Without going into all the uninteresting details I found myself unemployed. "No big deal" I thought. "I'm a pretty smart guy with some pretty marketable skills and this shouldn't be a problem" I told myself. I got on all the big job boards, feverishly scanned the classifieds, hooked up with employment agencies, called all my contacts and considered moving. I even opened up the Yellow Pages, started with the "A"s and sent resumes to every listing that had an e-mail address or web site. I couldn't help but feel like my resume submissions were getting lost in stacks of other applicants and getting "filed" without ever being read. It was totally freaking frustrating and I thought "If I could just get some face time". I was walking around downtown one day and realized that everywhere I looked there was someone who was either hiring or knew of someone who was and they might even be looking for someone exactly like me. So I started thinking about printing a stack of resumes and handing them out like flyers to passers by or putting them on wind shields. Pretty shameless I agree and I'd probably have to change my phone number after that. Also no guarantee people would even read it.
It might sound silly, but sitting down and really thinking about what you like and what you are good at can save you a lot of time and effort. It will also help you apply for a job that you will be successful at and enjoy.
What do you like? Sit down and list all of the things you like. Do you like to be on a computer? Do you like to read or write? Do you like to talk to people? Do you like working with numbers? How about working with children or animals? Besides just listing activities, also list the types of environments you like to be in. Do you like being someplace where there is always something going on, or do you prefer to be somewhere quiet? Do you like getting up in the morning or staying up late at night? Once you have a sizable list completed, move on to the next step.
What are you good at? First, list any special degrees or certifications that you have - including a high school or college diploma or GED certificate or any technical certifications. List everything from CPR to computer programming certifications. Next, list activities - such as typing, repair work, or cleaning that you are good at. Don't just stop at "work-related activities" - think about your hobbies and interests. Also list any personality characteristics you have that might be helpful in certain types of jobs. For instance, do you interact well with people? Can you make decisions under pressure? Are you good with children? Can you work by yourself and stay motivated?
It might sound silly, but sitting down and really thinking about what you like and what you are good at can save you a lot of time and effort. It will also help you apply for a job that you will be successful at and enjoy.
What do you like? Sit down and list all of the things you like. Do you like to be on a computer? Do you like to read or write? Do you like to talk to people? Do you like working with numbers? How about working with children or animals? Besides just listing activities, also list the types of environments you like to be in. Do you like being someplace where there is always something going on, or do you prefer to be somewhere quiet? Do you like getting up in the morning or staying up late at night? Once you have a sizable list completed, move on to the next step.
What are you good at? First, list any special degrees or certifications that you have - including a high school or college diploma or GED certificate or any technical certifications. List everything from CPR to computer programming certifications. Next, list activities - such as typing, repair work, or cleaning that you are good at. Don't just stop at "work-related activities" - think about your hobbies and interests. Also list any personality characteristics you have that might be helpful in certain types of jobs. For instance, do you interact well with people? Can you make decisions under pressure? Are you good with children? Can you work by yourself and stay motivated?
