Job Hunting Tip: Spend Less Time Searching
Today’s somewhat counter-intuitive job hunting tip comes courtesy of the Wall Street Journal. In a recent post on their blog The Juggle, they recommend spending less time searching for a job on job sites and at job fairs, and more time doing things you love with other people.
This young man decided to blow off the job fair and have some fun.
The WSJ post references a longer post on the same topic by Peter Bregman on the Harvard Business Review blog. Bregman’s post draws parellels between job hunting and other life pursuits, like finding a relationship or having kids. For all three, trying too hard can be counter-productive.
On an 80-degree day like today, that is really tempting advice. Why not go kayaking or golfing with friends rather than sitting in front of the computer wading through mostly useless job listings applying for jobs you don’t want?
Certainly being happier and more-fulfilled helps you come across better in interviews, and as I’ve mentioned before, desperation is not an attractive trait in a job seeker. I think Bregman has a point.
If you are in a field where you provide a service to companies or individuals, maybe you should take the advice even farther. Stop looking for a job, and start doing good work for good people. Find a non-profit that you can help, and lend your expertise to one of their projects. Look at your portfolio for weak points, and try to find projects to fill in those gaps. That way, you’ll have something interesting to show the next time you get an interview. You’ll also have a great answer to the dreaded question “what have you been up to since you were laid off?”
How to Network When You’re Unemployed
So, you lost your job. According to the Wall Street Journal, networking, both online and in-person, is the the way to find a new job. But, how do you make the most of those networking opportunities? Well, to be honest, I don’t really know. But I can share my approach with you.
I think this guy forgot to get his information put on his business card. Clearly he doesn't have this networking thing down.
If you hadn’t been networking before you lost your job, you might find it hard to get started. Your first instinct may be to introduce yourself and start asking for work. But, even (ore maybe especially) when you are unemployed, networking is more about showing people what you have to offer than it is asking them to help you.
A quick Google search for “networking advice” yields a whole heap of tips for networking from people far more experienced in it than I am. All these tips aside, it is important to remember to be genuine. I know that probably sounds like corny advice, but it’s also true.
One thing you do not want to do is come across as desperate. If business is like dating, networking events are like singles bars. And desperation is just as unattractive in business. I would leave the talk of financial troubles for when you are having drinks with your friends. Have an answer ready for what you’ve been up to since you lost your job, and remember to put as positive a spin on it as reasonably possible. My stock answer is that I’ve have been fairly busy with freelance, but that I am always looking for more and I am applying to jobs as they become available.