Be courageous, avoid ‘rusting out’ during job search
So, you’re at the point where you really need to find a job. Your money is running low, the bills are piling up, and your self-esteem needs recharging. There are so many things that aren’t “just right,” and you need to make them better. What can you do?
The answer is simple — but not always easy: Rise to the occasion.
Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, once said, “We are face to face with our destiny and we must meet it with a high and resolute courage. For us is the life of action, of strenuous performance of duty; let us live in the harness, striving mightily; let us rather run the risk of wearing out than rusting out.”
“Rusting out” in job hunting is equivalent to waiting for the phone to ring. Sure, you’ve gone out and submitted some resumes. Perhaps you’ve even completed some interviews. If you haven’t been offered and accepted a position, however, you haven’t done enough. It’s easy to sit around and think it’s unfair — but that’s not very productive.
It takes courage to follow up with companies you have applied to or with whom you have interviewed. However, it’s courteous for you to check in and see if there is anything else you can provide for them. It’s also appropriate for you to ask, in a polite manner, how the process is going. Ask for a time when it’s appropriate for you to call and check in. If they don’t want you to call back, they will tell you.
It takes courage to rewrite your resume. Have others read what you’ve created, and consider their recommendations to make the resume more compelling to a potential employer. Always remember: Don’t write so much about yourself — write more about what your experience and capabilities can do for a future employer. When a prospective employer is done reading the document, you want him to think, “This is a person who can do this job!”
It takes courage to get up early each morning and get busy looking for a new job. You will hear some rejections, indifference from clerks and managers you speak with, and more. However, that’s part of the job-searching game. Rude people may bother us, but don’t allow them to stand in the way of a possible position. And never be rude back.
It takes courage to continue looking. At the same time, when you land that job, you’ll appreciate it more. It’s rewarding when you’re in a position with an organization for which you really enjoy working. Today could be the day you find that “just right” job.
One thing is for sure: If you sit around “rusting” while waiting for the telephone to ring, your chances of landing a position are slim. Those who are active and persistent are close to ending their search and beginning a new chapter in life.
—Gary moore is president of insight of business experience and specializes in the personality more information, visit moore’s website, www.insightedge.com, orsendemailto garymoore@insightedge.com.