Important Pragmatics for the Job Seeker
This month, we are going to discuss the topic of social pragmatics and how they affect us and those around us when we are between jobs.
Important Pragmatics for the Job Seeker
Last month, we had the pleasure of meeting four former job seekers to discover the importance of a full-time job search, and we learned some creative ways to make our job search efforts a full-time task. This month, we are going to discuss the topic of social pragmatics and how they affect us and those around us when we are between jobs. We will address some day-to-day issues that can make or break our success and opportunity for future employment. Throughout this blog, we will highlight a couple of local former job seekers to find out the "dos" and "don'ts" that they learned during their period of career transition. We will discuss our appearance, our behavior, and our outlook.
Dress for Success
As we have previously discussed, networking with others is the #1 way to pursue and ultimately secure your next job opportunity. This means you should be "out and about" every day. Whether you are running errands or conducting an informational interview, what do people see when they look at you? Your appearance sends an instant message of success or failure everywhere you go, and it could determine whether or not someone even speaks to you. Fix yourself up when you leave the house as well as or better than you did when you were employed. Is your hair neatly groomed? Are you dressing - at the least - business casual, or better yet, in professional business attire? Are you wearing a watch? A watch indicates you are cognizant of your schedule and serious about the way you spend your time. Jewelry and cologne/perfume should be elegantly understated. Remember: You are marketing yourself for success or failure just by the way you dress!
Act Like a Professional
Since your job search is your full-time job, treat it like one. Mike Bevis, senior partner at Strategic Sales and Marketing Partners, says there is no exception to this rule! He recommends buying coffee for anyone and everyone as you meet them - NOT to ask them for a job - but to ask them for ideas for your job search. Make your networking purposeful; connecting with specific, helpful professionals is often more rewarding and strategic than hopping from one networking event to the next.
It is easy to feel desperate when between jobs, so think of yourself as a detective - you will work methodically and tenaciously rather than randomly and desperately! Are you prepared for any kind of networking opportunity? This means you are always equipped with a portfolio that contains your business/networking cards, paper, writing utensil, several copies of an updated resume, and a planner. Do you know what to say in the first 30 seconds upon meeting someone? This means you have compiled and regularly practice your 30-second commercial - also known as the "elevator speech." When you are interacting with others, be very careful to speak well of others; gossip can come back to haunt you! Remember: Whether or not you are employed, you ARE a professional!
Look at Your Outlook
Career transition is a great opportunity to soul-search. What is your outlook on your life at this point? Consider taking the StrengthFinders assessment by Tom Rath as a helpful way to start looking for your next opportunity. The way we feel will be reflected when we interact with others - and some days it is quite a struggle just to get out of the house in the face of job loss. However, Bob Van Leeuwen, a lead sales and support manager who survived 2 ½ years of career transition, reminds job seekers that job loss typically is not their fault. Therefore, it is important to NOT: be lazy, be negative, or dwell in the past. Rather than complain or get lost in distractions like Facebook, get up EVERY DAY with a mindset to work, an agenda to accomplish, and a positive attitude toward the world around you.
Important questions to answer to improve your outlook include: Am I surrounding myself with positive people helping me reach my goal? Am I missing out on opportunities because of negative feelings I need to rid myself of, such as anger, guilt, or sadness? What can I do TODAY to change the world around me? It is important to take steps to address the answers to these questions. Remember: Your outer image reflects your inner self.
Now…take steps today to make yourself shine!
Next month's topic: Interview with a career advisor
