Job Search Burnout? 6 Rx Tips

Take care of yourself physically. Gives you the energy but equally important will ensure you keep feeling good about yourself. Try a different exercise if you need to. I just added dance lessons for my rhythm-challenged self. What would you like to add?

 

Cut down on the news you watch. Unless you’re doing research on a company you’ve targeted, try limiting yourself to just a few minutes a day. That’s enough to catch the highlights (lowlights?) and feel like you’re in the know. But too much can be depressing. Just try it for a day and see how you feel.

 

Hang out with people who make you feel better. You know who they are. Don’t hang out people if you feel awful after spending time with them. (Family members, of course, are exempt from this rule.)

 

Network just for the relationships. Not only is it more fun but you will probably find that it is those real relationships that help you most in your job search.

 

Listen to and/or read whatever lifts your spirits. Oldies music always gets me moving and thinking about more than what’s happening at the moment. I also like Eckert Tolle who reminds me to just be in this moment. What works for you?

 

Get your strategy down on paper and plot your progress. It may be the only way to see that you’re making progress. Setting a strategy will shorten your search as well. If you haven’t done this, please do so. And sign up for my job search quick start email series on this blog.

 

I hope these help or have spurred your thinking about what you can add to your life that will keep you upbeat and motivated. Don’t let job search get you down. When you are in your new job (soon), you will realize that a lot of the feelings you had while in job search were unnecessary and/or unproductive.

 

Best of luck in your search. Email me if I can be of assistance. You don’t have to do job search alone!

Job Search Networking: Ending Gracefully

Watch the video! - Sometimes at networking events, you might meet someone who seems happy to just keep talking to you for the entire meeting. It can be difficult to gracefully move on to someone else without possibly hurting or insulting that person. Here is a way that you can use or modify to fit your style.

“I’ve enjoyed talking to you.” (Repeat any promise you’ve made to them that you intend to keep).

“I know there are lots of other people here who are looking forward to meeting you, so I’m going to let you move on.”

Thank them for any advice or help they’ve provided.

After you walk away, make a note on their business card of anything you want to remember about them, what you’ve promised them, etc.

People will appreciate and remember you for your kind ending.

How The Economy is Changing HR

Some say these economic times are changing the face of HR, perhaps forever. Most say the change is for the better.

Below is a link to a quick overview of the results of a confidential survey we did recently with senior HR executives in Orange County, CA. We asked for their views on the economic climate and how they saw their firm emerging better than before. 

Here are is one quote from SVP HR in a company you would know and respect.

 

“The impact is HR is dramatic. First because the business is now more engaged in HR matters, facilitating increased awareness of the important of HR because CEO’s are talking about merit, bonus payouts, target revenues, etc. Essentially the economic situation is elevating the HR topics. However, HR will be included only if the CEO thinks they can be useful. The HR person who continues to beat the old drum and isn’t coming forward with new ideas won’t make it.It’s time for HR to be wise about changes and how we steer the organization through the uncertainty. We are the ones who are able to give the CEO confidence to have the tough conversations, make the difficult decisions. Many of the things HR used to do–driving staffing, training, etc– aren’t being done right now. So this is forcing a redefinition of the world of HR.”

I grant you Orange County results may not reflect what’s happening in other parts of the country, but just dilute the results by the amount of weirdness you think we might have here in OC!

I hope this highlight report, especially the section on how the current economy is impacting the Human Resources function, will help you successfully leverage the new opportunities being presented to HR professionals today. This could even be an interesting topic to bring up in your interviews.

sbenjamins-better-than-before-survey-recap

Job Search Networking #12: Specifics Win Every Time

As I was writing my soon-available book, today’s working title: Forget everything they told you about networking for job search, I interviewed successful executives to see how networking really worked for them. Here is a wonderful quote from Auriela Tannenbaum who was VP at Pimco when we met for lunch.         

 

It was fascinating to hear her strategy for quickly getting a new position. Below is a portion of her answer about what made her so successful. I hope it will help you feel comfortable about getting very specific when you are networking. The irony is the more specific you are, the easier it is for people to help you.

 

“For relationships to be fruitful you have to be clear about what you want. It’s very important for people who are asking someone to take time to help the job seeker to answer ‘What do you want to do next? How can I be of assistance?’

 

When you are specific, you come across as someone who is very focused. You know what you want to do next. So you come to the table with a clear direction. This is what I want to do next, this is the kind of company I’m looking for, this is the kind of position I want as my next step. And I think I can do this because of this and this and this.

 

So you are more concrete and you’re not wasting anybody’s time. You are very specific about what you want to do and the kind of assistance you are looking for. It’s much easier to help a person like that. You get more information, more referrals, and build a better relationship when you are specific.”

 

Remember, the numbering system on these Job Search Networking tips has no rhyme nor reason. You didn’t miss any. Sometimes being a little out of sequence just feels good! I’ll be getting back in line soon, I’m sure. The gaps are starting to bother my organization gene.