One Successful Job Search
Many newspapers and web sites are running “how I found a job” features these days. One of them is the Kansas City Star. Normally, I figure you can find these stories on your own, but the Star just ran a great one titled, “How I Got the Job: Rod Stearns, 60.”
This one just had all the things that make for a good example. Here’s a guy who’s competing with younger and less expensive job seekers in a tight market. Here are some things you can learn from Rod Stearns’ successful job search.
Be patient. It may take a while. The complete job search took more than a year. He interviewed in early fall 2008, but the job offer didn’t come until December.
Use all the resources at your disposal. Stearns took courses in resume writing and interviewing. He used help that his previous employer made available.
But Stearns did more. He joined job clubs and participated. He set up a LinkedIn account.
Lots of people do that. Stearns used the resources to make contacts, research prospective employers and find out about available jobs.
Sure, he got dispirited. You can expect that if you have a long search. Stearns mentions two things that helped when he started getting down in the dumps.
Helping others helped him. Most good job clubs expect members to help each other. Stearns found that helping was good for both learning and self-esteem.
He also worked at keeping himself in good shape. That’s something to consider, too.
Vigorous exercise is a great stress reliever. If you’re in the middle of a long job hunt, you need all the stress relief you can get. And we know that people in good physical shape tend to be hardier mentally as well.
Staying in shape will also help you with your self-image. And it will help you look good at interview time.
You may not have exactly the same situation as Rod Stearns, but you can learn a lot from the way he conducted his job search.
