I have a love/hate relationship with exercising.  Running, lifting weights, and feeling like I was going to die from exhaustion just aren’t that attractive to me.  However, the results I eventually see from running, lifting weights, and exhaustion are very attractive to me.

Last weekend I set my exercise goals for the week.  And I made a commitment to a friend who has agreed to hold me accountable for doing what I say I’m going to do.  What got those workout clothes on every day?  My schedule and my commitment.  Not my love for muscle burn.

So am I achieving my goal of becoming fit and healthy?  Yes.  Not because I’m as slim and trim as I want to be – that’s going to take more time.  It’s working because I’ve got a plan and I’m working my plan.  And it’s the plan that will get the results.

Your job search is very similar.  If your weekly goal is to find a job, you will consistently be disappointed.  But if your goal is to send out 10 resumes to your targeted companies, network with 7 people in person, and contact 10 other networking connections by phone…and you follow-through on those activities…you have had a successful week.  It is the activities that get you closer to your next job.

Wondering how to create a weekly job search plan that will set you up for success?  Click here to download My Weekly Plan for Success.  It will help you create a successful strategy focusing on four areas: job opportunities, professional development, networking, and personal support.

Terrance Williams has similar advice.  Check out his great article on how to measure job search success.  (You can probably see this coming…it has a lot to do with talking to people!)

You know as well as I that your job search is a journey.
A road map will help get you there faster.  And it will ensure that you’re seeing the best sites, meeting the most interesting people, and enjoying the best rest stops.

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If you’re looking for a new job, you’ve probably heard this a zillion times.  If you want better luck (is it really luck?) in your job search, talk to more people.

So many job seekers are reluctant to get their message out there. And yet, if no one knows what you’re looking for or where you need help, they can’t help you.

I’ve looked for three good resources to help you move from the comfort of your computer to creating successful conversations this week.  Here are my picks:

Chris Fralic reminds us to be specific when we’re asking for help or connections.  Asking someone, “Do you know anyone who is hiring?” is not going to get you as many connections as, “Do you know someone who works in the finance department of a mid-sized company in Minneapolis? I’d like to connect with them to learn more about how their operation works.” Chris’ post on “The Art of the Introduction” is great.

Wondering where to start with this whole networking thing?  Check out Kristen Jacoway’s post on business cards, elevator speech basics, and building relationships. She’s got great advice.

This third resource may be the most powerful. Meghna Majmudar focuses on leading with generosity. Please remember: your goal is to build relationships.  And out of those relationships, you get closer to your next job.

Yes, talking to people is uncomfortable for many. And yes, it takes a little practice.  And yes, it will get you closer to your next job faster.

I’m interested in other networking or relationship building resources. Who or what do you suggest?

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Maybe you saw it coming.  Maybe you didn’t.  The bottom line—your position has been outsourced/downsized/restructured/taken off the org chart.

You’ve had “the conversation” with the HR rep, your box of desk stuff is sitting in the back of your car, and you’re wondering what to do next.  Everything has just tipped upside down.

In previous postings I’ve offered tips and best practices on getting your resume noticed and acing your interview.  This posting will introduce you to the good, the not so good, and the ”You’ve got to be kidding me” of finding a job.

The Good.

• People want to support you.
• You have skills, talents, and experience that will help you land somewhere else.
• You’ve just gotten a few extra days off this year.

The Not so Good.

• It’s probably going to take awhile to find that next job.
• The competition for each job opening will require you to step up your game.
• Staying in your pajamas all day or going for weeks without shaving could become your new reality.  (Stay in the “land of the living.”)

“You’ve got to be Kidding Me.”

• Potential employers don’t do a great job of following-up.  Your resume could be in the “A pile” being reviewed by the top executives, or it could be floating in cyber space.  It’s a toss up.
• You will grow weary of people asking, “So how’s the job search going?”  You just don’t have a new answer or a clever way to say, “Frustrating.”
• You may go from making a very nice salary with benefits and perks to being turned down for a $12.50/hour job.  It defies logic.  It’s the 8^th Wonder of the World.

So what do you do with the good, the not so good, and the “You’ve got to be kidding me”?  You move through them.  So much of the job search process is out of your control. Some of it is frustrating, disappointing, and challenging, but life will go on.

My best advice:

• Know yourself.
• Be yourseslf.
• Sell yourself.

You are the subject matter expert on you.  Nobody knows you better than you do. And your focus will be on telling your story–putting your experience, education, and skills and talents into a package that stands out from all the rest.

You’ve entered a transition.  There’s no manual that will tell you exactly what your experience will look and feel like.  But there are a lot of resources available to guide you through the journey.

Your next steps:

1. Move the box containing your office stuff from the back of your car to your hall closet.
2. Give yourself a couple days to get used to the fact that your employment situation has changed.
3. Breathe.

You are still a person with skills, talents, and abilities that are uniquely yours.  You still have a place in the work world—we just need to get to your next stop.  Focus on “the good.”  Reach out to your friends.  Think about what you want in your next job.

Take one step.  And then another.  And then another.  And then another…

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It’s 8:00 a.m. Monday morning.  You’re usually picking up your blueberry bagel and latte on the way to work.  But today is different.  There’s no place to go.  You don’t have a job.  You are unemployed.

The good news? Millions of people are having the same experience.  The bad news? Millions of people are having the same experience.  (I wonder if the bagel bakers have noticed a decrease in sales.)

When I wrote these words in the Introduction of Find a Job: The Little Book for Big Success, I knew that job seekers would be dealing with a lot more than finding a new place to get their morning pick-me-up.  Job seekers want and need to know the basics.  Where do I start? How do I do this?

We all know that a resume and interview are usually part of finding a job, right? So we tend to get very focused on making sure we have a “good” resume and then just hope for the best when it comes to the interview.

Side note: no one is going to create a really great resume or shine in an interview if they haven’t done it for awhile or frequently. Why? It’s not something that typically comes naturally.  You haven’t practiced or taken lessons on this stuff. And there are few rights and wrongs—so many “it depends.”

So here’s the deal. If you focus on what goes into a best-seller resume or awe-inspiring interview, you’ll find things are a little easier.  Here are my three tips to setting yourself up for a successful job search:

1. Know yourself. Employers want to know about you, your experience, your work habits, your skills.  And who’s the subject matter expert on you?  You!  Take the time to get very clear on your accomplishments and your experience. What made you good on your job? What improved or changed because of your work? What do you do well? Your background is more than a list of job responsibilities. It’s how you showed up every day, what you got done, and how well you did your work.  Employers want to know about you. Be prepared to tell them.

2. Be yourself. Yes, there are helpful guidelines on how to dress for an interview (professional and neat), what to say and not to say (mind your manners and leave the grumbling at home), and how to connect with the interviewer (look in their eyes without creating a stare-down).  Common sense rules.  And you want your personality to come through.  Smile, laugh, use your (respectful) wit, and speak naturally. The interviewer knows you’re probably a little nervous, and the good ones will look through the anxiety and try and find you.  Someone who is smart, experienced, and ready to work.

3. Sell yourself.  That’s right.  The resume and interview are all about selling you, your experience, skills, attitude, etc., in order to get to the next step in the process.  Your resume is your most important marketing piece.  Make sure it sells you and is more than a list of job description responsibilities. You’re the only person in that interview who is going to toot your horn.  So do it!  If you’ve taken the time to get clear on what you have to offer the employer (Step #1), it’s much easier to sell yourself.

Know yourself. Be yourself. Sell yourself.  Since the job search process is about making a connection between what they need and what you’ve got, these three tips make good sense.

A job search is a process and a journey.  There are things you’ll need to do along the way to get you to your destination—a new job.  And remember that there will be speed bumps, stop signs, and forks in the road.  It’s a journey, not a sprint.

Perhaps we’ll meet somewhere along the way! Consider me part of your job search team.

Oh, one last reminder:

Your employment does not define you. Your unemployment does not define you. You have skills and abilities the world needs. Your life matters.

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You probably know what I’m talking about.

You’re working on a project and you find yourself writing the same sentences or listing the same ideas over and over and over again.

Or you’re reading a book and you find that you’ve read the same paragraph 13 times and you have no idea what the words told you.

Or you’re working on a home or garden project and you find yourself wandering through the rooms or the rose bushes, and nothing is getting accomplished.

You’re moving…but you aren’t getting anywhere.  It’s like you’re walking on a treadmill without changing locations, and you can’t get off.

The same thing happens in a job search.  (Especially if you haven’t received any encouraging news from employers recently.)  You’re doing “stuff” but it’s busy work.

It’s time to get some traction.

Best place to start? Get some focus. Decide to do three things today that will get you closer to your new job.  Add a measurement to your tasks—how long or how many.

For example:

• Call three people in your network and thank them for their help and support in the past.  (This keeps your name and job search in front of them.)
• Spend 1 hour researching a company you’re interested in working for.  Put your notes in the file folder you’ve created for that company.
• Pick one friend who is also unemployed and list three people you can connect her with.  Give her a call and share the connctions with her.

Although I’m not someone known for an extreme exercise commitment, I’m smart enough to know that how we feel physically makes a big difference in our attitude. Re-energize your body.  Take a long brisk walk or run to get rid of that sluggish feeling.  Eat just fruits and vegetables for  one meal—stay away from the sugar.  Or take a nap!

The best way to move from treadmill to traction is to do something intentionally.  Stop the machine. Step off.  Do something that moves you to a different place.

Your job search is a journey. Different stops along the way.  Don’t stay too long on the treadmill. There are better ways to get you to your destination.

What’s one action you can take today to move from treadmill to traction?

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