You Will Reap What You Sow in Your Job Search!

The New Year has begun and you are still looking for a job. For many of you that is very frustrating and discouraging. It would be easy for me to say not to worry, however I can’t in good conscience say it without providing some resources that may assist you with your job search.

First, if you are sitting home, frustrated, discouraged and hoping your phone is going to ring. I can’t help you. It is imperative that you invest time, energy and attitude in your job search. Hoping will not work, only action.

Second, you may not get an immediate response to your efforts, however don’t stop investing. There is a principle called sowing and reaping. If you don’t sow anything into your job search or you sow sparingly, you will reap in kind. If you sow nothing, there is nothing to reap. If you sow sparingly, you will have small results.

The third consideration for you is that competency is a critical component to successful interviewing. As you evaluate potential job opportunities, and have opportunities to discuss your qualifications, evaluate your level of competency for the job you are considering. If you don’t have the skills and abilities to do the job you are considering, don’t waste your time applying. Why, you may ask? Because this is an employers market. Hiring managers don’t have to settle for less competent employees. The employment market is saturated with qualified candidates for any number of jobs. Position yourself to compete for jobs you are uniquely qualified to do.

Lastly, I want to recommend you develop a strategy for your job search. “Shooting in the dark” with no plan for what you are looking for, how much you need to make, assessing previous jobs, what you liked, what you didn’t like and what you are willing to do differently in you next opportunity are critical questions you must consider if you want to be successful in your next opportunity. Take time to develop you plan. My first resource to recommend to you is JibberJobber.

JibberJobber started out as a job search spreadsheet to track and organize a job search, and quickly evolved into a long-term relationship manager for your personal career management. Click on the link and sign-up for a free account. Login and explore. Come back and let me know if you find this tool useful in your job search.

Another resource for you to consider is LinkedIn. If you are a professional and you don’t have a profile on LinkedIn, you are missing an incredible opportunity. LinkedIn is not a silver bullet, however it is a great place to meet people, to network your way into a new job opportunity. Jason Alba, President and CEO of JibberJobber has a great book called I’m on LinkedIn, Now What? Click here to order your copy.>>>.

Twitter is another resource you may have not considered. Twitter is considered a micro-blogging site. Take a look at this excellent article, Using Twitter for Job Search, by Louise Fletcher. Read her article and go set up your profile. You are welcome to follow my Tweets on Twitter by adding me, twitter.com/mcdarling. Get out there and start meeting people. You will find recruiters, HR professionals and hiring managers out on Twitter.

If you need a career coach, I am available. I have 15 minute free coaching still available. Click here to sign up. If you need more time, send me an email and we can discuss your needs and determine whether I can help. My fees are reasonable. I am more interested in seeing you successfully navigate the employment market.

Let me end this post by saying this, I believe you can get a job in this crazy economy. However if you are not prepared to work hard when you get a job, don’t bother. Gone are the days when employers have to put up with foolishness from their employees. If you don’t want to work, there is someone out there waiting to get or take your job. You choose. But if you are willing to work, take some time and check out these resources. There are so many more resources available, but these will get you started. Make an investment in yourself and you will get a job.

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Tags: Interview Chatter, Interview, Hoping The Phone Will Ring, Make An Investment in You, JibberJobber, Jason Alba, Job Search Strategy, LinkedIn, Twitter, Coach, Career Coach, Invest Time, Invest Energy, Competency, I’m On LinkedIn Now What?, Louise Fletcher, Resources

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