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Don't make resolutions...
Strategizing tops dreaming in job searches
Many people will make a New Year's resolution to change jobs this year. Few will keep it.
"There's a world of difference between saying the words and doing the deed, because finding a job is a job in itself," said Darlene Martin, master counselor and certified global career development trainer at Kennesaw State University.
Why do so many people stay in jobs they don't like year after year?
"Change is difficult. We use the dental model to explain it to clients," Martin said.
"People don't like pain, but they fear going to the dentist. I tell clients that the pain [or boredom or frustration] of working where they are has to be greater than their fear of leaving for them to get serious about a job search."
If you're ready to find new and better employment, change careers or learn new skills, you don't need a resolution; what you need is a plan.
"The best way to accomplish a goal that large is to break it into steps that you can manage and celebrate small victories. Checking off accomplishments and progress along the way will help keep you motivated," said Brenda Young, employment and training consultant with the Georgia Department of Labor.
The first step is to ask yourself why you want to change jobs, she said. What are your goals? Do you want to make more money? Want to live closer to your kids? Don't like the company culture? Hate what you're doing?
"Understanding your motivation is key to creating realistic goals and the plan to get you there," Young said.
Finding a new job begins with finding yourself. Knowing what you like and don't like to do, your skills, education, values and interests will put you on the path to defining your dream job. One place to start is taking personality, skills and temperament assessment tests with a career counselor, through books or on the Web to discover your aptitudes, strengths and weaknesses.
Martin encourages her clients to look five years ahead and to think holistically, examining not just their professions but also their personal lives, family obligations and health.
Finding a more satisfying job might be as simple as changing your résumé to reflect what you want to do vs. what you can do or are doing (from sales to marketing, for instance). It can be as complex as researching a new career, going back to school and figuring out how to finance an education.
Martin tells clients to write their goals as if they already have accomplished them. For example: "This spring, I'm enrolling in evening design classes at a local art school to improve my portfolio. In five years, I will be a creative account executive with a New York agency, making $___."
"A job search may go quickly," Young said. "You may have great skills and reputation in the industry and be ready to move up, but what makes it easier is knowing yourself and how to articulate what you want."
Once you've identified what you bring to the marketplace, the next step is to find those companies that need your skills and share your values.
Online Resources
Source: Georgia Department of Labor |
"The Internet has become a great job-search tool, not only for posting résumés and finding job listings but for researching companies," Young said. "Employers tell us that the No. 1 mistake interviewees make is not being prepared for an interview. Hiring managers expect you to know all about their business and why you want to work there."
If you've been in the same job for years, you might consider taking a job-search workshop at one of the Georgia Department of Labor's 53 career centers around the state. The centers also offer free career advisement; education and training program research; the use of computers, fax machines and copiers; and classes in writing résumés, interviewing and negotiating salaries. See www.dol.ga.state.us for a list of centers.
"Spending long hours behind a computer screen won't get you a job as quickly as networking," Young said.
Increase your career contacts to reach your goal faster. Consider joining a professional organization, attending a career fair or finding a local networking group.
"A group of fellow job-seekers can be a great source of emotional support, but remember your goal," she said. "You're there to make new career contacts and find job leads. If you're spending a lot of time networking and come away with nothing, you're just socializing."
Telling your goals to a trusted friend and asking him or her to help is a good way to commit to the process and stay motivated, Martin advised. "If you're just thinking about it, you haven't really put the idea out into the universe," she said.
What you don't want to do is tell a co-worker who might spread the news to your boss. You also shouldn't quit a job until you have a new one, Martin said.
"It's always easier to get a job from a job, and hiring managers today question any gap in your work history," she said.
Because job-search activities should be on your own clock, it's best to have a good system at home for keeping track of useful sites, phone conversations, contacts and paperwork.
"If you keep a log, things are less likely to fall through the cracks and you'll be able to see what progress you've made," Young said.
Staying motivated is essential, so build in some rewards for when you've accomplished a goal. For example, if you've located five possible companies and called two job leads, take your family to the movies."A lot of people think that a job search is like instant coffee. You pour in some powder, stir and voila!" Young said. "The process can take months to 'brew' - or longer, if you're switching careers - so discipline and patience are essential. If you keep the goal before you and keep taking steps toward it, you'll get there."
