Jobless in America

The whole job search effort is completely exhausting and at times just
plain pathetic. It is what it is and if you are unemployed know that
the job search experience is one familiar to everyone at some point and
time, so don’t feel alone. One of the major mistakes many job seekers
make is not being able to keep the whole job search experience
organized. Remembering who you spoke to on what day, concerning what
job can be a true "mission impossible."

There are a couple of things that can make the whole experience more palatable. Lighten up and write it all down.

1. Write down all names, numbers, address, driving directions,
phone and fax numbers associated with your job search. You never know
when you will be able to help someone else find a job. Remember good
deeds never go unrewarded and what goes around comes back around.

2. Writing a resume for each position is essential and
using the correct verbs to describe your talents and accomplishments is
crucial. It is unlikely in three, five or ten years that you will
remember how you described increasing those sales accounts 300%. Keep
those old resumes, they will come in handy.

3. This is a very small world and keeping a record of good
interviewers could land you a job in the future. Always keep in touch
with people who make a dynamic impression, even if you don’t get the
job.

4. If you like the company and what they stand for see if they
have a mentoring program or if they do community service and ask to
become a volunteer. It only takes making one good impression to land
your foot in the door.

5. Your job search experience will one day be an inspiration to
someone or a made for television movie to someone else. Never sell
yourself short and think the whole experience is worthless and boring.
I have not yet seen a sitcom centered on Job Search 101.

What happened to all the people who interviewed me for jobs?
What happens to all the applications and resumes? Do they go to that
great resume/application cloud in the sky or are they shredded into a
million tiny pieces never to be seen again.

I don’t waste a lot of time thinking about it, I just know that
a number of folks missed out on working with a really dynamic person
and that’s a shame. There are probably others out there who fill the
same way. Fear not, there is a job or profession out there with your
name on it. If you really can’t find a good paying job you can always
go into business for yourself. Remember, someone made millions selling
pet rocks.