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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It’s Monday.  The beginning of a new week.

For some, rolling out of bed is energizing—excited about work, meeting goals, and getting good stuff done.  Others face the day/week with a bit more disgruntled attitude.  “Another day of the same old, same old.”

Job seekers, your attitude and the choices you make this morning will influence your job search success.

You have two options:

1. “I’m going to plan my work and work my plan.  I will make connections that get me closer to finding the right job.”
2. “No one’s hiring; it doesn’t matter what I do.  There just aren’t jobs out there. Why bother.”

Looking for a new job certainly brings its share of discouragement and frustration.  No doubt about that.  And…employers are hiring.  People are finding jobs.  Now is not the time to quit.

Your attitude, the choices you make on how you will spend today, will either get you closer to the new job, or they will move you further away from greater economic stability.

Even if you’re frustrated and discouraged, choose to do one thing today that will make a positive impact on your job search.  Just one thing.  And then tomorrow morning, get up and choose to do one more thing.  These “one things” will build on each other.

It’s a new day.  Choose to do one thing today that will make you feel good about yourself.  Just one thing. It will make a difference.

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There are two things you can control during your job search: your emotions and your strategy.

In the last postings, we looked at ways to keep your head in the game when the rules don’t seem fair, and how to move through the highs and lows of looking for a job.

Now let’s consider a few strategic moves that are most likely to get you that interview.

1. Create your strategy.  This requires putting your plan on paper.  It’s easy to keep ideas in our head.  But it’s difficult to put those thoughts into action without first writing them down.  Putting those ideas on paper gives them clarity and power.  You may find My Weekly Plan for Success to be a helpful tool in creating your strategy.

 2. Review your strategy.  If you aren’t getting call-backs or interviews, then do something different.  How are you spending your time?  Be honest.  Are you really spending 4-5 hours each day setting appointments and talking to people?  Or are those 4-5 hours spent leaving messages and updating your database?  If your strategy isn’t working, create a new strategy.

3.  Review your resume.  To get the interview, you need to be noticed.  Two ways to do this: through a networking connection or a really sharp resume.  So take another look at your resume.  I know.  I can hear your moans.  You are SOOO over your resume, right?  Then ask someone else to look at it.  Ideally, a professional.  Someone with expertise—an HR professional, recruiter, industry expert.  Get a fresh perspective.  (A good question to ask: is your resume documenting your work history or selling your accomplishments?)

 You may have seen Career Builders’ blog, TheWorkBuzz.com.  Check it out for some more helpful ideas on making sure your resume stands out.

Your emotions and your strategy.  Two critical components of your job search.  And two things you can control.

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Do you remember riding the roller coaster at the fair when you were younger?  The faster, the better.  And if you felt like throwing up when it was all over, you knew you’d gotten your money’s worth.  It just didn’t get any better than that, right? 

The ride usually began with a slow, bumpy, upward crawl at a 90 degree angle (I called it the “death march”).  You didn’t question whether the rickety wooden planks would keep your car on the tracks.  You just kept waiting for the inevitable sudden drop in altitude.  And then you felt it.  The plunge left your heart and stomach at the top of the loop while your body pitched forward.  As a symbol of your bravery you raised your arms in the air and celebrated being alive.  The twists, the turns, the spirals, the ups, the downs. 

Half the time you wondered if you were going to die, and the rest of the time you believed you were going to die! 

Your emotions during this job-search transition are going to feel the same way.  You should expect to experience anger, shock, disappointment, resentment, and acceptance.  It is normal to go through “the blues,” depression, high energy, low energy, and anxiety.  So what do you do about these ups and downs?  You move up and down!  And eventually you find the way that works for you to regain some of your equilibrium. 

A word of advice?  Deal with your emotions.  Stuffing them won’t get you anywhere.  Ignoring them will either a) make you physically sick with stress-related illnesses, or b) cause you to “lose it” at the wrong time with the wrong person (like during an interview).  Your responsibility is to identify what’s going on in your head and your heart, and figure out how to move to a better place.

You may have lost control of your employment when they decided to eliminate your position or send it overseas.  But you have not lost control of how you choose to respond to your situation. 

Emotions are part of being human.  Talk to someone about your ups and downs.  Believe me.  People will admire you for your courage in naming the elephant on the table, and they will ask how they can help get that elephant out of the living room.

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For most job seekers, the numbers just don’t make sense.

The ratio of resumes sent to interviews received looks like the Leaning Tower of Pisa…just before it hits the ground.

The bad news?  This is typical.

The good news?  This is typical.

So what do you do?  You focus on what you can control: your emotions and your strategy.

First things first.  Remember that you choose how you think about your situation.  Your thinking influences your emotions; your emotions influence your behavior.  So it all starts in your head.

Here are three suggestions for keeping your mind in the game when the rules don’t seem fair:

1. Focus on your activities, not their responses.  Set your weekly goals for networking contacts, follow-ups, research activities, informational interviews, etc.  Remember that the more people you have a strategic conversation with, the closer you get to your next job.

 2. Fill your mind with positive thinking.  This works.  If you choose to focus on your discouragement, the hurt, and your frustration, your energy will decrease, you won’t be sharp in conversations or when writing cover letters, and you will find yourself getting lazy.  (These do not contribute to finding a job!)  Read good books, pray, meditate, create affirmations that keep your thinking focused, etc. 

 3. Give yourself one more hour to sit in your pain, and then move on.  Sixty minutes.  No more.  Make the choice.  Identify your hurts and frustrations—vent with a trusted friend, make a list in a notebook, and then discard of the thinking/emotions that are holding you back.  Start over.

The Wall Street Journal has been following out-of-work professionals as they move through their transition.  You may see yourself in the posting by John Brownrigg—he found a job after 16 months of unemployment.

It’s been several years since James Allen wrote As a Man Thinketh.  This classic best-seller reminds us of the influence our thinking has on our reality.  Millions of readers have found value in this short book’s message; I suggest adding it to your library.

In Part 2, we’ll compare your job search to The Wild Thing at the local amusement park.  And then we’ll take a closer look at a few things you can do to keep control of your strategy.

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It’s early February. 

Forty days ago you were ready to hit the ground running.  Your next job was just round the corner.  You were refreshed, re-energized, and making things happen.  It was a new year, a new you, with a new job in sight.  Nothing was holding you back.

Now you’re wondering what happened to your enthusiasm and commitment.  The rejection letters are still coming.  No interviews on the calendar.  And even your dog is tired of having you around the house.

Here are three things you can do today to re-engage in this job of finding a job.

1)      Do an honest evaluation of how you spent your time the last two weeks.  Re-create your schedule.  Were you really talking to people?  Or were you getting ready to talk to people?  If you were your boss, would you give yourself a bonus for extra effort or would you be contemplating your demotion.

2)      Take another look at your resume.  Better yet, ask an expert to take a look at it.  Your eyes probably glaze over every time you see it—you’ve looked at it so much, and have worked so hard on it.  Is it marketing you?  Is it identifying your strengths—selling your accomplishments?  Do you stand out?

3)      Create an aggressive job search strategy for the next two weeks.  Kick it up a notch.  YOU own your job search. 

Focus on Job Opportunities.  Revisit your target market list.  Don’t have one?  Create one.  Follow-up on resumes…professionally.  Practice interviewing.

Develop professionally.  Read your industry’s latest trade journal—or even your local paper.  Find something interesting and make a note of it.  Take the computer classes that will help you get that next job.

Network.  Double the number of people you’re talking with/meeting with every day.  Step away from the computer and get visible.  Attend meetings.  Be the person who connects others.  Help someone else.

Go fishing.  Schedule time to breathe.  Block out time for an activity you enjoy that will re-energize you.

Click here for a Weekly Plan for Success template that will help you focus on the activities that get you closer to a job.

When you’re in a rut, step back and review what you’re doing.  Then do something different.

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