Spring Cleaning

The last few days I have been cleaning out my office in preparation for new carpet and new paint, a total spring clean up to be sure. Everything had to be out of my office by last Friday -- hundreds of books, files, and memorabilia accumulated during 17 years at my present location. Needless to say, my office was in absolute chaos -- boxes, bags, articles, papers, notes, pens, pencils, poems, articles and business cards galore -- what a mess.

As I was shredding, dumping and packing stuff, it occurred to me that while it is a huge chore to clean up my office, it's a much bigger chore to look for a new job. In the end, though, the results will hopefully be worth the time, energy, effort, and commitment. Have you considered doing some spring cleaning as it pertains to your job search?

Dump irrelevant information on your resume. Eliminate boring text. Shred your old resume if you think it's a less than stellar representation of you and start over. Toss out tired, overworked words and replace with strong language that supports your target goal. For example, if you're going after a Customer Service Manager job, insert customer service management-sounding language in your resume. Align your qualifications to match the employer's job requirements. Make it easy for the reader to notice how well your skill set matches their needs.

Polish your interviewing skills. If it's been a while since you have been in "the hot seat," now is not the time to practice on the employer. If you can't find someone to practice with you, practice with yourself. Stand in front of a mirror, ask yourself questions and answer them to the best of your ability. Notice if you're smiling; notice if you sound confident; notice how the practice helps! At first, it may seem a little strange to practice this way; however, the more you practice your responses, the better prepared you'll be when you get a chance to deliver your lines at a real interview. 

Get rid of a potty mouth prior to engaging in interview conversation. Poor grammar, slang and profanity will not score you points in an interview with a recruiter, hiring manager, or other decision-making authority. Speak well and it will serve you well.

Discard tattered, worn or ill-fitting clothes and shoes. Wear clothes that are clean and well-pressed when you go to an interview. I vividly recall a few years ago screening two talented candidates (both males) for a Director of Sales job. My male colleague and I liked both candidates equally well and then, just like that, the one candidate did himself in. He did so by contradicting himself in a weird sort of way...he was telling us he was really good with details, nothing got by him, and that he always followed through. During our lengthy chat, he removed his suit jacket and much to our surprise, his entire shirt, short of the very front part and shirt cuffs, was full of wrinkles. Apologetically, he told us that he'd ironed only the places visible to the eye. Details, details, details.

Remove any digital dirt that someone may find if they perform a Google search on your name. Google thyself and if by chance you find damaging information that you're unable to remove on your own, engage the services of a firm such as Reputation Defender to see what, if anything, they can do to help your plight.

Abandon outdated job search strategies no longer applicable to today's competitive job search world. If you aren't using 21st century job search practices, you are doing yourself a great disservice. There are numerous resources, starting here with these free Career Hub e-books, to assist you in this endeavor.

Let go of a negative attitude and any angry, bitter feelings and emotions. While it's your choice to drag negativity around with you - here, there, everywhere - it simply won't serve a useful purpose in executing your mission of finding new employment as expeditiously as possible. Delete negative-sounding language from your thinking and from your conversation. Do you have a problem or do you have an opportunity? Do you view transition as a chance to start over, or a stumbling block to your future? Do you speak of your former employer in positive terms, or do you have disdain in your voice when speak of them?

Shed a "victim" perspective ~ you're a job loss survivor! You will find another place of employment. You will find another job. And if you can't find an employer who is willing to hire you right now, how about hiring yourself and starting a business? Imagine all of the possibilities instead of all the impossibilities.

Reject the negative images and messages that surround you on a daily basis. Decide that you will move forward no matter what and resist the temptation to buy in to how bad things are, how awful the economy is, and how terrible it is to be in transition. The bottom line ~ someone, somewhere, somehow got a job today. And it might as well be you tomorrow!

Meanwhile, back to more spring cleaning...

posted by: billiesucher

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