Jump Start Your Job Search Today!

Almost everyday I hear from someone who tells me that the job market is bad. Comments like, “I’ve applied everywhere” and “There just aren’t any jobs” are chanted by phone and glare at me in emails. Most of the comments are from individuals who truly feel that they have exhausted every avenue possible to find a new position. One woman actually told me that “If Norman Vincent Peale were looking for a job today, he’d become a pessimist!”

Now, since I operate a search firm, I probably know more about the job market that most job seekers. And one thing I know is that companies have scaled back their use of recruiters because there are so many qualified people on the street. That’s bad news for me and those in my business, but it can be great news for folks seeking employment. In addition to the search business, we provide outplacement services for companies.

From November 15 of last year through the end of March 2009 over 74% of the individuals we coached had found jobs. These jobs weren’t greeter jobs at the local box store or positions where you asked the customer if they want their order “super-sized.” More than 2/3’s of them were in the same professional field as they had been working. The other 1/3 involved career changes. In every one of these situations, the individuals involved took the steps required to jump-start their job search. While there is no magic formula for finding a job, there are fifty-seven ideas that can jump start your job search and maximize your chances for success.

Instead of tackling all 57 of them today, let’s take a look at one of the most important (I’ll get to the other 56 in coming weeks).

Convince yourself that you are the Champion in your profession! If you don’t believe yourself to be the best qualified, highest-performing person to fill a position you will have a hard time projecting either the confidence or competence that hiring managers are looking for in today’s competitive job market.

One of the biggest obstacles job seekers face is that they have a mental sign hanging above themselves that reads, “I Hope I’m Adequate”. This mindset affects all areas of their lives, but has the greatest impact when it comes to job search activities. It comes across in cover letters, weakens résumés, projects uncertainty during phone interviews and throws up red-flags at face to face meetings.

Find a quiet place, shut out all distractions and spend as much time as you need to make an exhaustive list of all the career related accomplishments you can think of—at this point don’t worry whether they are big or small, put them down! Next, write down 25 reasons you are the “champion” in your profession, what makes you better, more efficient, more qualified and more able to contribute to the vision and mission of prospective employers. These lists will grow over time, so keep adding to them.

Review these lists frequently. Read them out loud before starting any search activity. Get enthused about what you offer, what you’ve accomplished and the potential you bring to a new position. Call it getting psyched up, self-talk or positive thinking—it doesn’t matter, start believing you are the only person qualified to do the job right, the first time.

Over the stairs outside the Notre Dame football team’s home locker room hangs a simple wooden sign that reads, “Play Like A Champion”. As the team heads for the field each play touches the sign. It is a reminder of their great tradition, inspires the players and sends them the message that they are the “best team on the field.”

Believe you are the champion…touch your “sign” everyday and then play the job search “game” like a champion! You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes!