Back To Basics

By George Zeller

This has been one of the toughest job markets in recent history.   Over the past three years many professionals have experienced long-term unemployment.  Much has been written about how to conduct a job search using the "latest" techniques.  Job seekers are told that that they need to set up job search agents or use meta-search tools when searching for jobs on the internet. Job seekers are advised to customize their resumes for each position applied for. New techniques can be helpful but jobseekers should not forget the basics of job hunting. For example:

1. Know Yourself.  What are your strengths?  What are you interests?  What are you dislikes?  If you haven?t answered these questions, you could easily end up in the wrong job or, worse, with no job at all.  You need to know yourself in order to identify the "right" job for you.
2. Be Yourself.  Accept who you are and put your best spin on it.  Do not oversell or undersell; try to get comfortable with who you are.  It is difficult to believe in yourself when you are faced with many rejections.  You need to have faith that a job exists for your unique combination of skills and personality.  
3. Use Every Resource Available , i.e. the Internet, job search groups, workshops, networking groups, professional associations, employment agencies, etc.   Go for balance but make sure networking plays a significant role in your job search strategy.
4. Stay Active.   Participating in social activities not only helps fight the blues (a natural result of a prolonged job search) but also helps maintain your interpersonal skills.  The last thing you want is to be isolated.  You can volunteer, work part-time, join a group or gym, take a class, and more.
5. Build a Support System.  Job-hunting can be discouraging.  Without moral support, the job seeker can get depressed, demoralized and potentially present a lethargic demeanor to prospective employers.  Some people join job search groups while others hook up with a "job search buddy".  Reach out to friends and/or relatives when you need some support.

This job market has been very difficult for many, many individuals.  One has to “stretch” and learn and try new ways to find work.  But a strong foundation of the basics outlined above will make it easier for you to succeed.

George Zeller is the Senior Employment Specialist at Career Moves at Jewish Vocational Service, a non-sectarian agency with 65 years' experience helping job seekers in greater Boston to find jobs and build careers.  George has more than 20 years' experience in workforce development.  Career Moves staff work with hundreds of professional job seekers each year and offers top quality job search and career counseling services at an affordable price. To learn more about Career Moves at JVS visit us at www.jvsjobs.org or call 617-451-8147 .