Waiting for Job Opportunities - How to Keep Yourself Occupied
With over 500,000 people losing their jobs in the month of
November 2008, and over 10 million unemployed in the United States
to date, the thought of acquiring a job can almost seem hopeless.
But it’s not. Companies are still hiring, jobs are still
available, and you can have one – as long as you don’t
give up.
But what do you do in the meantime to keep yourself occupied?
If you’re not busy while waiting to hear back from
prospective employers, you can easily fall into a state of
hopelessness – not good. So if you feel yourself getting down
about your job search, here are a few strategies to keep you moving
…
Don’t Stop Searching
This may sound obvious, but while you’re waiting to hear
back from a prospective employer, don’t stop searching for
work. This means treating your job search like a full-time job. It
may be tempting to say to yourself, “I’ve already
submitted my resume to 12 companies. I’ve done enough.”
But unless those 12 companies are currently calling you for an
interview, you have more work to do.
Luckily, job searches are easier than ever with search tools
all over the Internet that provide customizable job-seeking
functions. So if you have the Internet at home, your job for now
will be to prop yourself in front of the computer and search all
day. The more seeking you do, the more opportunities will open up
to you.
Market Yourself
Marketing is a strategy that many job seekers don’t
consider as a part of their job search strategy – but it
works. You may be accustomed to posting your resume on websites
like Monster and CareerBuilder, which are both great for marketing.
But unless you know certain keywords to strategically place
throughout your document, it may be difficult for prospective
employers to find you.
This is why it’s good to not only learn proper
resume-posting procedures, but also try marketing yourself through
websites like Craigslist, as well as signing up for accounts with
sites like LinkedIn and Facebook. On Craigslist, you can post a
free ad in your city’s “services” section to
market the same skills you post on your resume (look at other ads
in this section for structuring ideas). And on LinkedIn and
Facebook, you can create profiles to list your skills and link up
with prospective employers. All of these options can work well to
get your name and skills out there. They can not only help you
score a temporary or part-time gig to keep money flowing until you
get the full-time job offer, they might lead you to the full-time
opportunity you’re looking for.
Maintain the Right Attitude
If you become discouraged due to a lack of responses, or begin
to feel down that you’re unemployed, it can negatively affect
your job search. Just remember, anything can change at a
moment’s notice, so stay positive and keep searching. And
whatever you do, don’t mentally absorb all of the bad news
you hear about the job market. Remember, it does not have to apply
to you.
