the following headers across the top: Date, Website, Job Title, Contact Name, Contact Phone Number, Applied Via (email or internet?) and Notes.  As you use your X List and find jobs that you are qualified for, document them in this consistent format.

You won’t be able to fill in all of the information since often the phone number is not listed.  You will also fill out the Applied Via and Notes column when you actually do apply for the jobs…..on Tuesday!

If you’ve created your X List and use it every Monday you can then look forward to Tuesday morning when you can then start applying for all those jobs!!!

* * *

There are actually many uses for the jobs list.  Now you have your Monday TO DO list.  I’ll talk more about the many uses for your job list, and your TO DO lists for Tuesday through Friday on my upcoming blog posts. 

You can’t wait to read them. 

I know. 

Having structure to your job search, and your week (Is today Wednesday or Saturday?) will help the time go by and will also help you feel uber-productive. 

So exciting!?  :o)~

When Life Hands You Lemons...

WARNING:  Life does not always go according to “the plan”.  If you’re older than 25 years old and have lost your naïve luster, you have undoubtedly experienced heart ache, or loss; or both.   We all start our lives as adults with a plan, even if it’s nothing formal or spoken. We have an idea about how and where our life with take us.  For some, their lives go exactly as planned.  But for others, and certainly myself on more-than-I-care-to-admit-to occasions, nothing EVER does.

Tip of the Day

When life hands you lemons….bounce!

Yeah…I know…a new twist on an old adage.  But I like it.  (I wrote it, of course I like it!)

Pretty recently I once again had the less-than-unique-to-me opportunity to pull myself up by my boot straps and mentally recover from yet another job that didn’t go exactly as planned.  The odd thing is that I did a great job, they really appreciated my contribution, and the department was running more smoothly than it ever had before.  And yet, I was dismissed because I “didn’t fit in”.

Ouch. 

It is very difficult to accept that others don’t like you or appreciate your contribution as much as you think they should.  It is natural to be angry (been there) ashamed (done that) and want to crawl into a hole and not come out.  Actually, I think if you’re feeling like this, you should….but for not more than 5 days.  Then, it’s time to…bounce.

Call a friend, update your resume, accept what happened for what it is and move on.  There is nothing to be gained by self pity.  Believing in yourself and your abilities is a huge factor in finding your next job and, if you’re like me, finding another job is pretty critical since it is the one thing keeping a roof over your head.

On to Plan B.  Or Plan C.  (Seriously, I think I’m at Plan P by this point in my life…)  Make a list of what you want from your next job.  Read books on self esteem, career advancement, image making, or public speaking.  Do anything but sit around and feel sorry for yourself.

For the past few weeks, life has been seriously kicking my ass.  You name it, it went very wrong… money, relationship, career, family, health.  All of it.  I have cried more, this week, than the previous 6 months combined.   Even my therapist is a bit stumped on how to help me outta’ my funk.  

Speaking of old adages…have you ever heard “The plumber’s sink is always clogged”?

That is me…the advice giver who needs more advice than anyone.  I have theories and ideas and always seem to figure it out but…it’s not easy…and some days it seems pretty freakin’ impossible.  But, instead of being embarrassed and sad and allowing my self defeat to get the best of me I’ve decided to share my life, and experience, with you. 

Maybe, just maybe, you’ll realize that you’re not alone.  There are many many of us who don’t like making lemonade and would rather just….bounce.