Confessions of a Former Job Seeker

Confessions of a Former Job Seeker ShareShare1TweetYours truly, former job seeker. I had forgotten how much Ive learned in my 10+ years of studying job interviewing, resume writing and job search strategy. Then I decided to get rid of some old files from the days when I was a job seeker, myself. My conclusion: Job search skills are not inborn. They are definitely learned! I found dusty old manila folders full of resumes dating back to the late 80s, when I got my BA in Journalism (Public Relations emphasis) and worked as an assistant editor at a book company, and from the 90s and 00s when I landed various positions as a publicist, writer, employment counselor and trainer of employment specialists. Was I a smart job seeker? Yes and no. Here are a few things I did right: I maintained a kudos file containing letters of recommendation, positive feedback from performance evaluations and kudo emails I had received. Rereading these rave reviews helped me understand my strengths and skills. It was also a huge confidence-builder that I reviewed before interviews and whenever I felt discouraged. I obtained lists of interview questions and practiced answering them. I made a list of success stories to talk about in interviews. I conducted informational interviews in which I gained valuable career guidance. I kept my notes, master application and old resumes for years, so I was always able to fill out job applications completely and never had to guess about dates and other facts. (My file purge was not total! I still have everything I need to update my resume.) And some things I did wrong: I didnt get it about networking as a way of proactively marketing myself to a list of target companies. I thought networking was about meeting people and asking them to keep me in mind for any openings they might hear of. That didnt work and it was no fun. I failed to follow up properly with people who had given me informational interviews. I sent a thank-you note and that was generally about it. I didnt let them know how their leads turned out. So I missed opportunities for ongoing relationship and for additional tips and leads. While I kept my notes, they were a little disorganized, which Im sure detracted from my effectiveness and added to my stress. A contact management system like Jibberjobber would have been helpful. I insisted on going it alone. I did pretty well at writing resumes and cover letters, but a good pro could have done better, despite my editorial experience. And I didnt realize how badly I needed interview coaching. Ive learned a lot since those days! Whew! Confessions of a Former Job Seeker ShareShare1TweetYours truly, former job seeker. I had forgotten how much Ive learned in my 10+ years of studying job interviewing, resume writing and job search strategy. Then I decided to get rid of some old files from the days when I was a job seeker, myself. My conclusion: Job search skills are not inborn. They are definitely learned! I found dusty old manila folders full of resumes dating back to the late 80s, when I got my BA in Journalism (Public Relations emphasis) and worked as an assistant editor at a book company, and from the 90s and 00s when I landed various positions as a publicist, writer, employment counselor and trainer of employment specialists. Was I a smart job seeker? Yes and no. Here are a few things I did right: I maintained a kudos file containing letters of recommendation, positive feedback from performance evaluations and kudo emails I had received. Rereading these rave reviews helped me understand my strengths and skills. It was also a huge confidence-builder that I reviewed before interviews and whenever I felt discouraged. I obtained lists of interview questions and practiced answering them. I made a list of success stories to talk about in interviews. I conducted informational interviews in which I gained valuable career guidance. I kept my notes, master application and old resumes for years, so I was always able to fill out job applications completely and never had to guess about dates and other facts. (My file purge was not total! I still have everything I need to update my resume.) And some things I did wrong: I didnt get it about networking as a way of proactively marketing myself to a list of target companies. I thought networking was about meeting people and asking them to keep me in mind for any openings they might hear of. That didnt work and it was no fun. I failed to follow up properly with people who had given me informational interviews. I sent a thank-you note and that was generally about it. I didnt let them know how their leads turned out. So I missed opportunities for ongoing relationship and for additional tips and leads. While I kept my notes, they were a little disorganized, which Im sure detracted from my effectiveness and added to my stress. A contact management system like Jibberjobber would have been helpful. I insisted on going it alone. I did pretty well at writing resumes and cover letters, but a good pro could have done better, despite my editorial experience. And I didnt realize how badly I needed interview coaching. Ive learned a lot since those days! Whew!