Sluggish job search? How to re-energize!

Stuck in a sluggish job search?

• You wait for that phone call, hoping someone will ask you for an interview.
• Hoping someone will follow up to the phone interview.
• Keep applying to every possible position that could use your skills.
• And you get more depressed every hour.

Inaction doesn’t fix a sluggish job search

What do I mean inaction? You are applying, right? You keep looking for roles that fit online, right? What more can you do?

• Applying online is the slowest way to find a job. Is that your only method?
• Are you using a generic resume? One size-fits-all resume?
• Is LinkedIn a key element of your strategy?
• Does your network know you are looking?

Staying away from the phone doesn’t fix a sluggish job search

One of the prime mistakes by job seekers is avoiding the phone.

If a job seeker starts with a resume written to professional resume writing standards, (always the key to successful job search) the problem is usually not being willing to use the phone.

How can you alter your job search results with the phone?

Don’t wait for them to call you, call them. I use a 7 to 10 day rule. Contact the hiring manager (not usually HR) when you haven’t heard anything for 7 to 10 days.

• Find the hiring manager using either LinkedIn (search the company for the right department).
• Or call the company receptionist and asking for the contact information for the head of (project management, engineering, marketing, or whatever department you would be working in)
• Write down your script for both talking directly to the person and ending up with voice mail. (hint: these will be different scripts)
• If you have a live conversation, ask if they have time to speak right then. (This acknowledges that you know they are busy people and may have other commitments.) You can ask, “Is this a good time to speak?” If the answer is no, ask if they could tell you a good time to speak for 10 minutes. The 10 minutes is deliberate. You need to abide by that commitment when you do speak. If they want to go longer, make sure you thank them for the extra time.
• If you end up with voicemail, ask for 10 minutes of their time and leave both your phone and your email. (spell the email and speak slowly)

Job search is work

Job search is work but using these strategies along with quality career marketing materials (resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn, for example) will increase your success.

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net