5 Steps to Never Worrying About a Job Search Again

Ryan, thanks for the blog. I agree that the only insurance in a week economy is a strong network and to build a strong network, you have to look inside of you and focus on personal branding. After you take time to develop your brand, both online and offline, you are more prepared to use that substance as networking material.

Ryan, this is a good writeup with solid advice.

Regarding #3: Just any blog won't do; you need to show expertise and hopefully aim to become an authority blogger on that topic. If someone's personal blog has nothing to do with their profession, I wouldn't necessarily hide it but I wouldn't put it front and center either unless it can truly add value in a recruiter's eyes.

In other words, I would put #4 before #3. You want to choose your brand before you start expanding your online presence to reinforce that brand.

Stumbled this for you:
http://jobmob.stumbleupon.com/review/26848004/

Ryan,

It never occurred to me to put my blog on my resume. What a great idea!

Alec

Ryan,

I think putting your blog in your resume is a standard for many jobseekers now, as well as specializing work-wise. However you have to make sure that the job specialization ought to be in a relevant field. Sometimes a specialization in a field which isn't that useful could serve to limit your job options rather than expand it.

As for the network of weak ties, I am not so sure just calling up a ceo can work, although I hear of a few people who have tried it. Still, I'l admit its a very scary idea which could be effective if it works. Great post overall!

Another (even simpler!) thing to do is to simply express yourself as a highly motivated and deeply interested person. So many job opps have come my way because at one point in the past, I had mentioned how amazing I thought an industry or a project was and how much I wanted to work with it, and the person doing the hiring remembered that. Set these things up for yourself. A lot of companies, when looking for entry-level people, aren't necessarily concerned with expertise in a particular area. They're just looking for a bright, hardworking kid that can – and really wants to – learn.

Another great way to traverse the rocky shoals of the current job market is to start doing part-time work while you're still in college. If you study marketing, for instance, take some joblot copywriting, SEM, or event marketing work for a few hours a week remotely with a company that wants to try out your skill set to see how you're doing. Will help sharpen those skills and both you and the employer can 'try before you buy.'

LOVE IT!
These days I'm taking advice like its Oprah's latest thing. Loved everything you said: the order, punctuation and the font. I discovered your site through my new favourite book,
Plugged In: The Generation Y Guide to Thriving at Work by Tamara Erickson (Harvard Business Press)
It's definitely worth a read for job hunters like me.
Great post, awesome site! Keep 'em coming!

As far as sharing your online brand goes – I need to comment on "just don't do anything illegal, and you'll be fine" – While some employers, especially younger ones who have an online presence themselves might enjoy the whole "well rounded" perspective they pick up as they read your profiles, blogs, etc – many people in their mid to late 30s and beyond may not be as understanding. Let's face it, although some people in their 20's have already reached a level where they can make hiring decisions, most decisions are made by people who don't have an online presence themselves. Just because you and your peers might have an understanding about what is acceptable and "in bounds" potential employers might not. You have to weight the benefit of sharing marginally questionable stuff (tame but unprofessional pics) against the cost of causing a potential employer to second guess whether you're the right person for the job for something that's pretty trivial.

When it comes time to step up the career ladder, I think it's a good idea to multi-task – after all, that's a hallmark of our generation, right? Delegation is another key to success. Free up your time to network and interview for jobs while letting organizations like RiseSmart search the Internet (and their own stable of corporate recruiting clients), then compile and e-mail you high-paying jobs that are best suited to your needs. It's good to have your mojo working on both fronts, I think.

Ryan is definitely correct in that if one approaches the task properly, one can still land employment during an economic downturn. If it takes more time and effort, then so be it, but it is not impossible. The way that I see it, maybe fewer people are being hired, but SOMEONE'S being hired … why can't it be you?

I've always found the unpaid internship to be an excellent way to get the foot in the door as well. Since it isn't a paid internship, it doesn't have to be a full-time position. But what it does is provide you with:

~ Experience in the field that you can add to your resume and discuss in an interview
~ Access to those in your field for advice on career paths, training, or anything else that would help you avoid common mistakes of those in the industry with no guidance.
~ Access to people who will become part of your network.

I wrote an article on this myself, which can be found at http://www.theresumeclinic.com/includes/article-unpaidinternship.php.

But the networking advice is probably the one you really don't want to miss out on. But don't wait until you need it to nurture it. A network is best maintained when you don't need it. Join organizations such as the local chamber of commerce, social clubs, etc. If you are not an extrovert, then PRETEND to be one until it feels right. With all of the job search strategies and new technologies out there, nothing will ever beat good ol' fashioned networking for effectiveness.