Employment Spot

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Seven Pointers

You are already working long, hard hours. When you get home, your time is not your own. You have family obligations, encompassing everything from Little League to PTA. The grass needs mowing, the leaky roof must be fixed, and the to-do list just keeps getting longer and longer. But you?re not happy in your job. You want an opportunity that is fun, interesting, and challenging. You would love to work less and make more!

But how do you make time to find a new job when you are not even sure if today is Tuesday or Thursday? OK, I admit, it is not easy. But if you are truly motivated, you will find ways to make it happen. Here are some tips to make your search successful:

1. Get organized. Of course, that is easier said than done. Try this: Set aside specific times every week to devote to a search. You will be amazed by how much you can get done in just two hours a night, two nights a week. You also might be able to find time over lunch break to surf the Web for opportunities or write customized cover letters. Be careful; use your personal laptop. Don?t use the company?s computer for surfing or emails! With that in mind, pay careful attention to the next tip.
2. Never use company resources for your search. Besides the company computer, don’t use office stationery, stamps, fax machines, or copiers for your search. There are countless stories of how the boss found resumes in the copy machine. Guaranteed, if that happens, you will have lots of spare time to conduct a search!
3. Add power to your resume. Give yourself a competitive edge by trying something different. For example, I incorporate color graphs, tables, and charts that highlight accomplishments in my clients? resumes. These powerful resumes increase their hit rates for interviews and maximize their opportunities for higher compensation.
4. Keep your search confidential. If you don?t want to have your boss find out you are searching, you need two resumes-a confidential resume and a traditional resume. To create a confidential resume, simply disguise the names of your current employer and most recent former employer. Only list an anonymous email for contact. The heading of your resume might simply read: Confidential Resume. If you are keeping your search confidential, NEVER post your traditional resume on any resume search engine, and NEVER answer an anonymous job posting with your traditional resume.
5. Request confidentiality from prospective employers. When you do respond to a job lead with a traditional resume, even if you know the company, use a phrase like the following: "As my current employer is unaware I am seeking a more challenging opportunity, please respect the confidentiality of this inquiry."
6. Request interview times. Most quality organizations will respect the fact that you are gainfully employed and will make accommodations for special interview times. For example, after you have been invited for an interview, try this: "As I have an obligation to devote my work time to my current employer, would any of the following options be acceptable for the interview: a breakfast meeting, early evening hours, or perhaps Saturday morning?" Most companies will go out of their way to set a special interview time. If they don?t, that is a "red flag" and you might want to rethink seeking employment with that company.
7. Network like crazy. More jobs are obtained through networking than any other method. Take every opportunity to expand your circle of friends and contacts. Remember those family obligations? Use the Little League, PTA, soccer games, special events, and so on as networking venues. You never know when lightening will strike. Take the time to talk to the little old lady sitting next to you on the plane. She just might be the mother of the president of IBM!

If you want to land that new, fun job, stick to your game plan. It will take time, but persistence will pay off.

Don Straits, CEO and Dragon Slayer, Corporate Warriors

Don is recognized as a nationwide authority on contemporary job search strategies and technologies for executives. His organization produces world-class online multi-media resume portfolios and provides out-of-the-box coaching for his/her clients. Don can be contacted at don@corporatewarriors.com or (916) 630-4545. Website: www.corporatewarriors.com.

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