Job Hunting: How You Will Really Land Your Next Job

After 8 years with one employer, I found myself suddenly back on the job market. I had found myself knocking at the 6 figure door, but the loss of the contract I managed for the company and its downsizing due to some other problems meant that I was out looking again. I followed all of the requisite advice on Monster and careerbuilder. I was applying for almost anything and everything that I was either qualified for or was interested in doing if I switched fields. I also did the cold email approach: Sending resumes and cover letter to all of the companies in my area within my field. None of this yielded results. In one case, where I even called the HR manager to 'follow up' several times, I never got a return phone call or email.

In the meantime, I reached out to some former professional peers, friends, alumni networks and former bosses. It was here that I started getting the hits. But even with this good news came a down side: Significant drop in pay. Once job in particular I would have loved to have done, but the pay was 3/4 what I needed to keep paying my mortgage.

During the down period, so I wasnt reduced to sitting on couch, drinking bourbon at 1 p.m. and watching Springer, I started volunteering at a local golf course. I also printed off resumes and put them in the back seat of my car in case I met anyone who could help me. Believe it or not, I did give a few out.

After two months and some persistence, I finally got an offer from the company where one of my former bosses was the VP. The kicker to this job, was that I had actually interviewed with him and the President a year ago!

Okay, so now you are job hunting or are looking for the next big move. My advice:

If you have a job, keep it, even if it stinks, but it pays the bills.

If you have a degree, get another one, especially one that is related to your field. I went out and got an Associates in Emergency Management in order to broaden my depth of experience and education. I know plenty of people who are not working in the field in which they got their degrees. But there are so many alternatives to earning a degree in your profession that you can and should take advantage of them. A hint here: Only go with a program that is accredited and fits your lifestyle. Shop around.

Network. No, I dont mean go to silly cocktail parties with wads of business cards. Get to know people in your field in your area. Stay in contact with old professional buddies, join your local professional association and get involved; stay in touch with old bosses. Even if it means dropping them an email, phone call or periodically hooking up for lunch or after hours drinks is what you need to do. Never pass up an opportunity to develop a contact: I have met some people on golf courses who love to talk about themselves, what they do and have even had one guy try to recruit me. If you are not a people person, become one. You dont need to talk about yourself, be interested in them. Listen to what they have to say and figure out how your skills and talents could help them or their organization. If your high school or college has an alumni network, stay in contact. You never know: The high school bully who used to beat you up may be the CEO of his own company now.

Save some money for a rainy day, week, or month. You never know.

Okay. You dont have a job. Now what:

Get out of bed every morning. Go for a walk, bike, run, work out. If you find yourself sleeping until noon every day, you have a problem. Feeling good about yourself will mean that when you do go for the interview, you will project confidence.

Dont let yourself go. Personal grooming is important. Alcohol and drugs will not solve your issues. Kick a bad habit.

Go to your local unemployment office and file a claim. Hey, you paid your taxes. Take advantage of any and all training classes they offer. Most County governments will also have a Skill Source Center with job developers where you can get some help.

Get your resume looked at by someone other than Mom or Dad. Many times you can get this done for free.

Volunteer. Go find something that speaks to you and volunteer your time; after all, all you have is time and you never know who you might meet. Remember, keep copies of your resume handy.

Build a web site to highlight your particular talents. This is especially good if you have a knack for something that can easily go up on the web, like graphics, illustrations, writing, photography, etc.

Reach out to everyone you know and let them know you are looking.

Be willing and ready to consider alternatives; dont let your ego get in the way. Just because you were a supervisor, manager, director, you may need to take a step back. That's okay, you will always have to earn your way forward anyway.

Grow, cultivate, nuture your reputation in your field. It is surprising how small most professional fields are, even within a fairly large metro area. What I have found is that everyone knows everyone else. Your reputation is your most important skill.

A final word on this: Pay it forward. Go rent the movie if you have not seen it (Kevin Spacey, Haley Joel Osment). If you can repay the professional favor by offering a hand up to someone else, do it. You never know where that might lead you. Think karma.