Three Things You Should Do While Job Hunting

Imagine sitting at home filled with frustration because the job you had for five years just let you go. Company X just got acquired by a Japanese company. You turn on the TV and start to watch the news and wonder how you can get back in the job market. We all experience this at least once in our career. The worst thing to do at this moment is to dwell on the job you’ve lost. You need to be proactive and preparing to get your next job. While you’re in this process there are three things you need to be doing to maximize your job hunt.

1. Get a part time job

I understand you have your pride and you were doing amazing things in your previous organization but let’s examine reality. You’re currently unemployed and unless your unemployment is still in function then you should be getting a part time job at least. Keeping cash in your pocket will reduce your stress level and buy you time to look efficiently and effectively. This will keep your cash flow moving and allow you to remain active during the downtime. Having a part time job will help you avoid having gaps in your resume as well.

1. Start Networking

You will never regret stretching your network in the world of hunting for jobs. Spend time growing your network and the opportunities will follow.  I have received majority of my job offers through connections I have built in the past through networking. If you don’t know where to start check out Meetup.com in your local city and see what events are currently happening. This serves as a good resource which tells you about group meet-ups based on your interest and your location

1. Improve your skillset

When you’re in the job hunt it’s a perfect time to add to your skillset. When I finished contract roles in the past I designed a set of learning goals that I would work on in my spare time. You should be finding ways to make yourself more valuable when you land your next job. I once spoke with a lady that learned how to write code during the four months she was unemployed. She was able to land a higher paying job in her field because of some of the unique skill set she developed during her time unemployed.

If you’re currently unemployed make sure you’re doing these three activities to maximize yourself in the job hunt. When you’re done reading this pull out a notebook and start developing a strategy around these three activities. Losing a job is devastating but the one’s that quickly rebound use these three activities to maximize their time. 

Three Rules for Starting a Business Career after College

Spending the past 7 years interviewing HR execs, recruiters and business owners to learn what it really takes to have a successful career. In the midst of this time I have worked with small to large companies as well as some of the fastest growing companies in the country. I have also interviewed with tons of amazing companies which has helped me to develop an understanding of the interview process and how to develop a successful career. I’m not here to tell you canned answers like many of the career counselors and coaches in the industry. I’m here to give real world knowledge that’s going to prepare you to have a successful transition into a great career. In this article I’m going to focus on three rules to having a successful transition from college to a successful career.


1. Learn the company Lingo

Every organization has their cultural lingo to describe what’s really happening in the organization. As a new college graduate in your first work environment it’s important for you to learn what certain words mean in your organization. When you hear the word “Transitions” from your manager does this mean potential downsizing or is it a term used to describe new development. If you understand the lingo you can prepare for upcoming changes. Most companies don’t openly discuss major changes with any employee. All companies have levels in which certain levels of information can be shared. Knowing these terms in your current work environment can be the difference between you surviving off unemployment or successfully transitioning to another company. Study the lingo in your organization to know where you sit within the company.

 2. Focus on a dream career instead of a dream job

You should focus on developing transferable skills instead of getting a dream job coming out of school. Many people hope to have their dream job coming out of college and I’m not against this but you should be focused on what skills are going to prepare you for a dream career. Focusing on a dream job is a small aspect of your life because jobs come and go but building a career has the ability to last a lifetime. I have had dream jobs coming out of school but what happens if the company downsizes, merges or gets acquired. The skills you develop at your first job out of college should transcend the role itself. This is important because you can bring a better set of skills to your next role.

 3. Your Morals & Ethics Vs. The Company

 I’ve had many interviews where the company hiring manager speaks on “finding the right fit”. I know coming out of college you may believe all companies have great morals but it’s not the case. Starting a new job is exciting but your homework consists of more than company training. You need to be exploring what the company culture is really about. Go out for drinks with some of the colleagues, drink water to stay sharp and ask questions. I went out for drinks with one of my fellow colleagues and what he told me made me glad that I stopped my pursuit to work with them. He told me they placed a lady in a position in which she turned down a full time offer to accept. The company decided to let her go after a week. I knew I didn’t want to take part in ruining people lives with false promises. Study the true morals of the company you plan to work for and make sure you’re both on the same page.

 Many of you plan to graduate soon with hopes to finding a job. If you’re six months away from that date I encourage you start immediately on building connections and starting interviews. If you want to be successful in today’s market you need to develop.

You Inc. : Build Your Career like a Business

Being successful in today’s market takes more than just having a college degree. The most successful people are strategic about how they approach their careers. You have to develop a set of strategies that will help you navigate beyond road blocks. Today I’m going to discuss two things that are going to make you more successful in your career. Two things you need to have in order to successfully run your career like a business is developing a Separating Factor and a Marketing Approach.

When you sit down in an interview, one of the questions you have to answer is what makes you different.  What makes you different is called your separating factor. Businesses that survive and remain in business for long periods of time have a separating factor that they can leverage beyond their competitors. Just like businesses, professionals that have a separating factor thrive. If you plan to have a successful career you must have a separating factor.

Then next important factor that will increase your chances is the marketing approach. How are you spreading the news of who you are? What do potential employers think when they view your LinkedIn profile or resume? Are you exposing yourself in an environment for employers to find you? You want to make sure that you are putting your best representation upfront for recruiters and employers to see.

One of the clients I worked with in the past was an engineer that couldn't get an interview. I discovered that she only sent her resume out hoping that employers would contact her. We partnered up and developed a marketing approach that helped her build some traction in her journey. She went from no interviews to gaining interviews from multiple companies. Instead of looking at the job hunt as an extra activity She started looking at the process as managing a business.

 My advice to anyone that’s in the job hunt, develop a separating factor and create a strong marketing approach. These two things are going to help you define what you need to do in your market to become successful. If you treat your job hunt like a hobby you’ll get limited results but I you want to have a successful job hunt, build your career like a business.