Posted by Ritu in 
It’s pretty amazing! Seems like everyone has written a “10 commandments of….” posts at some point in time. As I was writing this post I didn’t think of it, but once done the title seemed appropriate. Anyway, I have had a few ups and downs during my job search years. It was a few years back when the economy was still strong but what worked yesterday, still works today. You might have to add a bit more spice to the recipe but the desired result is the same : landing a job.
1. Get Over The Fact That You Are Jobless
There is a saying you’ve heard, that you say and apply quite often – don’t cry over spilled milk. Job loss can be quite a blow to one’s esteem and financial situation but pondering day in and out isn’t going to help either. Get yourself recharged and head out in full gear for the next lucky employer who will think you are a steal.
2. Connect and Interact, Online and Offline
Business cards and handshakes are much needed but tweets and linkedin connections can’t be ignored. The job search landscape has changed with emerging social media platforms. Utilize them. Interaction offline is critical, but in this day and age it’s not sufficient. Reach out to others, both online and offline.
3. Worship Your Search For a Job
And you better be loyal. Job search in itself is a job and whether you like it or not someone has to do it. Unfortunately, this might be you. If you are searching for job think of it as a job itself. Dedicate yourself towards the goal of finding a job. Make it a religion until you can land a job and once you get the job you want, switch your religion to the job itself rather than the job search. keep worshiping.
4. Always Diversify Your Job Search
Everyone wants everybody specialized in a particular field, no doubt about that. But a handyman who can fix plumbing and then nail the shingles on my roof always gets my business over the plumber. Diversify your job search. Don’t always rely on what you know, but think of how that reliance can help you apply your skills towards other things.
5. Ignore The Job Data
Numbers. Usually higher the number the better but not in this case. If you recently lost your job you tend to see more people who recently lost theirs as well. This does nothing but causes depression. I am sure it has happened to you, you buy a new car and all of a sudden you see the same model all over the road. Exactly. It has always been there, you just didn’t notice. Ignore the fact that your friend, uncle, aunt and even mother in law is unemployed. It’s about you.
6. Lose The Negative Attitude
Do you find yourself buried under negative feelings? Well, get over it. Negative attitude gives birth to negative outcomes. Positive outcomes are the results of positive attitude. It propels you to do better. It pushes you further. Think positive. You might not have found a job today but what’s the guarantee tomorrow will be the same as today? There isn’t. Think positive.
7. Plan a Schedule, Stick With It
I have said it before that you should think of job search as a job itself. When I was out hunting for jobs, I had a calendar marked with what I was going to do on a particular day. As weird and crazy that might sound, it really helps to organize your job search schedule. Anything on a piece of paper (google calendar or whatever) is much better to follow than to simply pull it off of your mind. Create a schedule, a mind map and go with it. it will help you focus and execute much better.
8. Online and Offline Resume
I have heard a few people say that there will be a time when there won’t be a need for a resume. All I have to say to them is – you’re wrong! When it comes to employment, there is only one thing that can give a peak into the potential candidate’s skills and experience. Create a resume, dust it off every once in a while. Make sure your resume doesn’t just stay in paper and ink form. Use networking sites such as LinkedIn where you can use your profile as an online resume. Resume will exist, forever. The only thing I can’t guarantee is the paper and ink form. Get on the web and build one out as soon as possible if you haven’t already.
9. Brush On Your Skills
Think of a pipe that hasn’t had water flowing through it for couple years. You turn it on and all you can see is rust coming out. That’s you if you don’t brush your skills. Let’s be honest here, sometimes luck does have a big play in our job search. If for some reason you don’t get a job when you expected you would, there is a high probability that you might lose a few golden touches that you had in your field. Keep them brushed. Shine them every once in a while. Your skill is what sells you, can’t let it rust. No way!
10. I Can Do It
Yes you can!
Be confident.
That’s it from me guys. It’s your turn to share.
Let’s keep the commandments coming so we can all follow each others command and call it a war against unemployment.
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These are all really good tips. I just read this little book called The Power of Small. They have some great tips like- break the big task of finding a job down into little to do lists, “minitasks” that can actually be accomplished in one day. That will stop you from getting overwhelmed.
[...] ready to job hunt? Not sure where to start? Ritu wrote a great post on Applicant.com titled: “The 10 Commandments of Job Search.†Here are the first [...]
Love it. We spread this same message on The 405 Club, New York’s Official (Un)Employment Support Network, on $405/day but rich in talent. I like the format of the commandments – extremely relevant!
Keep it up – check us out at http://the405club.com.
-Garrett
[...] stated nebulously and needlessly atop their resumes): get a job. But if you focus solely on getting a job, you’re probably ignoring how you could succeed at that job. Shift your attention away [...]
[...] do-it-yourself approach to job creation is a good way to supplement your job search. Show companies that you can think outside of the want-ad box, and you are sure to find someone who [...]
Thomas Edison