Job Searching in a Competitive Market

With the economy the way it is, job searching has become increasingly more difficult.  The competition for the limited jobs available is overwhelming and you need to stand out in the crowd if you plan on getting an interview!  If you have not been getting responses to your resume and applications, then you need to try something different!

One way is to revamp your current resume; we’ve discussed this several times in our blog posts and there is a reason we keep coming back to it – it’s so important to have a winning resume in order to land an interview!   Have another set of eyes review your resume to receive other options  and ideas on what can be done differently.  Try different formats and fonts to spice it up a little bit.  And always make sure you are only putting information that is necessary and eye-catching on your resume.   Remember to tailor each resume to each job that you are applying for – sell your skills/experience in your resume!

Expanding your network, both in-person and online is important to stand-out.  Learn as much as you can about online networking and sign up for social media sites such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. And keep active using these tools.

Keep fresh about what is going on in your industry.  Volunteer or start a blog – showing the employer that you are active in your industry will show your dedication!

Keep at it and before you know it, you will see the light at the end of the job search tunnel!

                                                                                                                       -Sunny + Sassy

JOB SEARCH DESPERATION

Feeling a sense of desperation + panic when you think about your job search? If so, you are not alone. As each day passes by that you are unemployed, the more distant you may become from the routine of work. Over an extended period of time the idea of working may become unfamiliar to you. Imagining working becomes difficult and foreign to you. This unfamiliarity may add to your feelings of panic and anxiousness. Eventually, a sense of desperation sets in.

To an employer in an interview, you may come across as desperate. And desperation is not going to land you a job.
Some tips to help you prevent or minimize the feeling of desperation many jobseekers experience are as follows:

1. Set a job search schedule very similar to a work schedule so that you maintain a sense of regularity
and familiarity

2. Keep on top of your industry. For instance, make a point of reading the business paper; the career section of the weekend newspaper; subscribe to online newsletters; open a Twitter acct and follow your industry; utilize LinkedIn groups

3. Network. Avoid becoming isolated. Maintain your social contacts. Consider volunteering. Being unemployed doesn't mean that you have a curse! Do not be afraid to let your circle of friends and family know that you are looking for work.

4. Recognize and understand that the job may not be immediate. Be diligent and patient.

5. Respond to job leads immediately and develop a follow-up routine for job applications as well as  thank you notes or emails for interviews that you have attended.

6. Practice positive self-talk regularly.

7. Make time to relax as well as to exercise; do things periodically to take your mind off of your job search

8. Before attending an interview, breathe deeply and be aware of how you are coming across to the interviewer. Remember, desperation will not land you the job. Try and relax as much as possible.

9. And last but not least, maintain hope and belief in yourself. And remember that persistence, determination and patience will lead you to the light at the end of the job search tunnel!

                                                                                                                        -Sunny + Sassy

Thank You for Your Support!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been following our blog. We truly hope that what we have to say is helping you through your job search and providing you with the tools you need to find the light at the end of the job search tunnel. 

If you have any questions, need any advice on a situation, or have suggestions for our site, we are more than happy to hear from you!

Email us at jobsearchsos@gmail.com 


Thank you again!


Sunny + Sassy

Surviving on a Limited Budget while Unemployed

For some people, budgeting money is difficult to do.  However, when you are unemployed –budgeting is mandatory!  We have compiled a few tips on how to save money and survive on a limited budget!

First things first – you don’t have to give up everything that you love just because you are living more budget conscious.  Pick one or two “must haves” to incorporate in your budget; this will make you happier in the long run.  Depriving yourself of everything that you love will only make you feel worse.

Access your community resources – so many communities have activities and services for lower income individuals and families.  Contact your local Community Resources centre to learn about these services in your area.  Examples of these services may include: lower recreation pass costs, food banks, clothing, furniture, etc.  These services shouldn’t be looked at with a stereotypical eye; they are here to assist people in their time of need.  

Clip coupons – this seems timely, but with the internet it can be a snap.  Try doing a google search to find relevant coupons for your city, province/state or country.  

Be a smart shopper – many stores have different deals on different things.  Try going to various superstores and markets for the best deals. Farmers Markets typically have the most affordable and best produce.

Be Thrifty!  Shopping for clothing in thrift stores and consignment stores can save you tons of money on gently used, quality and typically brand-name clothing! Consider consigning some of your clothing.

Don’t forget the small stuff – when creating your budget include everything that you spend money on, straight down to that cup of coffee in the morning.  Once you have created this list, you can then start trimming it down by coming up with ideas of how to access free or lower cost-effective spending.  For example – try purchasing a travel mug and make your cup of coffee at home before you leave the house! 

Assess your communication and entertainment costs.  Possibly you will be able to reduce some of these costs until you are back on your feet.

Consider bartering or trading for necessary items. For example,  a neighbor is a hair stylist; you are a gardener. Possibly a haircut in return for some gardening/cutting grass etc.

Cut down on your banking expenses as much as possible. The fees included with debit withdrawals add up! Be extremely cautious about using credit cards - the interest rates are high and add up! Avoid credit if at all possible!

If you own a vehicle, re-examine your insurance costs to ensure that your insurance reflects your living situation. Paying insurance to drive your car to work may be substantially more than pleasure only. You may want to consider taking transit, walking more and/or cycling.

Because being unemployed is a stressful time financially, it is important to continue to be diligent with your job seach while at the same time keeping your expenses as minimal as possible. It is also important to take care of yourself emotionally and physically. Try to spend some of your time enjoying free events in your community/ neighborhood, walking, cycling and socializing.  Reading, writing, hobbies and crafts are other examples of healthy entertainment.

Keep reminding yourself that this is a temporary situation and that eventually you will see the light at the end of the tunnel!

                                                                                                                                    -Sunny + Sassy

Summer Job Search

For some jobseekers, job searching in the summer months may seem futile - employers take longer than usual to respond; job seekers may think that most employers are not hiring in the summer and if they do, they are only hiring students.

But, actually, for most employers this is not the case. Regardless of the time of year, employees continue to exit jobs, new contracts are secured, businesses expand, and opportunities for job seekers open up. Many employers continue to hire over the summer and may be more apt to begin interviewing sooner than later due to the slowing down of daily business allowing interviewers more time to cull through resumes and organize interviews.

Therefore, it is in the interest of the jobseeker to not lose momentum over the summer.  It is important to continue to act on job leads quickly and efficiently including follow up.

And because so many jobseekers fall into the trap of slowing down their searches over the summer, this opens up more opportunities for those who continue to search. So, keep at it!  Don't let the summer slow you and your search down. And before you know it, you will see the light at the end of the job search tunnel!

                                                                                             -Sunny + Sassy

                                                                                  

Goal Setting

When setting your job search goals, consider using the S.M.A.R.T formula to keep you on track:

S - SPECIFIC
Specific goals have a much greater chance of success verses general goals. ie) Target companies which you would like to work for; research the companies and organize informational interviews

M - MEASURABLE
Your job search goals must be measurable; ie) organize a job log to track and monitor your progress and to ensure that you are following up with phone calls, emails and thank you cards/notes

A - ATTAINABLE
Goals are attainable if you follow your job search plan; are determined and patient.

R - REALISTIC
Your job search goals are realistic if you truly believe you can accomplish them. ie) it is not realistic to apply for positions which you are not qualified for.

T - TIMELY
Set your goals within a time frame ie) apply for 5 jobs per day; 2 informational interviews per week

The Job Search Girls - Sunny & Sassy

*This post has been re-posted 

Take Inventory of How you are Feeling

It’s important to know what your feelings and emotions are towards job searching in order to assure you are giving your best to your job search.  Checking in on your emotions is a great way to explore your happiness in any of life’s projects.  


Be sure to do a weekly check-in with yourself to make sure that you are on track.




Ask yourself the following questions and rate how you feel between 1 and 5

1.     Are my work skills adequate to find the type of employment I am looking for? 

2.     Do I have the right job search skills in order to job search effectively?

3.     Is my cover letter and resume getting me interviews?

4.     Have I sent out as many job applications as I could have this week?

5.     Do I have the right attitude to get out of the house and do some networking?

6.     Is my image generating results?

7.     Is my grooming presentable?

8.     How is my attitude about job searching and being employed?

9.     What was my self-confidence like this week?

Take note of how you’re feeling each week and reflect on what may be happening in your life on the weeks where you are not feeling that great.  Remember to journal about your job search in order to notice things that de-motivate you or lower your self-esteem.  Once you are more self-aware of how you are feeling and what makes you feel that way, you can make the proper adjustments (or work towards making those adjustments) and find the light at the end of the job search tunnel!!

~Sunny & Sassy

Unemployed with No Time to Job Search?

Generally speaking, one would think that being unemployed means that you have more time on your hands then when you were working. But, for some this may not necessarily be the case. Sometimes, job seekers may find that personal issues start to interfere with their ability to spend time on their job search.
For instance, suddenly family/friends are calling wanting the job seeker to assist with tasks; take care of their business. And before they know it, family obligations are interfering with their time to job search.
If you find yourself in this situation and have little time to insert job search into your daily schedule, then it's time to assess your situation and set personal boundaries with people in your life.
Family and friends may need to be reminded that looking for work is a full time job in itself and just because you are unemployed does not mean that you have 'extra free time' to assist them on an ongoing basis.
If you are not in this situation, be cautioned that it is easy to find yourself suddenly unable to find time to schedule job search into your busy schedule.

Some preventive tips for preventing personal obligations from crowding your professional objectives include:

1)    Upon becoming unemployed, organize a daily and weekly schedule for your job search and stick to it  (sure, it's okay to take a few days to a few weeks initially to re-fuel and rest but be careful not to fall into a pattern)
2)    Inform your family and friends of your schedule and be clear to remind them when asked to complete tasks, run errands etc for them.
3)    Do not fall into using your personal issues as a reason to slack off on your job search. Remember that personal stuff will also surface when you are working. We all have them. We still have to manage somehow and get up and go to work.


REMEMBER - Looking for work is similar to being employed - it's full time!


                                                                                                                 -Sunny + Sassy

What is Job SOS?

Wage Negotiation

When it comes to negotiating an appropriate salary it can be nerve racking.  Most of the time, people feel uncomfortable talking about money.  It’s important to remember to research the occupation and current wage in that occupation so that you have a sense of the range you will negotiate in.

Job Searching in the Sun!

With summer in full swing, it can be extremely difficult to stay motivated through your job search; there are so many other things you could be doing!  Some tips to stay on track and how to make the gorgeous weather work in your favor:

Network!  Summertime is the perfect opportunity to get out and do some networking.  It can be as simple as hitting your local beach or park and chatting with people.  Summer holds a lot of events such as fairs, barbeques, night markets, festivals and various community events.  Take the time to get out to some free events,  have some fun and expand your network while doing so! 

Secure Seasonal Employment!  Looking for the perfect job but having trouble finding the right opportunity?  Why not accept a seasonal summer position in the meantime to make sure that you are keeping your skills fresh – industries such as tourism, hospitality and retail often have seasonal employment this time of year.

Schedule your Activities!  Make sure that you schedule your daily job search activities to include fun things that you do in the summer weather, such as a walk, going to the beach, or attending a community event.  Do your online job search in the morning and schedule some time for networking in the afternoon; in between get out and do something fun!  If you create your daily schedule ahead of time, it will be less likely that you will get side-tracked.

It’s the perfect season to be Positive!  Vitamin D and the Sun make most of us fairly happy; when we are happy then it’s easy to remain positive.  You will most likely be in a better mood during the summer months (provided your live somewhere that you see the sun!).  Use this to your advantage and really concentrate on finding the perfect job! 

                                                                                                                   ~Sunny & Sassy

Are you adding too much information to your cover letter?

Writing a cover letter can be a difficult process, you want to market your skills and experience to the employer to show that you are the best fit for the job, but how much information is too much information. 

A good starting point is to ensure you have read the job postings in its entirety, then make sure you select a few key responsibilities that you have experience with and write how you fit to those responsibilities.  Don’t relate your skills to every single responsibility – you will want something to speak about in the interview as well.

When relating your experience/skills to the job that you are applying for, make sure that you are using relevant examples and its best to keep your examples employment related.  The employer only wants to see that you have the skills/experience that they are looking for.  That being said, adding a line or two about willingness to learn for skills that you don’t currently have is okay to do as well. 

Personal opinions on  issues should not be in your cover letter.  For example, if you are applying for a firm that strongly supports a something that you strongly do not support – maybe you should not be applying for the job.  Don’t apply for jobs for the sake of applying for a job – it’s a waste of time.

Show confidence in your skills; but don’t be conceded.  Indicating that you are the queen of the earth when it comes to your job is probably not going to get you an interview.  Employers want to see that an employee wants to learn and that they are interested in self-growth.  Having an inflated ego will not land you an interview.

Take your time while writing your cover letter; this is your marketing statement – it should be well thought out and effort should be put into creating it.  Always make sure you find out whom to address your letter to.  If the job posting does not say the name of the person who will be reviewing applications, call the company and find out. 

Keep your cover letter simple and to the point; it should not be longer than 1 page.