Have you found a job yet? Don’t you just love that question? You might not, or at least not until you’re able to say, “YES! I DID! Thank you for asking!!!”
The question can be just another reminder that you’re still out of work. People might be trying to be supportive, but really the question can bring up feelings of frustrations and anger.
You might believe that you’re doing your VERY best to job search. Doing everything you know how to do. But if you’re not getting interviews then SOMETHING isn’t working. It does not mean that there are NO jobs out there. It may be simply that you are missing some key points in your job search.
SO if you’re doing everything you know how to do, and you’re still NOT getting a job, perhaps the following list can help you see what you can do differently. Here’s a list of some of the most common things people aren’t (or are) doing that keep them from finding a job.
1. NOT SENDING OUT ENOUGH RESUMES!
Review how many resumes you send out on a weekly basis. Did you know that it takes on average about 10 resumes to get 1 interview? That’s right! So let’s do the math. 1 resume a day for 5 days a week equals only approximately 20 resumes a month. If you are serious about job searching you may want to increase the amount of resumes you’re sending out.
Here are the real numbers for job seekers: 100 resumes = 10 interviews = 1 job offer!
2. SENDING RESUMES ONLY TO POSITIONS FOUND ON THE INTERNET OR IN THE NEWSPAPER.
ONLY about 5-10% of jobs are EVER posted! So that leaves 90-95% of jobs just sitting there waiting to be found! What are you doing to find them? If you don’t know how to access these jobs, talk to your Case Manager or attend our JOB SEARCH TECHNIQUES workshop!
3. JUST LOOKING FOR ANY JOB!
If you’re not targeting your job search to a specific job or to a particular field of work, you’re less likely to locate a job. Randomly sending out resumes to any old job does NOT increase your chances of finding work. I know, that doesn’t sound like it makes much sense, numbers wise anyway. It may seem like the more resumes sent equals more job opportunities. But that is not really the case if you’re not targeting your job search.
Employers are more likely to hire you when you are focused and clear about what kind of job you want. Whether you want to work retail, manufacturing, automotive or carpentry, whatever field it is, you need to be clear about your short and long term goals. This is sometimes hard to do if you are just trying to make ends meet, but employers will be able to tell if you don’t really care what job you get. Employers want long term employees, so if they think their job will be only a temporary position for you, they probably won’t hire you. Showing you want a job because it fits your long term goals is the best way to convince an employer you are the right person for the job!
4. NOT TELLING ENOUGH PEOPLE THAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR WORK.
As much as you may hate answering questions about NOT having a job, telling EVERYONE you know about your search for work can be helpful when job hunting! Who knows who they know? Most people don’t get jobs because they have a great resume or outstanding interview skills, it’s because someone knows someone. This can be especially frustrating in a small community if you don’t know anyone. This is why networking skills are essential. If you are new to the community or if you’re reputation is not the best, then it is your responsibility to change this. Some ways to do this is by volunteering; participating on sports teams or you could join a local club. All of these are networking opportunities, which are an essential part of job searching! Employment North also has a networking event every Friday. A great place to have a cup of coffee and chat with other people in the area! You never know who might be there!
Being out of work is a stressful situation. It takes time, energy and a positive attitude to find a job. If you feel you’ve been working hard to find a job, but haven’t found anything. Look at the list, check out what you can do differently, then take some action. If at any point you need more assistance, give our office a call or stop in. We have plenty of staff available to help you find what you’re looking for!
"It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not."
-Author Unknown
