Below Are Some Things We Learned in Previous Sessions

Facilitator Notes: Research shows that jobseekers are more effective and get hired faster when they actively manage a lot of job search activities all at the same time. This means doing a variety of activities every single week to expedite the path to employment and not relying on one or two ineffective strategies that do not produce results over time. Simply put - do a variety of the most effective job searching strategies to get hired faster.

During these last eight weeks we have discussed many statistics and many techniques about job searching. We have learned a lot about each other’s struggles and we have celebrated the good news of individual success.

While working with each of you during your Career Advising sessions we have really gotten to know each other, your interests, your skills, and your personal dedication for improving your life.

Below are some things we learned in previous sessions:

1. Get offline. Job-seekers don’t rely solely on job boards and help-wanted ads for job searching. Job boards are less than 5% effective if they are the sole means of one’s job search.

2. You have mastered your 30-second elevator speech. Spend time figuring out what you have to offer employers, and clearly articulate your value to future hiring managers.

Job-seekers clearly understand what they can bring to the workplace, and they can communicate this to future employers and just about everyone they come in contact with. Share this with friends, family, hiring managers, and people in your network.

3. You have identified and targeted companies that are a perfect fit for you. Research these companies, while also leveraging people in your networks that might help you get a foot in the door with the employer.

4. You have reached out to people you know who have had a connection with targeted employers. Remember - 80% of all jobs are still found though direct contact. Spend a big percentage of your job search making direct contact with people who can help lead you inside the company to the employer.

5. Many of you have volunteered in community events and found the benefits of giving back to your community. This keeps employment skills fresh or develop new skills to add to your resume. This also helps you expand your local network of people.

6. You understand how important those warm contacts are. Keep your warm contacts updated about your ongoing job search. Send out emails periodically or update your contacts by private social media messages. One job seeker recently began to blog about his unemployment experience and invited his warm contacts to receive his weekly blogging updates. The goal is to keep warm contacts working for you as they can help advocate hiring opportunities for you.

7. You understand the importance of monitoring your online footprint. Make sure you continue to routinely clean up your social media profile.

8. Remember to take care of yourself. Create time for daily exercise, healthy eating, and don’t give up your hobbies or recreational activities you find enjoyable. Instead, schedule time each week for simple pleasures you enjoy.

9. Continue to seek out professional development opportunities. Continue to upgrade your skills during times of unemployment or underemployment. These are all great ways to show your growth to an employee.

10. Practice your interviewing skills daily. Be prepared to answer behavioral style interview questions. STAR. Go through several mock interviews to gain the edge over other job candidates. Utilize Job Clubs and your Career Advisor to help you prepare.

Also, seek out informational interviews with key targets that are on the inside of companies you are looking to target with your job search. Your goal is to make introductions and gain access to hiring managers.

11. Make looking for a job your job! Maintain daily 9-5 job searching routines, while blocking out specific hours each week for daily job searching activities. Monitor your progress each day. Put as much structure into your schedule as possible. Add appointments on your calendar as much as possible.

12. Regularly work on the development of your job-searching tools: resumes, cover letters, professional portfolios, and a LinkedIn profile. These are all essential items for today’s job search.

13. Consciously make yourself stick to the same daily routines as if you were working every day. Set your alarm, prepare your calendar for tomorrow’s activities, get-up, go to the gym, shower, and prepare yourself for a day of job activities, coupled with a few hours of fun and relaxation. Remember, normalcy is key during times of unemployment to stave off depression.

14. Have you registered with local staffing agencies? They hire temporary workers for a wide variety of companies. Temporary staffing agencies are one of the easiest ways to help you get your foot in the door with a company and are becoming the norm for hiring practices for larger companies and corporations.

15. Keep one or two outfits for interviewing and job searching ready to go in your closet. Also be prepared to carry a professional notebook or journal for note-taking during your interview.

Discussion Questions

· What type of job-searching techniques do you use?

· Are they active or passive?

· How did you find your last job? Did someone help lead you there, or did you respond to a job posting or advertisement?

· Why is it necessary to get interviews?

· Can you create a list of active job-searching techniques you would like to try this week?

Managing My Weekly Job Search

Connected with my Career Advisor each week / ¨
*Registered in Focus Career / ¨
*Targeted my resume for each job I’m applying / ¨
Created a professional email and voice mail account / ¨
Made a list of Target Employers / ¨
Cleaned up my social media profiles / ¨
Created a LinkedIn account and developed a profile / ¨
Updated my warm contacts about my job search / ¨
Made new networking connections this week / ¨
*Attended all eight Job Club sessions / ¨
*Mastered my 30-second elevator speech / ¨
*Practiced my interviewing skills in the form of STAR responses. / ¨
Planned my weekly calendar with blocks of time scheduled for active job searching through the week / ¨
Spent time volunteering and developing connections with community members this week / ¨
Invested my time on professional development opportunities to update or expand my skill-sets / ¨
Registered with my local temporary staffing agency / ¨
*Have business cards ready for networking / ¨
*Participated in a mock interview this week / ¨
Scheduled an informational interview with a new contact in my community / ¨
*Have a polished cover letter that is directly targeted to a hiring manager within the company / ¨
Provided follow-up or sent thank you cards / ¨
Have an outfit for interviewing ready to go in my closet / ¨

*Denotes assistance provided by Job Club and Career Advisers

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