5 things you must do to find a job - part 1

It’s finally happened to you. You’ve joined the hundreds of thousands of Americans (and millions more around the world) who are unemployed. What happened? You were laid off. Or fired. Or you quit. And now you are trying desperately to find a job. But are you really trying that hard?

The following is the first part of a FIVE PART SERIES consisting of five tips to help you get back into the workforce.

1. Do the prep work.

The job search goes beyond a mere search and should involve a lot of preparation. Now that you don’t have a job, your job is to find a job. There is no ifs, ands, or buts about it.

Now that you’re not working, spend the normal 9-5 workday developing your resume, hunting down leads, applying and interviewing. Analyze and be ready to describe in detail the skills, qualifications and experience that would make you the perfect fit for a particular position.

Make a list of possible interview questions and practice answering those questions. Prepare yourself for other questions that might come up. Develop a list of questions for you to ask a potential employer that shows your interest in the job, knowledge of the employer, and understanding of the industry. Read up on subjects dealing with job hunting.

Now, doesn’t all this prep work sound like you would really need to spend your time full-time in your job search efforts? Note: even though these steps make up “prep” work, you will need to continually do these things while searching for jobs instead of just prior to starting the job search. Remember, knowledge is power, preparation is key, and practice makes perfect.