You’ve drudged your way through college.
You’ve got that shiny diploma in your hand.
You’ve prepared yourself mentally and physically.
All you need to do now is get a job.
Eeeeeeeeeeek!
Relax. Job searching doesn’t have to be stressful. Let’s explore five ways to undergo your job search with attitudes (and actions) of approachability.
Attitude
Approachability starts in the mind. You must first understand your strengths, goals and desires before even considering a job. Ask yourself the following questions:
*Are your goals written out with specific dates and numbers?
*Do you carry your goal sheet with you at all times?
*Do you have a daily job search plan?
The answers to these questions will help you approach your search with an attitude that will attract the right people and situations.
Business Cards
Wait a minute: how can you have business cards if you don’t have a job?
Exactly. That’s why you need them. You never know whom you might meet! Go to your local copy shop, meet with a professional designer and create your own personal cards. Include pertinent information such as name, phone number, email, job objective, email and personal website, if you have one.
Remember, it’s not that opportunity doesn’t knock, it’s that people aren’t prepared to answer the door. Get your contact cards today!
Contacts
Speaking of contacts, here’s a great exercise. Sit down and make a list of every single person you know. It might sound tough, but odds are, you’ll easily be able to come up with over 100 people. Make a spreadsheet showing how long you’ve known them, where THEY work, and how they might be able to help.
Then, (and here comes the hard part)…
CALL EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.
Scary? Yes. But the Federal Bureau of Labor did a study in 2004 indicating that 70% of all new jobs come from some sort of networking.
So, simply tell these people what type of job you’re looking for, and ask if they might keep their eyes open for you. Also tell them how to best get a hold of you.
No hard selling. Just a gentle reminder. You never know! After all, everybody is somebody’s somebody.
Discipline
The key to any job-hunting approach is discipline. It’s about your willingness to be on the phone, schedule interviews, submit resumes, meet with potential employers, attend networking functions and email people in your network EVERY SINGLE DAY.
Every. Single. Day.
Make it your goal to do five job-hunting activities on a daily basis. That’s 25 a week and 100 a month. Stick to that and your chances of obtaining a position will skyrocket!
Expectations
Because a large part of approachability is mental, you need to underscore your attitude with expectations. Every morning, read aloud affirmations to yourself such as:
“Today I will be an amazing interview!”
“Today I will make great contacts to whom I can provide value!”
“Today I will persist until there is no time left in the day!”
Have fun with this. Create your own affirmations. Spend 15 minutes every morning preparing yourself mentally. It will lay a foundation of approachability and attraction throughout the remainder of your day.
Sure, it may sound hokey. Your spouse may even make fun of you.
But just because it’s hokey doesn’t mean it doesn’t work.
Ultimately, your job search doesn’t have to be a chore. With these techniques, ideas and suggestions, you can make it fun! More importantly, you can make it fruitful with attitudes (and actions) of approachability.
