VOL. 130 | NO. 249 | Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Career Corner
Angela Copeland
All I Want For Christmas Is A New Job
By Angela Copeland
I hope this holiday season has been a great one. If you’re like many people, a new job may be on your Christmas list. Whether you’re looking for a better work environment, more money or something else, December brings up thoughts of something new.
It would be great if a new career would come in a package wrapped up with a beautiful bow under the Christmas tree. Unfortunately, when it comes to landing a job, Santa is probably not going to come through.
Typically, a new job is a gift you must give yourself. Don’t get me wrong, recruiters and family friends can make things happen from time to time. But, it’s just not a guarantee. Don’t rely on this method alone, or you may find yourself in a job you don’t really care for – or without a job at all.
What you can count on is your own hard work. As they say, getting a job is a job.
Once the holiday parties and family gatherings begin to taper down, set aside the extra time you’ll get back to work on your new job search. Start by creating attainable goals. A great goal is to spend 30 minutes to one hour each day working on your search.
Then, start to think of what you will do with the time you’ve allocated. One of the best ways to find a new job is actually through networking. It’s more effective than any other search method, including applying online. Begin to think of all of the ways you already network today. Do you have a social group you enjoy? Are you a nonprofit volunteer? Do you love fundraisers? Whatever your niche is, look for ways to plug in and get involved.
If you are looking to grow your existing network, the Internet has made it easier than ever to do. Networking events are listed online, and websites like LinkedIn.com have made reaching out to new people simple. Don’t be afraid to make new friends – you’ll be surprised at just how many people will want to help you.
You will also want to add revising both your resume and LinkedIn profile to your job search strategy. Your resume provides context on your background and is easy to forward to colleagues using email. And, LinkedIn is the place a future employer will go to check out your background before they meet you. Don’t be fooled, they really do this. They’ll wonder why your profile is bare if you don’t keep it up to date. Spend the time necessary to beef up your LinkedIn profile and to connect with your network.
I hope your holidays are restful and fun. If you’ve felt demotivated at work in 2015 for any reason, take the energy from your time off and start to roll it into a full-blown 2016 job search strategy. Turn it into the gift you give yourself. It’s relatively inexpensive to do, and the payoff can be great in the long run.
Angela Copeland is CEO and founder of Copeland Coaching and can be reached at CopelandCoaching.com.