Jobs Search

Tap into Luck in Your Job Search

Many people are in the same boat today: searching, hunting, hoping and praying for a job. Many claim to not be picky - anything will do. Some are sticking it out for a good paying job to keep their accustomed standard of living. Most, though, will take a long time finding a job. Not necessarily because of the economy or financial crisis, but because they do not make the effort to research effective job search strategies.

If you tend to coast along, hoping that something will come your way, take heed: the Universe won't drop a dream job in your lap (not usually anyways) but good luck does seem to come to those who work hard at things! Lucille Ball, who overcame considerable adversity in her life, said, "Luck? I don't know anything about luck. I've never banked on it, and I'm afraid of people who do. Luck to me is something else: Hard work -- and realizing what is opportunity and what isn't."

That's the thing about luck - more of it finds you if you lay some groundwork first. In case you need another famous person's take on luck, Ralph Waldo Emerson, famous American philosopher said, "Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect."

Here are a few tips to attracting good job search "luck."

Set Your Mind to Job Search Mode

Approach job hunting as a full-time proposition. No sleeping late, no reading escapist novels, and no bending your mother's ear with tales of unemployment troubles. Set yourself up a schedule of looking for posted jobs on the internet and in the local newspaper; meeting with people in positions of influence that can offer sound advice or referrals; writing targeted resumes and cover letters; and researching interview strategies. Sounds like a full-time job, doesn't it?

Spend Some Time at Your Library

Libraries and librarians are underutilized. Free internet access, listings of local businesses, and information on local business leaders, company personnel, business acquisitions and expansions - all important and useful to a job hunter, and all available at your local library. Moreover, there are books on writing effective resumes and cover letters, books on networking in job search strategies, and books on how to answer those tough interview questions. Add library time to that schedule you're setting up.

Find Out What Networking Really Is

Research shows that perhaps 85% of jobs are not posted on internet job sites, in local newspapers or even on companies' websites. There is a hidden job market out there, accessible only through networking. Networking is not "schmoozing"; it goes beyond speaking to your neighbours, friends, family and colleagues, and it is not instantaneous. Networking takes time, research, practice, strategy, and giving as well as taking. And there are lots of good books on networking. For a practical, quick, and easy read, try "Don't Send a Resume" by Jeffrey J. Fox.

Get Serious About Your Resume and Cover Letter

Speaking of resumes (and Mr. Fox was just getting your attention with his title, you do still need a resume), get serious about yours. As a career practitioner, I see many resumes, and I can say that perhaps 1% are so good, that I turn their business away. The rest - oy! Painfully bereft of any reason why any employer would be interested in calling the resume's owner in for an interview. A whole lot on nothing but copy and paste and position description details. If you cannot engage the services of a professional, do engage the services of your local library. Did I mention that you should add library time to your schedule?

Copyright©2008 New Leaf Resumes. Feel free to reprint this article, but please provide the author with full credit.

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