Draft a Coach and Win at Finding Employment

If you've been in the job search mode for any length of time, you know that the process is supremely frustrating and potentially depressing. Market projections and statistics are providing glimmers of hope for the unemployed but all of the good news that you can muster won't pay your bills.

One of the worst aspects of this process is the endless repetition and seeming futility of the process. Some of the people with whom I have conversation about job searches refer to the job boards as the "black hole" of employment searches. Any experience with that medium can verify that unfortunate description.

On a daily basis, you can receive emails from one to thirty of the most popular job boards with a vast offering of job opportunities that may be to your liking. But keep in mind that many thousands of people are receiving the same email this morning and you are competing with many of them, those who are making the first cut by the person reviewing resumes received.

A pragmatic solution is to secure intelligent and constructive assistance. Take a long and critical look at your circle of friends and relatives and determine whose opinion and professional background you value most. Then enlist that person to be your coach. Yes, there is a plethora of career coaches out there and many of them are extremely valuable, with remarkable track records. But it may be much simpler (and less expensive) than you imagine.

Here's an example. You have a cousin who worked for a large aerospace company in town and he hired and trained hundreds of people during his career. He has reviewed hundreds of resumes from which he has made choices, initiated contact and conducted interviews on various levels. Give him a call, invite him to lunch and bring your resume and cover letter.

Ask what's good or bad or boring about your resume. Does it make you want to call me? Does it tell you that I'm ordinary and mundane? What would you recommend to make me stand out? The chances are extremely good that he will be flattered by your inquiry and will have strong and insightful observations. If it's feasible, ask two or three of the people who you know won't object to the process.

Once you have evaluated and received suggestions about your resume, ask the same questions about your cover letter. These letters are no longer optional and very often can be the most compelling and distinguishing aspects of your presentation. Take a look at your language. Does it depict you as valuable, creative, dependable, reliable or any of those words that you are able to use to describe yourself? This is the wrong time to be shy. Get a thesaurus and find adjectives for the words that you have always used for yourself. It will be a paperback that provides terrific return on your investment.

Finally, ask your cousin/friend/neighbor/partner/offspring to conduct a mock interview. You may be rambling without realizing that you're doing it. You may be failing to make eye contact. You might be unconsciously chewing on your pencil. Worst of all, you may be so busy talking about yourself that you aren't listening to your interviewer and this will be your immediate disqualification.

Prepare as if it were a real interview and assemble bullet points that address your accomplishments. Do not treat it as if it were a game or family room entertainment. Be serious, concise, professional and portray yourself exactly as you want to be viewed.

Ask the tough questions. Would you want to hire me? Why or why not? Did I do anything that was distracting or annoying? What were the best and worst aspects of my delivery? You are incapable of seeing yourself as others see you and it is time to get a second (or third or fourth) opinion.

Take notes, remind yourself that you are fully capable of change and send your new resume and cover letter to as many places as you can. Don't be surprised when the phone begins to ring and you can present yourself as the byproduct of new insights, new focus and an improved sense of self-esteem.