Starting Your Job Search
This Category is about the process of dealing with unemployment, updating your definition of your skills and interests, and setting a course for your job search. Some of the subjects to be addressed are Testing, Psychological Aspects of Unemployment, and Understanding the New Employment Reality.
The starting point of your job search is to know what you want to do. This can take the form of a single job title, a sentence or two describing your desired work, or a dissertation that gives you a chance to think through your opportunities. When you have decided, WRITE the job title and a two- sentence description to use as a focla point for your search.
If uncertain as to the work you want to do, spend time talking to people about the type of work you like and would consider undertaking. Coaches are helpful. Books on finding your hidden talents and job related interests are at the library. Don’t hesitate to talk to many people. You’ll be amazed to hear the insights provided by people who are interested in helping. Listen to other people’s stories and experiences. Many have traveled this same road.
Testing is available to help. Some tests provide general personality characteristic evaluation information. Others provide specific comparison of your skills, work orientation, and personality characteristics to a set of characteristics determined to be those of successful people in a specific field of endeavor. Most testing activities provide feedback in both written form and by a counselor. Some testing services are free. You may be asked to take such a test as a condition of employment or during the interview process.
Informational interviews are easy to get and can provide additional important information about work activities with which you are not familiar. A request for an informational interview of thirty minutes is not unreasonable and frequently extends longer, particularly, if you suggest ending the interview at the thirty-minute mark.
As you develop more insight, try writing a few sentences about what you have learned. Write job titles or short job descriptions. Let the writing sit for a while so that your subconscious mind can go to work for you. Watch your dreams; amazing developments have come from the dream state.
Don’t rush this part of your job search: if you don’t know where you’re going, you’re certain to not get there. When you have decided, write it down in the form of a job title or a very brief description of the job.
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