If you have been looking for a job for a while, there’s a good chance you are feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, anxious, and stressed out. Here are some tips to revitalize your job search from SparkPoint coach Sylvia Gregory:
- Do something every day to advance your search. Getting a job can be a full-time job. Keep your motivation and energy up by getting out of your pajamas before 9 a.m., staying away from the TV and developing consistent job-search habits. Networking is particularly important to let people know that you are looking for employment. Also, consider volunteering at a company or an organization – you might meet someone who can connect you with a job.
- Focus on quality, not quantity. Take the time to research and identify the jobs that you really want rather than sending out a flurry of resumes and being willing to “take any job I can get.” Employers want to feel that you selected their company from all the others. By taking the time to target specific job openings, then tailoring your cover letter and resume to that particular job, you greatly increase the chances that your application will stand out from the pack.
- Write down your skills. After being out of work for a while, it can be easy to forget the things that you are good at. Make a list of all the things you do well both on the job and the everyday life skills that can also be used in the workplace. Refresh your resume by incorporating these skills.
- Take classes or workshops. It’s never a bad idea to improve your skill set. Take note of skills or requirements that keep popping up on the job descriptions that interest you, then assess whether you need to beef up your skills in those areas. Taking classes – online, at a local university, or with a nonprofit – can improve your marketability. Be sure to update your resume after strengthening your skills.
- Don’t go it alone. Get the support you need at SparkPoint (or other community programs), which provide job-search assistance and career counseling. SparkPoint can provide the guidance and motivation you need to land a job with a livable income. We can also help you identify the skills that you need to move from a low-wage, dead-end job to well-paid, career-path employment. Call 211 to find the SparkPoint near you.
You never know what will lead you to your next job, but remaining motivated and marketable will ultimately help you find it, says Sylvia. Sylvia is an employee at DreamCatchers, one of several organization that collaborate to provide services at SparkPoint Solano.
Learn more about how SparkPoint can assist your job search at www.SparkPointCenters.org.
Sylvia Gregory (third from left) is a member of the SparkPoint Solano team, which served more than 200 clients over the last year, helping about 30 people find jobs
