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There’s so many things to do during a job search, and one that often gets neglected is taking care of you. During a job hunt, it’s tough to keep up your spirits…and it’s so critical. Even in good times, a job hunt can be brutal on the self esteem. It can feel like we will NEVER work again! Our bad feelings can bleed into our networking and job interviews. That’s why you need a plan to keep yourself positive and your self-esteem up.

Here’s a few things you can do:

• Take time for exercise. It works off stress and releases powerful chemicals in your body called endorphins. Go to the gym regularly, go for walks, or find some other activity that you really enjoy. One client said that when he got really depressed, he started going to the gym for two hours a day. He looked great and gave off such positive energy that people were asking him what he was doing.

• Actively volunteer–Find an organization whose work you believe in and help out. It keeps your mind active, keeps you in circulation, and makes you feel useful—at a time when many people really need to feel that.

• Assemble friends to be your cheering section.

• Read over your resume at least once per week to remember your successes.
• Schedule a weekly contact with culture—a play, an inspirational movie, a work of art—as a reminder that whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.
• Avoid negative newspaper stories (fires, murders, layoffs, unemployment statistics, etc.), hate radio, and negative people. People tend to come away with a general depiction of life as boring, tragic, and inane. This is something you cannot afford while job hunting. Do keep up-to-date on important news, particularly developments in business that may alert you to opportunities and help you present yourself as an informed candidate while networking.
• Use motivational tapes and books as well as nurturing times with spouse and friends.
• Attend networking groups, but only the ones that create a positive mental attitude. Avoid the ones the “Ain’t it awful” meetings that make you feel worse.
• Keep a gratitude journal and make an entry every day. Even in difficult times, there is much to be grateful for: health, family and friends; a beautiful sunny day, good food, your faithful dog or cat…

Dan told us about a job posting for a position he really wanted. “It’s a perfect fit!” he exclaimed. We advised him not to send a resume, but to apply with a different tool.

The employer responded quickly and set up an interview. To Dan’s amazement, the boss said he didn’t need to see a resume at all. He already had all he needed.

Dan learned that, while the resume is certainly still an important weapon in the job-hunters arsenal, today’s savvy job hunters are finding other ways to impress the boss.

What did Dan send? It was a T-Letter. This is a great presentation tool, but it doesn’t work for everybody in every situation. It’s best used when going after a position for which your background fits like a hand in a glove—or nearly so. You have most everything they want. Possibly, you may lack one or two of the qualifications for the position, but it’s got to be a really strong fit, or the presentation loses its power.

What is a T-Letter?
The T-Letter gets its name from the shape. It begins with a regular paragraph, like any other letter. In this paragraph, you begin by expressing your excitement about the position, then state that the position looks like such a great fit that you have prepared a comparison of their requirements and your experience.

After that, the letter contains a two-column presentation in which you compare the employer’s requirements, with your experience. It is both a powerful presentation for the boss, and a strong and clear presentation to help you get through the initial screening in the Human Resources office.

The left column lists their requirements, while the right one lists your experience,. The key to making this work is not to simply to parrot back their language, but rather to show that you are not only experienced, but also accomplished.

WRONG WAY
(NOTE: The formatting isn’t preserved in the blog, so the left column appears above the right column below).

Your Requirements
Three or more years experience in conducting educational training or teaching and/or making sales presentations on educational products.

My Experience
I have five years of conducting educational training and make sales presentations on educational products and two years teaching.

RIGHT WAY

Your Requirements
Five or more years experience in conducting educational training or teaching and/or making sales presentations on educational products.

My Experience
Four years experience selling and training on educational products, including standardized tests and the Blue Horizons product. Chosen to travel to Europe to present to faculty at American schools overseas. Three years experience teaching 5th grade students; received peer recognition as Outstanding Teacher in my third year.

Picture an entry-level Human Resources employee going through a big stack of resumes, with a list of qualifications at his side, trying to separate the wheat from the chaff. This presentation knocks him over the head and proclaims, “I’ve got everything you’re looking for! No guess work. It’s right here in black-and-white. You don’t even have to think about it!”

Oftentimes, the job description will specifically state what the employer is looking for, but other times you may have to read between the lines if the job description isn’t specific. If there is no written job description, you to surmise as best you can what they really want, and focus the letter on those things.

Then, conclude the letter with an action statement, saying that you will follow up (assuming this is possible and the employer has not instructed applicants to not call). The T-Letter powerfully conveys that you are a fit and a contributor.

Times are tough, so what can you do to get hired? Be on top of your game. Here are a few pointers:

1) Plan well
You know what they say about those who fail to plan. This applies with a vengeance in the job search. Be focused on what kind of job you want (or at least, two or three clearly-articulated areas you are exploring). Do your homework to find the companies that can hire you, and what they need. Develop a good strategy for reaching the hiring decision makers.

2) Prepare An Impeccable Self Presentation
Don’t waste your time—or theirs–talking to people until you can clearly articulate how you can contribute and help the hiring decision maker with his/her problems. How can you make money for a company, save money, improve service, or whatever you do well. You should have a powerful, results-oriented resume, a repertoire of polished stories about how you can contribute, and a 2-minute profile. Attend our free webinar, “Death to Boring Resumes.” See info on workshops in this newsletter.

3) Manage your time
Be ruthlessly efficient with your time. Spend 15% or so online and at job boards, then spend the bulk of your time connecting with people in your field who can hire you or connect you to those who can. Always be thinking about doing the most important things—just like you would at work. Avoid time wasters like playing computer games and aimlessly surfing the internet. Instead, get your work done and then, stop working and do something that’s really enjoyable. Set goals for yourself. If unemployed, this is your full time job. Work at the level of productivity it would take to satisfy a tough boss.
Take advantage of our free webinar, “More Done, More Fun…You’re Hired.” It’s especially designed for people in transition.

4) Develop your personal brand (your professional image)
Distinguish yourself from everybody else out there. One of the best ways we know is to use a Special Report, a short paper in which you showcase your expertise in your field. Lucrative Careers pioneered this approach, and we have helped a number of clients develop and “broadcast” their brand with Special Reports. Let’s face it: even the best resumes are no ones favorite reading material. Which would you rather read: yet another resume—or a Special Report like these:

“Lessons from the Edsel”
50-Year-Old Marketing Mistakes that Are Still Killing Companies Today:

How to Uncover Financial and Operational Trouble Before Your P&L Blows Up…
Ten simple actions any FCM, BD, Bank, Prop Trading and/or Treasury Manager or Director can take to head off trouble at the pass.

5 Stay connected—and connect some more
Don’t go into a hole because you feel bad about being out of work. Concentrate your time on networking. Be in touch with former bosses and co-workers, but build your network beyond the people who know you now. Get active with your professional association; perhaps you can volunteer to help with events or be on a committee. Attend job search support group meetings, as long as they are upbeat (avoid pity parties. It’s hard enough to keep your spirits up without going to group meetings that drag you down).

6) Take time to enjoy life
Don’t feel that you can’t have any fun until you get hired. Take time to spend with friends and loved ones. Maybe you can’t afford expensive entertainment, but you can rent a movie, see concerts (many outdoor ones are free during the summer), take a bike ride, or go to the zoo (Lincoln Park Zoo is free). Appreciate nature and the wonders of life around you.

7 Keep at it–Leave no stone unturned
Do whatever it takes. Network, attend job fairs, get involved with your professional association, use online job boards, keep doing whatever it takes to get hired.

Keep up Your Spirits
Realize you will have doubts and discouraging times. You’re not alone I’m continually amazed at the self doubt I hear from even the most accomplished and dynamic clients. The news is bad, but don’t let it stop you. You only need one job. Nurture the spiritual by taking time for prayer or meditation, as this is important to you. Read inspirational books, listen to motivational CD’s or videos.

It is tough, but people are getting hired—and you will too.

Maybe you’ve spent months sending resumes to Monster.com and Careerbuilder, with only eyestrain to show for it.  What’s going wrong?  

Studies have shown that the published market, including the Internet, contains only about 20% to 25% of the jobs.  Many published jobs are low-wage, high-turnover, less-desirable jobs. 

Think about what happened when your boss wanted to hire someone.  Perhaps the first question was: “Who can we promote?”  The second was, “Who knows somebody?” After all, the boss would prefer someone he or a trusted employee knows.  Besides, who wants to sort through hundreds of resumes?

Therefore, many advertised jobs are the ones nobody wants.  Plus, the competition for jobs in the published market can be fierce because so many people rely exclusively on the published market to find jobs.  When a local library advertised for a half-time, $9/hour job, over 300 people applied—including people with Master’s degrees.  

The Hidden Job Market

Don’t neglect the published market (give it 20% of your time).  It holds many more interesting job possibilities. 

Here’s why.  Bosses often have these problems: 

1) The underachiever.  Sarah has a bad attitude, comes in late, and does shoddy work.  Many times, the boss is aware that Sarah needs to go, but can’t fire her right away.  Perhaps the boss is making a paper trail to prevent a lawsuit for improper firing.  The boss might want to find a replacement first.  Sometimes, the boss has a soft spot in his heart, but realizes (or soon will) that Sarah has gotten too many chances. 

2) The overachiever.  Maria has a great attitude, does superior work, and is a resource for others on the team.  Yet, the boss worries about her.  Why?  She’s too good for the job.  If he doesn’t promote her, he’ll lose her. But first, he needs a replacement.

3) New needs.  The company’s marketing people did it!  Oprah’s going to feature our product in a couple months, and women across America will clamor for the product. 

That’s great news—except the company isn’t prepared to handle the demand.  The company needs someone who can take charge and ramp up production. 

You want to find the boss with these kinds of problems–and more.  Find the boss who’s got the kinds of problems that you are would love to solve.

The jobs are more interesting, and there’s little competition—maybe no competition.  Many of my clients have jobs created for them because they can fill a need. 

Steve Frederick
Frederick Career Services
847-673-0339
www.fcscareerservices.com