Going It Alone With Your Search After Losing Your Job; Six Guidelines For Action

Editor’s Note:  We have plans to provide more content on this subject.  If you have questions or suggestions, reach out to John at john@JohnGSelf.Com

You have just lost your job.  Your employment has ended and now, with a small savings pool and six months severance, you are forced to re-enter the job market.  You are worried about the money so obviously hiring a career coach, while potentially beneficial, seems like a luxury.  So the question is:  Can I go it alone and be successful with my job search?

Absolutely.  

Today I will share tips on how to maximize your effort and, hopefully, accelerate the search process.  But first, let me address some of the realities in today’s market.

• Research shows that those with coaches tend to land their next better job faster than those who do not draw on that expertise.
• If you are in healthcare, retail, or manufacturing you may have a longer search cycle as market conditions have tightened considerably due to an imbalance between the number of candidates and the available jobs.
• Regardless of your industry, you must develop a plan.  Not to make too fine a point on this issue, but people who fail to plan, plan to fail. Consult a knowledgeable  friend (free) or even a career coach to $250 to $750) for guidance or even the development of a plan.  Consulting a specialist can save you time and some unfortunate potholes. 

Let’s get busy.

1. Looking for a job is a full-time job.  How hard you have to work to find your next position has nothing to do with whether you have, or do not have, a career coach at your side.  
2. Finding a job is a full-time job. It is more like a marathon than a sprint. If you do not incorporate discipline into your new job you will struggle to succeed.  
3. You need a dedicated work space.  Shared office space – spouse, kids and pets – is a bad idea. Barking dogs, giggling, noisy children or a spouse who has a deadline for a project while you are being interviewed on Zoom or Skype is a recipe for elimination from the search.  
4. Establishing a daily routine is essential.  This routine must include LinkedIn posting, strategic networking using LinkedIn with telephone followup, and periodic attendance at networking events, coffees or lunches and professional meetings.
5. Networking is not a one-way street.  If you are a regular reader, this is not a new point. The more you give, the more you will receive.   Make it about the person you are connecting with, at the start of the conversation and at the end when you should always ask, “Before we end the call is there anything I can do for you?”  Spoiler alert:  they may say yes.  Be prepared to act.  If the networking contact feels you have not been authentic, you have wasted your time and damaged your brand.   
6. The  Millennials are taking over control.  Yes, the Millennials increasingly are populating the talent acquisition departments at corporations and research desks in search firms.  If you are a BabyBoomer or a member of Generation X you must understand how they work, how they communicate.  They truly are the digital generation. If your goal is to be noticed for a search they are conducting, you better have a formidable digital footprint.  Not posting is not an option. You must have visibility or risk being overlooked.  

Important Note:  If you are in transition and would like a no-obligation assessment of your job search plan/strategy, contact us at CareerTransitions@JohnGSelf.Com.  We will arrange a call with John Self, a national thought leader on conducting a job search in this era of instability for leadership positions.