Surviving Job Loss - Part 2 | Career Rocketeer - Career Search and Personal Branding Blog

In my last blog post we identified the first two important steps, which were:

Step 1: Reflect – Why me?
Step 2: Evaluate – What now?

Here are the final two steps that will support you as you take the next step in your career journey.

Step 3: Prepare – What do I need to do?

Update your résumé

Gone are the days of a tasked-based résumé with an inventory of a position’s responsibilities, coupled with a standard (and boring) list of personal aptitudes. This has been replaced with an achievement /accomplishment-driven document that depicts you as a proactive candidate who demands results and demonstrates the significant value on offer to the organization.

Your résumé is your initial handshake and must therefore not be second-guessed, so the aim is to demonstrate your ability to fulfill their requirements and to build an interest in the benefits and value you bring to the organization. Strive toward developing a document that will motivate the reader into action by requesting an interview.

Practice your interviewing skills

Preparing for and practicing your interviewing skills is vital – particularly on how to answer the question, “Why did you leave your previous role”. If you are still feeling bitter towards your previous employer it is important that this does not come through in your interview, particularly if you are questioned about your previous employer. Negative comments about how unprofessional an organization they are will not come across well to an interviewer, so it is important that you consider how best to respond to any potential questions about your previous place of employment that will support your application rather than hinder it.

Activate your circle of influence

Your network is a valuable resource and building/nurturing your network should already be an important part of your career management plan. Now is the time to reconnect with your network to let them know you in the job market.

Ensure your job search plan incorporates multiple methods

This includes responding to advertisements, recruitment agents, direct contact with potential companies, and most important of all – networking. Considering that between 70-80% of job opportunities are never advertised it is important to activate your contacts in order to seek out these unadvertised job opportunities thus positioning yourself in front of key decision makers.

Develop your personal promotional statement

This is a powerful response which can be used in networking events and in response to that question “Why should I hire you?”

How you respond to that question can either pique the other person’s interest with an invitation to tell them more OR it can be an absolute failure allowing no further opportunity for discussion.

For instance, here are two examples of the same person. Imagine that I’ve just been asked “What do you do for a living?”

“I support my clients in maximizing their returns so that they can be confident of living comfortably during their retirement years. In fact one of my clients recently quadrupled his initial investment and is now cruising on his 20ft luxury yacht somewhere in the Caribbean.”

Or I could say:

“I’m an investment broker specializing in retirement plans.”

So which do you think has more ‘kick’, is more compelling and could invite further interest and questioning?

I’m sure you’d agree that the first statement is more powerful because it incorporates the WIIFM (What’s in it for me) factor. Who doesn’t want to live comfortably in their retirement years, or want to quadruple their money, or want to sail off into the sunset on their luxury yacht?

Step 4: Implement – How do I get there?

Write down your goals

Studies have proven that only 3% of people take the time to write down their goals. If you are not among this 3%, then I strongly encourage you to begin writing down your goals and planned action steps to achieve them.

Get an accountability partner

Establish a strong support system to sustain you during difficult times. Having support will allow you to overcome any obstacles and challenges that may arise.

Establishing and securing your career goals will largely depend on you, and can be impacted (both positively and negatively) on your attitude, drive and overall level of commitment.

Here are some additional steps to keep you focused and motivated towards securing new employment.

• Keep track of your progress as this should motivate you to continue charging on toward your goal.
• Remember to give yourself a big pat on the back. You may consider establishing a reward system along the way.

Author:

Annemarie Cross is a Radio Host of CareerSuccessRadio.com, a Career Coach, Personal Branding Strategist, a triple certified multi award-winning Professional Resume Writer and Author of ’10 key steps to Ace that Interview’.

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