The job search can be an endurance race. In addition to working to stay positive, it is important to maintain an approach in which you are engaged, passionate, honest, and persistent.

Attitude
Approach each new opportunity with focus and optimism, even if you’ve been disappointed. If you start projecting pessimism, you won’t appear to be an ideal job candidate and your pessimism could become self-fulfilling prophecy.

Is Each Component of Your Search Polished and Perfected?
Analyze each aspect of your approach, from your resume to your networking to your job skills. Go back through each of the Job Search January 21-Day Challenges and consider which need improving. If you aren’t getting called to interviews, your cover letter and resume aren’t passing the test. If you’ve applied to all the positions on the job boards, are you also targeting your job search and setting up informational interviews? All of these components work together to create a successful job search.

Challenge #20: Create a Job Hunting System

In addition to polishing your job portfolio and your attitude, set up a strategy so that you are systematic about your job search. Create a calendar of your plan and include weekly or monthly quotas (how many leads/networking events/applications/informational interviews). Schedule your research, thank-you notes, follow-up contacts. Gain control of your job search through organization!

This challenge is for those of you who need a new job but are stuck in the wishing and worrying stage. If you’ve been lurking on job boards, now is the time to apply! I often have clients who are insecure about their resumes or their job history. They are hesitant to apply, even to positions to which they are qualified. Now is no time to be shy!

If you need a job, but aren’t following through and applying, seek some support. Set up a free 15-minute consultation by phone, email, or in-person with an expert. Often after meeting with me, job seekers who were feeling pessimistic about their skills or unsure about what they need to do feel enthusiastic and more confident! An expert will give you support and direct you to the action items you need to take. That can feel extremely empowering!

Challenge #19: Pick one job today and apply for it!

Do whatever it takes: fill out an application, write your cover letter and resume, and send them off! Make them as good as you can in the time you have today, have someone proof them with you, then BAM! put a stamp on your envelope and send it. And tomorrow, spend a little more time polishing your cover letter and resume, targeting it to your next position, and send off another.

Even if you’ve been stuck, take the first step. Pick one job and apply for it. Ask for support if you need it. Tell someone that if you do only one thing today it needs to be applying for this one job. Have them hold you to it. Then do it again tomorrow. And the next day. And the next!

We’ve discussed the value of networking in your job search. In addition to meeting people and asking them if they have any job information, there is another step you can take. You can request an informational interview.

Never ask for a job.
The purpose of an informational interview is to learn more about your industry or the organization where your contact works, as well as to increase your connections and visibility. You might learn which skills are most important to employers and gain a greater understanding of the job market.

Who do you meet and how?
When you meet a contact socially or at a network event, usually the conversation is brief and light. When you exchange business cards, ask if you might call or email in order to set up an informational interview. It is that easy!

In addition to people you meet through networking, you have also targeted your job search, following industry trends and players. Write an email or letter to people in your industry you’d like to meet requesting an interview. Request 20 minutes of their time at their convenience.

Make the most of the connection.
Ask good questions. What do you really need to know? Often, informational questions include: How did you get started in this field? What do you love about it? What challenges do you or your industry face right now? What recommendations would you make to someone who is interested in working in this field?

Be courteous and prepared.
Usually an informational meeting is set at your contact’s place of business. Dress and act professionally, be on time, be prepared to set the agenda and lead the meeting, have questions ready, and bring a notepad to take notes.

Do your homework beforehand, so that you do not ask questions to which you could find answers on the company website. Your contact is doing you a favor, so make efficient use of your time, be gracious, don’t overstay, and thank them. Then, for good measure, send a thank you note too.

Follow Up.
As always, ask if there is any way you can reciprocate. Then, check in every so often, perhaps monthly, to maintain the relationship, offer any services they might appreciate, discuss recent industry developments, and thank them again for having met with you.

Challenge #18: Set Up Informational Interviews

Try to set up at least two interviews per week. Remember, since you’re not asking for work, the stakes are lower. Behave professionally and act as if it is a job interview without the pressure! Take the opportunity to build relationships, gain knowledge, and improve your interview skills all in one.

Professional and Industry Organizations are great assets to you in your career and in your job search. Since they are comprised of industry players, including employers, they provide excellent opportunities to network and to practice your elevator speech.

Be involved in your professional or industry organizations in order to stay current, too. It is often their mission to keep you informed of industry happenings, changes, and challenges. There are often opportunities to gain new skills, earn certifications, or otherwise enhance your professional development.

They might even list job openings or hold job fairs.

Challenge #17: Join and Be Involved in Professional and Industry Organizations

If you are not yet a member of a professional or industry organization, join now. Weight the membership dues against benefits offered—look for insurance, classes, information, and networking events.

If you are already a member, step up your involvement. Be active and engaged.  It might be time for you to write an industry article to submit to their newsletter—what could better establish you as an expert and get your name in the pool for the next job opening?

Ready to jumpt start your job search with a free consultation with a resume expert and interview coach?

Being out of work can be a shock. If you find employment right away, the world is set right and you can quickly displace the shock you felt. But sometimes the job search becomes an endurance race. It can wear you down. You’ll need to find ways to support yourself mentally (and seek support from others, too) in order to stay positive so that you can meet the challenges of finding your next job.

To be an attractive job candidate, you need to present that you will provide solutions. Feeling down and out can sabotage  your ability to convey your solutions. Rather than providing the cure that the company needs, you might feel (and convey) that you are the one needing a cure.

How to Think Like a Doctor in your job search in order to demonstrate you can solve the company’s problems to earn a job offer.

It is important to stay positive in all your interactions. It is counterproductive to badmouth or whine when you’re networking. Even if you feel you were mistreated, expressing it will only reflect negatively on you.

Challenge #16: Stay Positive

Continue to have fun, even when times are tough. Take care of yourself and continue to be social and active and engaged, all while keeping your job search your top priority.  Those other activities will almost certainly benefit your job search.

Here’s an article by CNBC with 6 Strategies for Staying Positive during Your Job Search.

When responding to an advertised job posting, I strongly recommend sending a Cover Letter along with your Resume. I also recommend that you expand your search beyond job boards and target your job search by following attractive companies within your industry. How do you introduce yourself to a company when they haven’t advertised a position to which you can apply?

Send an Introduction Letter

An introduction letter is very similar to a standard cover letter, except that rather than state that you’re responding a job opening you found, you’ll simply introduce yourself.

Challenge #15: Craft an Introduction Letter

If you choose to include your resume, use the same letterhead as your resume.

Here’s an example of how you might begin:

Please allow me to introduce myself and thank you in advance for receiving and reviewing my resume. I have great respect for the work being done by <the organization> in their numerous pursuits. I would very much appreciate the opportunity to contribute to these efforts in any capacity you might require, especially any possibility of working <in your specialty>.

Mr. Lawrence recommended I write to you.  As a colleague, he is very familiar with my work at my <present or former position>.  I have included Mr. Lawrence’s contact information on my reference page for your convenience.

Next, list 2-4 traits, skills, or work experiences which would lend themselves to the organization to which you are applying, just like you would in a cover letter.

Close by availing yourself to further discussion. Here’s a sample of how you might phrase it:

I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to answer any questions you might have or to discuss contributions I might bring to your company, at your convenience of course. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Now you’re ready to send them out to your target companies! Good luck!

In addition to following Job Boards, I recommend researching companies in your industry that you might be interested in working for. Follow them in the news and via social media. Connect with them at local events, through your network, and online.

Research and follow your target industry, the major players, and certainly the companies you are most interested in working for. Gain a solid understanding of the market, challenges, and customers of your industry.

Challenge #14: Target Your Job Search beyond Job Boards and Classifieds

Know your industry, target companies, players, market place, customers, and the challenges they might face. Follow them in the news and online. If they are holding an event, by all means attend or volunteer so that you can support and be a part of the cause, hear the discussion, and likely make valuable connections.

The better you know your target, the better prepared you are to offer yourself as a ‘solution’.

Yesterday, I talked about Staying Current while Unemployed and how to keep up with industry trends. But what do you do if your skill-set is outdated? If you are finding job postings, but lack some of the skills or experience required in the job description, take this opportunity for professional development.

If your computer skills are outdated, there are free tutorials online. The most common computer software requirements often include word processing and spreadsheets. Go through Microsoft Office tutorials to improve your skills with Word and Excel.

Many of my most skilled connections gained valuable experience while volunteering. Get involved in planning and executing events to gain leadership and project management skills.

Here’s an article about New Job Skills You’ll Need for 2011

Challenge #13: Continue Your Professional Development

Be on the lookout for opportunities to increase your professional skills and experience. As you acquire new accomplishments, add them to your resume.

The former examples are mostly free, but of course most towns offer Adult Education courses or continuing education of some sort. Make good use of your time while unemployed to further your professional development and get qualified for your target positions.

Don’t let the gap in your employment become a gap in your skills! The longer you are out of work, the more outdated and out of touch you might appear. Stay current on your job skills and industry happenings as you conduct your job search.

Follow industry trends through books, magazines, newsletters, and blogs

In addition to visiting the library and bookstores for books and magazines, tap into the endless (and mostly free) recourses available online. Conduct a google search for industry keywords and you’ll find numerous industry newsletters and blogs. You can subscribe to follow them regularly through email, RSS, and even on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

There are also online seminars (webinars) that are often incredibly informative and available for you to watch at your convenience. Check Youtube for relevant videos as well.

Be active in social networking

We’ve discussed how to use social networking in your job search. Be actively involved! Join the conversation, ask and answer questions, and comment on blogs to keep current with what is being discussed in real time. You could also write your own blog post as a guest blogger for one of these sites or create your own!

Volunteer for your career

We all know that the benefits of volunteering are plenty. Not only can we help others and promote something we believe in, we can also build skills that we can apply to our resume. In fact, it is often possible to volunteer for industry events that you might not otherwise afford to attend, and gain all the access and information of a paying attendee.

Challenge #12: Follow and Be Involved in Industry Trends to Stay Current

Read, write, question and comment on all the industry resources you can find. Not only will this keep you abreast of industry happenings and players, but it could establish your own credibility as an expert.

Volunteer and be involved in activities that will improve your skills and connections.

Use all of these experiences to keep your resume up-to-date!

One of the main components of your job search is to follow Job Boards. In addition to searching for job postings, utilize Social Networks to follow your industry, employers you would like to work with, and individuals and groups who are “talking” online about your industry. Social Networks offer you an opportunity to meet the movers and shakers of your industry without having to meet them in person.

Listen in to what’s happening online to learn the etiquette of each social network, then join in the conversation! You might just overhear news of an upcoming (but unadvertised) job opening, create a relationship that could earn you an important referral, or be discovered as an ideal candidate!

LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a professional network. Create a profile and add your resume details, upload a photo, and utilize part or all of your 30-Second Elevator Speech in your Summary Paragraph. Be sure to make your profile visible to others and list what kinds of work you are seeking.  Here’s a link to LinkedIn’s  New User Starter Guide. Search out and join industry groups and join the conversation!

Here’s an article by The LinkedIn Personal Trainer about how Recruiters Use LinkedIn to Find Candidates!

Facebook
Most of us know what Facebook is and more and more people and businesses are active on it. If you don’t have one, create a personal profile and start adding all your friends. Find businesses and businesses people who you’d like to work with and follow or ‘like’ them. Again, once you’re comfortable with the etiquette of the conversation, join in.

Facebook also offers an easy opportunity to network. Through status updates or notes, let people know what you are looking for and that you are available as a problem solver.

Here’s an article called 5 Ways to use Facebook for your Job Search by The Undercover Recruiter.

Twitter
Again, use Twitter to follow recruiters, companies, and anyone involved in your industry to keep your finger on the pulse of what is happening.

Here is an article on how to set up your free Twitter account, use Twitter as a Job board, and begin building relationships and showcase your brand. Tweet Sheet: How to use Twitter for your Job Search

Challenge #11: Set Up Profiles and Use Social Networks in Your Job Search

If you are not already active with these Social Networks, set up free accounts with each of them. Start with LinkedIn and create your profile, construct your work history/resume, and upload a photo.

Look around on each site, get comfortable, then search out the companies and people you respect and would like to work for. Then join in the conversation.

Remember, once they discover you, they’ll probably do some checking of their own. Make sure what they find is presentable (you don’t want to be tagged on Facebook in a compromising photo) and displays your professional brand.

That should get you started!