Career Job Search Tips

Trying to find a job is not most people's idea of a good time. Making the search as efficient and as effective as you can will make it yield results more quickly, so you can stop distributing resumes, and get back to paid work, as soon as possible.

Network

• All the resume-polishing in the world will probably not have as much positive impact on your job search as one solid personal connection. Your personal and professional relationships are the key to your future career. People with whom you've worked, and people who've known you for years, know what you're capable of, and can serve as invaluable leads, references, and sources of information in your job search. Use them as much as you can. Most friends and colleagues have been in a similar situation at one time or another, and most likely, will be happy to help you.

Government Help

• Local, state and federal governments frequently offer job banks, consultations and listings that are designed to aid you in your job search. Take advantage of these programs -- they're there for your use. If you have low, or no income, and need further education to update your skills, talk to a representative at your local government job center about the possibility of subsidized classes at a college or trade school. Government agencies also sometimes offer to pay part of a new employee's salary, to encourage employers to hire him. This can help to get your foot in the door at a new job.

Cold Calling

• Cold calling is one of the more difficult aspects of a job search for many people, because it involves calling people who don't know who you are and, more than likely, have nothing to offer you. If you're determined to do everything possible to increase your chances of success, you should be cold calling, resumes in hand, at every opportunity. It can't hurt, and if an opening appears at one of the places where you've recently left a resume, an employer may give you a call. Cold calling also helps you overcome your hesitancy to sell yourself. Developing skills in self-promotion, even when the process is difficult, will help to make you more effective as a job seeker.

Education

• Take an honest look at the education that you have, and how it stacks up against the people who're competing with you for jobs. If you feel that your education is lacking, you may want to consider postponing your job search and returning to college full-time, to improve your job chances in the future. Alternatively, you could enter a program part-time and continue trying to find a job. In a rapidly changing world, having up-to-date educational credentials can make the difference between success and failure when you finally locate the job you've been looking for.