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It was rather blustery out; the children’s heads were bowed and arms crossed, bracing themselves against the cold wind. All the while, the children kept their eyes fixed on the sidewalk, attempting to determine their next steps. Likewise, when the job market is cold, sometimes you just have to keep your head down – not in defeat, but in a posture of determination – forging ahead regardless of the cold slaps of rejection you know will come. Furthermore, you have to watch your step; be planful and thoughtful about the moves you make, and always be ready to alter your course when the need arises. Back to the children walking in the snow. Two of them were wearing boots, while the third was wearing regular shoes (maybe sneakers). When it comes to job search, foot apparel is the equivalent of your skills, experiences and abilities. During any given time of year, having some sort of foot covering is important, but what you wear on your feet in the wintertime is particularly essential. Boots will keep you warm and will give you more stability and confidence as you trek through the snow. Likewise, your skills, experiences and abilities are always important aspects of the job search, but much more important during economic “coldspells.” Solid experience and proven skills and abilities are like wearing a good pair of boots – they give you security, confidence and stability when the path you’re walking is uncertain. The little girl wearing sneakers was able to move along on the icy sidewalk, but she was much more tentative, periodically reaching out to balance herself on her friend’s arm. Likewise, if you’re heading into your job search with limited related work experience, (i.e. you’re wearing sneakers on the snow rather than snow boots), navigating the job market will be especially challenging – but still possible. And, you’ll likely benefit immensely from reaching out to your network of professional colleagues, (which is a good idea for any job seeker, but especially useful to those with limited experience). After walking by my house, I notice the three young friends cross the street and head for the snow-covered baseball field opposite my home. Despite the cold, a lively snowball fight soon followed. This brings me to my last point. Though the job market is undoubtedly difficult, you can’t allow the current economic climate to steal all of your joy. Find ways to make the most of the situation – perhaps by developing or honing skills, perhaps by re-connecting with colleagues, or perhaps by testing new career avenues previously unexplored. For all the challenges that winter can present, it also brings with it the joys of the holiday season, which in turn usher in the spring! (For some practical tips on how NOT to let the recession become an excuse for not finding a job, read, “10 Ways YOU Stop Yourself From Getting a Job.”) “I recently applied for a job as a marketing assistant for a local company. There wasn’t really a deadline on the posting and I haven’t heard back from them yet, but it’s driving me crazy wondering if I might get interviewed or not. Should I call the employer or would that seem pushy?” Yes, I think it’s a good idea to follow up with the employer. First, you want to make sure your application materials were actually received. Second, it’s nice to know who all the “players” will be in your job search. If you’ve applied to multiple positions, you’ll eventually have to decide with which organizations you will want to interview and, when the time comes, which offers you’ll want to seriously consider. Knowing each employer’s hiring time frame will be useful in your decision-making. For more information about following up with an employer, check out my article, “Follow up – an important next step.”
Maybe nothing! Jeff Schmitt’s article, “Job Hunting Realities: What ‘No’ Really Means” contends that an employer’s “NO” may not have anything to do with your actual fit for the position. I would tend to agree with Mr. Schmitt. But it doesn’t hurt to step back from the initial sting of rejection to evaluate what, if anything, you might do to improve yourself for the next round of applications. If you’re new to the field, perhaps a recent college grad or a college senior, it’s especially worth while to evaluate your job hunting strategies. If you landed an interview, then your resume and cover letter are likely in pretty good shape. Prior to the interview, did you take time to practice? I have heard many a college student and young professional refuse interviewing assistance because they feel confident in their ability to “express themselves in person.” I have no doubt that you’re perfectly capable of expressing yourself in person. However, an interview requires that you express yourself in a way far different than normal conversations – you must talk about yourself in-depth, providing detailed, relevant, succinct examples. If you spoke this way about yourself on a regular basis, you’d likely not have many friends! Since you don’t talk like this all the time, practice is essential. Practice your interview, preferably with a professional who does not know you very well. Your friends and family are familiar with your habits, your manner of speech, your idiosyncrasies. A professional will better be able to identify aspects of your interviewing that may be masking your true talent. After the actual interview, ask for feedback. If you didn’t get a job offer, at the very least get some suggestions or advice from the employer about improving your interviewing. Perhaps they’ll give you a list of things you could improve – in which case, you’ll learn from the experience and do better next time. Keep in mind, just as Jeff Schmitt argues, you may have done nothing wrong at all! But, evaluating your job hunting strategies, particularly your interviewing skills, will keep you sharp and ready for your next round of applications. |
