Committed to Your Success Coaching & Consulting

With the state of the economy today and the number of people out of work in virtually every industry out there, it is easy to become complacent and lose sight of your job search and the ultimate goal of finding and securing employment.   After a job loss, there are several types of behaviors exhibited by newly unemployed:

   1. those who are stunned, in shock, depressed, anxious; they are almost to the panic state about how they will go about getting a new job; they are essentially immobilized for while; they can’t even think of a job-search plan

2.  those who are initially in shock, grieve for a while and then start their job search, usually through the want ads, the Workforce agencies, or posting their resume on a job board, such as Monster or Career Builder; they have no formal job-search plan but can half-heartedly put one together

3.  those who are able to look at the situation and say, “it  is what it is”.  They have been prepared with their career management; they have a formal job-search plan written down, or do so quickly, and are actively networking for job leads within their circle

Which are you?  Most people usally fall in the first or second catergories, with category one portraying those in extended unemployment.  Either one is not the ideal as you will spend a lot of time spinning your wheels and getting no further ahead to being gainfully employed.  So, what is the solution?  Well, the best solution is to always be prepared with a clear idea of your skils, experience, and talent and what you are looking for in a career.  The next best solution is to have a formal, well thought-out, written job search plan that includes the tasks you will do every day in your job search.  Writing them down will help you to keep focused.   Get out of the house to perform your job search activities, whether that is going to your local library or to Starbucks; it will help you to feel like you are going to a job again and keep the distractions of family, chores, or TV from getting in the way.  Frame-of-mind is very important right now. 

Include in your plan all of the companies that match your skill sets, contacts at those companies, or associations that are related to them.  List your circle of friends and family, including former coworkers or employers, and see how you could expand the list.  Also include any volunteer opportunities, career fairs, or networking events you could attend - you never know who may know who, who may know who, who may know who.  It’s important to list daily tasks, such as, ’send 5 resumes’; also give end dates to some tasks to avoid procrasination or avoidance of that task.  One final plan to include in  your job search plan is time for yourself; schedule in time for exercise, mediation, and meeting with friends.  Enlist the support of a career coach - it would be an investment in yourself and could save you time in finding another job. Doing so will give you the support and relaxation you need and will refresh and energize you to keep going.