Show PACK A PROACTIVE rr R DONT DON'T WAIT FOR THE JOB OPENINGS TO FIND YOU LOOK FOR AN OPENING AND TAKE IT By Judi Perkins I Features ob hunters can be very p passive posting resumes on job boards instead of frequently searching them Job J letting inept recruiters contact them instead of finding finding finding find find- ing recruiters who make things happen being too optimistic about a job prospect saying I I might as aswell aswell aswell well check it out and then saying I I knew that Why did I 1 bother The steps ultimately make the job hunter wonder why so much time passes with so few results Almost every candidate could be twice as proactive as they currently are Instead of wa waiting ting for openings to find find- you you need to be l looking oking for openings Finding your perfect job or rejecting it because by the theis theis is about choice the choice time you get to that stage if to apply or not the choice to youve you've been doing your homework home home- accept an interview or not work you should know if you and the choice to return for a want to be that far along in the second interview Its It's not as game If you dont don't you should much about accepting an offer have cut out earlier See PUNCH Page 2 of the tho Job Guide PUNCH Dont Don't wait for the work to come to you CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 OF THE JOB GUIDE Finding your perfect job is not about putting more eggs in your basket as your search goes on its it's about taking them out of your basket Its It's why 1 I speak so often on the importance of knowing who you are and what you want You must know what motivates you what factors youre you're firm finn on and on which ones you'll compromise For instance do you function function function tion better in a large or small environment Will a corporate corporate corporate corpo corpo- rate or nonprofit setting suit you Are Arc you team-focused team or self-motivated self You do this by examining your pre pre- jobs what you liked and didn't like what worked or didn't and why You cant can't go looking for a ajob ajob ajob job if you dont don't know what youre you're looking for And you cant can't wait for one to come cometo to you You may be saying Wait I contacted some re recruiters recruiters recruiters re- re and I I did some networking or Ive I've answered answered answered an an- ads But that's not enough and while its it's more difficult when youre you're employed employed employed em em- when youre you're unemployed unemployed unemployed you have nothing but time And finding a job can be a time full-time job Once you know what youre you're looking for start placing eggs in your bas bas- ket Comb the job boards research search firms finns that specialize in your discipline contact and choose some re re- re network with your workers co-workers from previous jobs contact employers at companies in the area that seem attractive then introduce introduce introduce intro intro- duce yourself ask for advice and see if they have suggestions suggestions suggestions or connections You'll find opportunities that you wouldn't have known about if you'd waited waited waited wait wait- ed for everything to find you You become energized instead of discouraged And Andas as you learn more about the person personality lity of each company company company com com- pany the management style of each hiring authority and the description of each job you make the decision to leave the egg in the basket or take it out But the point is if it doesn't fit youre you're making the choice to take it out rather than the company making the choice f for r you Obviously if something comes along that appears to fit your profile follow it up But my point is having having having hav hav- ing a lot of opportunities from which to choose isn't a groovy thing if only a few of them arc viable So dont don't wait around to see sec which of those iffy things come through Chuck them over your shoulder and get after finding what you want Change is an anathema to most people Its It's scary and uncomfortable When youre you're job searching passively passively passively pas pas- especially if you think youre you're proactive you dont don't have to think about what if I make the wrong decision what if I dont don't if I like the new job what become unhappy at the new company and Oh I miss that job I had five years ago I wish I hadn't quit But that's a fallacy The only thing being passive about job hunting does is ensure that your fears become ac ac- ac To avoid those fears coming true you need to get out there and make it happen The process may maybe maybe maybe be scary but the result is isa isa isa a relief that stays with you far longer than the process does So instead of being passive passive passive pas pas- sive be proactive and ag ag- Instead of throwing throwing throwing throw throw- ing eggs into your basket know what you want so that you can throw them out Instead of becoming inert because youre you're afraid of the potential results eliminate them by thinking of ways to discover hidden opportunities ties so that you get the result you want The person controlling the process is you The person responsible for finding the perfect job is you The person person person per per- son who must live with the outcome is you So its it's your choice Do you want to do doit doit doit it the passive way or do you want to do the opposite c Features |