Maintain Positiive Search Energy

If you’re not seeing progress during a lengthy job search, perhaps you’re doing everything right: following up routinely, tailoring your resume, and taking your job search tasks seriously. An average job search can last several months. You need to be organized and manage your 'energy'.

The energy that you bring to your job search will convey in your communications and interactions with recruiters. Burnout is a valid concern, but you can shake off those feelings and find your groove again with adjustments in your approach.

See 5 points to consider here.

Support Your Partner Through the Job Search

Supporting a husband during unemployment can be stressful. How can you alleviate your fears, find answers to questions, and offer the support your partner needs? As soon as possible, you and your partner should sit down together and make a plan.

Unemployment places a strain on both the job seeker and their spouse. Maintain an attitude that treats unemployment as a temporary, manageable situation. The more the two of you stay patient and focused, though challenges may arise, the quicker a new job will be found.

Find some tips to jointly support the job search here.

Single Mom Unemployment Survival

How can a single mom rebuild a career while unemployed ? One way is by contacting your local employment center for a list of community support resources. You may also want to connect with other single moms to find out what resources they are aware of. Network. Consider the following:

Start working on a facility with flexible hours and day care services
Make your own income source by getting a work from home job
Take a course in a field that helps you get a job that suits your abilities
Be self-employed and start your own workplace
Find a discussion of these and other ideas here.

Manage Sudden Unemployment

If close to, or high probability of being unemployed, you should focus your efforts on what is within your power to minimize the financial damage and prepare for a new position and opportunities. Here are the things you should be considering first:

* Fill the income gap
* Revise your budget and spending
* Start your tax planning
* Look for a new job
* Look after your mental health

Find more details on these topics here.

Reduce Job Search Anxiety

While job searching can cause a great deal of anxiety, managing your stress can make the process easier. By turning it into a positive experience, you can be in a better mood and make you excited about the prospect of new employment.

Focus on what you can control. Don't focus on just one opportunity, pursue several at the same time. Focus on any tasks that need to be done by a certain time. Write a customizable resume and associated cover letter containing 'your story', then work in the opportunities' requirements.

Find 18 tips to help reduce your anxiety here.

Traits of People Who Advance Their Careers

In these competitive times, advancing in your career is far from automatic. To move ahead in the workplace, consider learning from those who seize the day and seem to advance easily.

To advance in your career, embrace challenges instead of shrinking away. Not only will your skill set come out stronger as a result, your manager and other company higher-ups will see you taking the initiative. Remember, rewards come to those who stand out--not those who blend into the background.

See 10 traits of people who advance in their careers here.

Interview Thank-You Letters

Writing a thank-you letter after an interview is always a good idea. Some employers think less of interviewees who fail to follow-up promptly. It's easy to follow up after an interview with an email, note, or formal letter. Taking the time to do so will help leave your interviewer with a good impression.

Thank-you letters allow you to sell yourself as a candidate. You can reference specific questions that may have come up in an interview. Use your thank-you letter to highlight the ways your skills and experience are a good match for the position.

Review over 30 sample thank you letters here.

Your Performance WILL be Evaluated

Once on the job you have to do a lot more than just show up. It would be good to have the rules for evaluation known in advance. Pay attention to the supervisors expectations, especially to any written specifications in the employee 'Welcome' package. Ultimately there will be review of YOU.

In addition to anything written, keep a few points in mind in an ongoing self evaluation. In a survey of entrepreneurs the most important points to consider when evaluating a team member have been identified.

In addition to 'showing up' see 10 key evaluation points here.

Negotiating For What You Want

You have been through a successful job hunt and you received an offer. It is not perfect, and most job seekers feel uneasy with rocking the boat by negotiating. You may be afraid to bring up the salary, flexibility or benefits, but now is the time.

Finding the courage to negotiate for what you want is key to happiness on the job. Your next chance will be on your first review, probably 6 months out. Think positive and find honest justifications. Acknowledge the generosity of the original offer before making your request.

Find six negotiating points to consider here

Self Promotion at Work

Promoting yourself at work is a necessary part of your career, you're not doing yourself any favors by keeping quiet. If the idea of self-promotion makes you cringe, you need to change your perception entirely.

You can keep your head down, work hard, and keep the faith that your accomplishments will get noticed. Or, you can be proactive in getting the credit you deserve. You don't need to be a braggard, a blowhard, to get recognition of your accomplishments. Your supervisor. especially, needs to be aware of your success.

See 7 points to consider for your self promotion here.

Work Effectively From Home

Telecommute has increased dramatically in the last few years. For employers, working from home can boost productivity, reduce turnover, and lower organizational costs, while employees enjoy perks like flexibility and the lack of a commute's time and transportation cost.

To work effectively from home, you’ll need to make sure you have the required technology:  a separate workspace, internet service that meets the job's needs, a workable schedule you can stick to, and ways to connect with others.

See a guide to key considerations for going 'remote' here

Sources of Potential Employers

You cannot afford to overlook any source. Gather information and develop contacts within both small and large companies. Note that 50% of new job opportunities come from companies with fewer than 100 employees. Starting out, internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer positions - often lead to future job placements

A position, whether paid or voluntary, can allow for “hands-on” experience in your field. The people around you can be a great source of information and advice. The best way to locate a hidden job is through networking - the referral of a friend or business acquaintance

Find a significant list of less common sources here.

Be Aware of Company Culture

While your experience and qualifications are being assessed by a hiring manager, likewise you need to take the time to make your own assessments of the company. This could occur as part of your search effort or in an offer to interview.

Make the most of any opportunity to ‘get to know’ the company culture, its 'personality'. The character of the environment (formal / relaxed) (competitive / contentious) (strict / permissive) needs to fit with your expectations and your personality.

See additional hints here.

Handling a Team's Dominating Personality

Every team benefits from a talented colleague with exceptional skills who can be counted on to produce solutions to complex problems. But when an alpha personality in the group also dominates discussions and decisions, it can stifle other colleagues input, restrain collaboration, and ultimately hurt morale.

Team dynamics need an even distribution of contributing talent, not dominance. In such circumstances, effective team collaboration is required.

Find eight ways to work well with a dominant colleague here.

Prepare for a Job Fair

Job fairs represent an opportunity to connect with employers, hiring managers and recruiters. These events allow connecting with a variety of companies and present a wide range of companies for sharing your resume. Increase chances of getting hired through job fairs. While your 'face time' will be limited, it's important to take these events seriously and adequately prepare.

Stand out with 12 comprehensive points here.

Budget Your Unemployment Income

When unemployed, you will likely receive some level of financial assistance, those funds (whether lump sum or monthly) deserve careful consideration which may include a more formal budget than you are accustomed.

Unemployment typically evolves into financial lockdown mode, having to focus more on cutting expenses, rather than strategically working to find employment that best fits experience, education, needs, and goals.

See 7 critical points to consider here.

Manage Your Money When Unemployed

The unemployed experience higher rates of depression and anxiety. But there are ways to take control of your finances, manage your budget and ultimately land on your feet, even during long periods of unemployment.

Maintaining your financial health during unemployment is key to managing your physical and emotional wellness. Cutting expenses is a great place to start, as you learn to trim your budget and rethink your essential and nonessential expenses.

See 6 specific topics to gain financial control here.

Handling the tricky job interview questions

Some recruiters and hiring managers love asking interview questions that put candidates on the spot. Consider the current job environment with a mix of onsite through 'home alone' possibilities. Always take time to understand the question and the personal implications.

As you hunt for a new job, here’s an updated list of 'tricky' interview questions specifically tailored to today's environment. See some insights and motivations' behind the interviewers questions .

Find the best ways to respond here behind the interviewers questions .

Find the best ways to respond here