In these challenging times, many highly qualified
professionals find themselves, often through no fault of their own,
in need of ,reemployment. J. Damian Birkel, author of Career
Bounce-Back! (AMACOM 1998), offers the following survival tips,
from his ,Professionals in Transition nonprofit support program, to
those facing the uncertainty of job loss.
Tactic #1: Remind Yourself to Be a Winner
Reinforce your winning attitude by posting "attitude"
signs (with whatever motto works for you) in visible places such as
your daily planner, the bulletin board or wall in your temporary office,
even on top of your bureau. The signs help you remember that you
alone are responsible for your daily attitude.
Tactic #2: Conduct a Multilevel Campaign
Your reemployment effort consists of three parts: working
with job-hunting allies (recruiters, career consultants and the like),
marketing yourself and conducting informational interviews. You’re
not finished with any aspect of your campaign until you’ve accepted
a job offer.
Tactic #3: Create a Business Card
Don’t be left out of the old introduction ritual of exchanging
business cards just because you’re unemployed. In fact, you
need a business card now more than ever. Create one, and have
it professionally printed. Include your name, contact information
and general area of expertise. On the back, add your career objective
and a bulleted list of your key areas of strength. Your business
card can then actively serve as a mini-resume.
Tactic #4: Meet Employers’ Needs
When you’re responding to a help-wanted ad, design a cover
letter that proves you’re the answer to the employer’s problems.
Cull those problems from the ad, and list them in the left-hand column
of your cover letter under the heading ,Your Needs. Then itemize
your matching requirements in a right-hand column entitled ,My Qualifications.
This minimalist cover letter style lets employers see, at a glance,
that you’re qualified for the job.
Tactic #5: Use Large Mailing Envelopes
Most job hunters mail their resumes and cover letters in number
ten envelopes. Instead, use catalogue envelopes (9 x 12 or 10
x 15). In doing so, your written pitch stands out from the others
right from mail delivery, and your resume and cover letter are more
likely to arrive in pristine condition. Finally, if they are never
folded, your resume and cover letter are easier for employers to scan,
fax and photocopy.
Tactic #6: Volunteer
Helping others is an excellent way to help yourself. You connect
with others, some of whom might potentially help you in your job search,
and gain a new perspective on your problems. Even when you’re
going through rough times in your career, there are always people who
are facing even greater challenges in life.
Tactic #7: Get Out and Meet People
If there’s ever a time to be a shrinking violet, this isn’t
it. You need advocates in your job search, and you can find them
practically anywhere. So get in front of as many people as possible.
Join civic and religious groups, participate in community events, attend
support group meetings and renew your ties with your college’s
alumni association.
Tactic #8: Recruit a Coach
Find a personal advocate, other than your spouse or other family
members, who can hold your hand and provide ,tough love throughout the
reemployment process. This person should be compassionate and
understand you and someone with whom you can speak freely. Your
coach’s job is to encourage you, pick you up by your bootstraps
when you need it and obtain frequent job-search progress reports from
you.
Tactic #9: Keep a Journal
Keep a written record of your day-to-day reemployment efforts.
You can spot trends and learn from any emerging job-search patterns.
You can also write about your unemployment-related feelings and concerns,
which is a great way to get them off your chest. In addition,
your job-search journal might produce some spontaneous problem-solving
ideas and insights.
Tactic #10: Stay Proactive
You can control your job search, but it is yourchoice, and
yours alone. There are reemployment possibilities everywhere;
you just have to go out and find them. When opportunity doesn’t
knock, build a door. Don’t let your job search stall while
you wait for a headhunter or an employer to call. Instead, turn
the situation around. Line up informational interviews and keep
the reemployment process moving. Above all, remember that reemployment
is a personal responsibility and a proactive process.
For more information about this book and other AMACOM
business titles, click
here.
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