Have a Job Search Strategy

Congratulations! You’ve got a job: finding a new position. Create a work schedule allotting time for everything from networking and job searching to rewriting, revising, and updating your resume and professional profiles. If writing isn’t a strength—or you want an insider’s opinion on your resume, cover letter, or LinkedIn profile—make some time to speak with a certified resume writer as well.

Celebrate the Small Stuff

Adopt a positive mental attitude. On a micro-level, celebrate the completion of daily tasks such as filling out an application, attending a networking event, or polishing your LinkedIn headline. On a broader scale, congratulate yourself on getting an interview—even if you didn’t land the job. An interview shows that your resume is working. Plus, interviews are a great way to expand your network and each interview is great practice for the next one.

Health is Wealth

Take time away from your job hunt to take care of yourself. Exercise, sleep, and a healthy diet can all help reduce stress. Going to the gym, taking a yoga class, cooking healthy meals, and getting to bed early are just as important as scrolling through the career page of a company you hope to work for. Consider this: Scottish doctors have begun prescribing hiking to treat anxiety and depression.

Figure out Finances

A recent study found that 85% of American adults feel stressed out about money sometimes while 30% feel stressed out about money constantly. Understanding your financial situation and creating a budget is an excellent way to keep you focused on your job search and not wasting time worrying about money.

Network

Sitting around looking for work day after day is not only isolating, it’s also removing yourself from the best beneficiaries to your job hunt—your network. Experts believe that anywhere from 70% to 85% of open jobs are filled through networking. Connect with old friends and colleagues, take a class, attend a trade show, or go to a networking event to give your job search a boost.

Get a Cheerleader/Therapist

Whether it’s a spouse, a friend, or a family member, it’s important to have someone to talk honestly to during your job search. This is a valuable position, and the people best at it possess the ability to cheer you up when you’re down, provide a fresh perspective on issues that arise, or just let you blow off a little steam when needed.

Turn Negatives into Positives

Almost everyone searching for a new job will experience rejection; however, those who are back in the workforce the fastest are the ones who learn from that rejection. If you’re not hearing back from the jobs you’re applying for, are you still submitting the same resume? If so, what can you change on it to attract the attention of employers? If you’re landing interviews but not jobs, reach out to hiring managers and ask for feedback. Everyone has room for improvement.

Take Control

So much of the job hunt is out of your control, it’s important to take command of what you can. Namely, this means ensuring that you’re presenting yourself to employers in the best positive light. Is your resume eye-grabbing? Do you have a killer cover letter? Have you optimized your LinkedIn profile? An overlooked aspect of the job hunt is how you market yourself to potential employers.

Seek Professional Help

A resume writing service, such as SoCalResumes, can fine tune your professional profile, ensuring that your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile are sending the right message to potential employers and helping you stand out from a crowded field of candidates. Turning the task of resume writing over to a resume service also frees you up to tackle the other things under your control—like searching for open positions and expanding and connecting with your network.