• In the current economy, expect to spend at least 3-6 months looking for a job; don't expect instant results.
• Be persistent in reaching out to contacts and recruiters; in the case of the latter, e-mail seems to be the vastly preferred means of communication. Follow up with people with whom you've already been in contact, interviewed, etc.
• Ask everyone you know for help; network in person and on-line. Having a strong LinkedIn presence is critical for professionals.
• Remain positive in both your search and in all of your communication regarding your job search - be it with your network, recruiters, or hiring managers.
• Do volunteer work; don't isolate yourself. If you are not currently working, be sure to put yourself frequently in situations where you can interact with others.
• Trying to effect a major career change in the current economy is going to be extremely difficult; for each job opening, you are likely to be competing with a significant number of candidates with directly applicable past experience. If you want to minimize the length of your search, stick to what you know.
• Learn and understand the recruiting process; learn as much as possible about how long the typical recruiting cycle takes at target companies (Weeks? Months?).
• Be well prepared for interviews: show excitement, enthusiasm, interest, passion, and knowledge about the job, company, its products, industry, etc. Be ready to use stories of past accomplishments to demonstrate how you are the best fit for the job.
• Develop a 15 or 30-second introduction or elevator pitch for use in networking situations and when reaching out to recruiters or hiring managers.
• If dealing with a recruiter, be ready to discuss salary expectations; unless they know that your expectations match the hiring manager's budget, they are going to be reticent to present you as a candidate. Do your homework in advance about compensation ranges for the position or positions for which you are applying.
• Think about what has impressed you if you've ever hired people; this is what you want to communicate about yourself to others in what you say and how you say it.
• Try to anticipate unstated objections in the hiring process and be proactive about addressing them, in a positive way, during the interview.
• Tailor your resume and your References to the job for which you are applying; not all References are appropriate for all jobs.
• If you are working with a Recruiter, tell him or her what he or she needs to know to market you effectively.
• Create a strong presence on LinkedIn. Treat it like your resume; keep it up-to-date, focused on the work you are seeking going forward, and reflective of your major accomplishments. Seek out and get lots of testimonials and endorsements. Join LinkedIn Groups strategically to communicate in your field or industry, access job postings that are made available to Group members, etc.

• Don't think that the recruiter works for you, the candidate. His or her client is the company that is or will be paying for services rendered.
• Don't apply for jobs for which you are not qualified or answer questions from a recruiter with the response "all my skills are transferable."
• Don't assume that every posted job is actually open; companies may forget to take them down or may leave them up to project an image of "growth." Exceptions to this are companies that do business with the federal government and are expect to follow certain guidelines around hiring - including not posting jobs that are not currently open.
• Don't hang your hat on one opportunity; continue "filling the pipeline" and seeking out new potential opportunities until you "land."
• Don't make your resume any longer than it has to be. 2 pages is a good rule of thumb; 3 pages max. Make sure that you have sold yourself for the position you are targeting within the first half of the first page.
• Lack of demonstrated enthusiasm is a major reason why many candidates never make it past the initial gatekeeper in the recruiting process.
• Don't give a sense of being desperate; it's a major turn-off to recruiters and employers.
• Do not complain or express any negativity in any part of the interview or communication process.
• Don't apply for a job you really don't want and/or about which you can't get enthusiastic, just to "get a foot in the door."
• Don't be overly concerned if you were laid off, and don't go out of your way to draw attention to that fact in your resume and cover letters.

Interested in finding out more about what may become possible for you through coaching? Feel free to call me at 415-285- 0826 to set up a free 30 minute consultation by phone or SKYPE.

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