Houses, equipment, clothing…just about any major investment needs preventive maintenance to keep it functioning properly. The air conditioning system needs maintenance at the change of seasons. Clothes have to go to the cleaners. Cars need an oil change every 3,000 miles or so to prevent major maintenance problems. Even we humans need a little preventive maintenance to keep going.
Is your job search falling apart? Do you find your resume, elevator speech or wardrobe isn’t working? Nothing seems to be working? Not enough energy to power your circuits? A job search campaign is a major investment--of time, money and energy--which needs preventive maintenance on a regular basis. If you’re looking for a job to pay the bills and keep food on the table, you can’t afford to let your job search rust out before you reach your destination.
To fix your job search, consider some tools suggested in an Inc. Magazine article, "7 Most Powerful Sales Tools," by Geoffrey James. Sales is all about building relationships, understanding the customer’s needs and matching your product or service to those needs to solve the customer’s problem. A job search is similar to a sales call. You need to get an appointment (an interview), match your skills and experience to the customer’s needs (job opening) and solve the problem (get hired). Here are some sales “tools” to tune up your job search:
- Patience. It’s tempting to take the first job offer when you’ve got a stack of bills. But job success depends a lot on fit. Your gut will tell you if the company’s work environment, philosophy and values are at odds with yours. What’s the point of taking a job only to lose it or leave it a few months later? Make a list of your job criteria and hold out for your best fit.
- Commitment. Don’t give up. Your energy, resolve and mental attitude have a lot to do with projecting confidence in an interview.
- Enthusiasm. The rejection letter you got yesterday doesn’t mean anything today. Each day is a promise of unlimited opportunities. Be enthusiastic and keep networking.
- Curiosity. Just because you have an incredible resume doesn’t mean you know everything about your industry, area of expertise or how to find a job. Learn while you look. There are unlimited, free learning opportunities online. Read job postings to see what skills or education levels companies are looking for in your field and take some online classes, read blogs and eBooks, or take a class at a local college or tech school.
- Courage. A few rejection letters can erode confidence and make you question your worth. They can also fool you into thinking you’re not qualified or shouldn’t stretch to apply for certain jobs. Take a risk. You never know when something on your resume that you think is minor may be just what an employer is looking for.
- Integrity. If your resume isn’t working, resist the temptation to “dress it up” a little to be more attractive. Inflating job titles or stretching employment dates isn’t window dressing; it’s falsifying information. If an employer doesn’t catch it before you’re hired, you’ll live with the fear of exposure and termination every day on the job. Honesty is always the best policy.
- Flexibility. Sure, you loved what you used to do. But if no one is hiring, then it’s time to see where you fit in today’s job market. This could be the start of a new, exciting career. A little training, education and an open mind may be just what you need for a new beginning.
You can fix your job search by applying a few of these powerful sales tools. Give your job search strategy a tune-up today and get back on the road to a new, exciting career.
Image by Surachai / freedigitalphotos.com
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