Did You Make Your 24 Calls Today?
Posted on July 29, 2008
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If you are looking for a job and you didn’t make at least 24 calls today, then you did yourself a disservice. A while back I wrote a blog post titled Finding a Job is a Full Time Job but the one thing I left out was the discussion of setting goals for your day when you are looking.
Generally speaking, you could call about 8 companies per hours, given that most will either say they don’t have an opening, refer you to a website, or ask you to come in and fill out an application. That said, you should be able to contact at least 24 companies a day until you find a job. Granted, it may not be the dream job, but it will put food on the table and put you in a position to get ready for the ideal job (because often those companies hire people who are already emlployed).
I hope that helps. If you have trouble making those calls, it’s understandable. Just write yourself a big fat paycheck and know that you can cash it once you find someone willing to fund it.
Job Search Got You Down?
Posted on July 24, 2008
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It can get pretty depressing and discouraging knocking on door after door, only to be met with the message that you already know “things are really slow… we aren’t hiring, in fact, we may be laying some folks off.”
So what can you do to avoid the “out of work blues?”
Don’t be an Island
Make sure to stay plugged in socially. Cal your friend and family and make time to get together with them. You may find a connection for work, but don’t make it about that. Just get out and relax. There are plenty of low cost or no cost activities you can do with friends. Invite people over for a card game, or have everyone bring someone to have a potluck meal.
Laugh
The Good Book says “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Turn on something funny on TV and just relax. Also, just laughing for the sake of laughing can be effective - just start to laugh - it’s contagious!
Exercise
Make sure you are getting exercise even if it’s just a daily walk. Exercise reduces stress and release endorphins (the happy brain chemicals) which we ALL need. In fact those working, may need them more due to job stress.
Support your Brain
Make sure you are eating right and not loading up on fats and carbs, but also know there is no shame in taking an anti-depressant. I am not a doctor, but I speak from personal experience. Sometimes you can’t “just shake” that nagging low and it can be due to a temporary chemical imbalance due to too much stress. Talk to your doctor about your situation and ask if he or she can prescribe a low dose of an anti-depression med to help you get through.
Stay Positive
In general, we get what we expect, so expect that next job and expect it to be better than anything you’ve ever had.
This helpful tip is sponsored by The Christian Job Network, a free resource for both employers and job seekrs. For more helpful job search advice, please subscribe to this blog using the form to the right.
Are You Prepared to Lose Your Job?
Posted on July 23, 2008
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I know that sounds harsh, but more and more pink slips have been issued over the past year than in quite some time. Not addressing a problem doesn’t make it go away. If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. Here are 5 tips that can help you prepare for the untimely layoff, should it happen to you.
1. Be Financially Stable. Cut back on frivolous expenses and focus on having your emergency savings (3 months net salary and ideally 6 months). If you need to get a part time job to reach your savings goal - do it now while you can.
2. Increase your marketable skills. If you know you aren’t the best with computers, now is the time to brush up or learn these mandatory skills. If there are other skills you feel you want or need to advance in your career, this is also the time to take some extra classes. You can often find inexpensive classes at local community colleges or community centers.
3. Network. Most likely, you will find a job through your personal network. If you aren’t on LinkedIn and Facebook, I recommend those at a minimum, although there are several others.
4. Beware of the signs. Sometimes the writing is on the wall when layoffs are about to happen. Many times people will ignore glaringly obvious signs, such as weak financial reports (if you work for a publicly traded company you should definitely keep up with this stuff), and others being paid off.
5. Talk Openly with your managers. Many may disagree with this, but those might be the same people that don’t communicate with their spouses. Communication can eliminate many fears as often your managers will have insights that you don’t. Sometimes they won’t be able to share, but other times they will.
I hope that helps. Stay tuned for my next post on what to do if you’ve actually lost your job. Use the box to the right to subscribe to this blog so you don’t miss out.
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