JSJS: Your Job Search Jump Start
Simple steps to an effective job search. Don’t confuse “simple” with “easy.” This takes work! Are you willing to do the work to find a job you love?
Your guides: Perry Rhue and Tony Dye
Why JSJS?
Why Job Search Jump Start? It pains us to see people waist time and money to do the wrong things in a search. Or even the right things at the wrong time. Do you need some clarity in your search? Something that actually feels right? That’s what we want to provide. That’s why we’ve created JSJS.
JSJS is a series of lessons. Specific steps of a job search, in order, to give you a great start and then to keep you on track.
Lesson 1: Your Situation
First, are you really ready to search for a job? This isn’t a trick question. Some people say they are searching for a job, but amazingly, they don’t put any time into their job search. Or, they put time into ineffective approaches, which only compounds the problem.
{Assessment TBD} How much time are you putting into your search? How much time on Facebook, TV, going to movies, sports, etc.?
Hint: if you can’t find, or take, the time to do this assessment, that is probably a strong hint of your commitment to the job search. Seriously, if you don’t complete this assessment, you might as well quit reading now. We know that’s harsh. That’s also reality!
Lesson 2: Organize Yourself
Know your tools, and use them! Calendar. Contacts. Tasks. Filing System.
Which tools? “whatever works for you.” Failure is failing to have, or use, your tools.
Lesson 3: Who Are You, Really?
Consider one of the most common interview discussions; often one of the first things out of the interviewer’s mouth. “Tell me about yourself.” Do you have a compelling story? (hint: that answer is almost guaranteed to be YES, but do you know how to articulate that story?) The starting point here is not about what you do, or what you’ve done, or what you want to do. It’s about who you are. Highly suggested: consider the approach developed by Simon Sinek, “Start with Why.”
Suggested reading, listening, viewing:
Find Fulfillment — Find Your Why
The Interview from The Circle
Assessments you can take for free or very low cost:
DiSC
Myers-Briggs
16 Personalities
Spiritual Gift Assessment
Lesson 4: Dialog with a Friend
Perhaps you did this first, or while you were looking at other materials. If you’ve already “phoned a friend” and included the friend in the assessment process. congratulations. You are ahead of the curve. We’ve all heard the maxim that networking is the key to a great job. Take it a notch further – good friends are the key!
“Good friends == Good job!”
(“Good” in good friends means two things: quality and connectivity. You might be very close to a person with no morals, poor social skills, anti-social behavior, etc. You might call that person a good friend, and that’s true. But they aren’t the good friend you need here. You may also be friends with someone who has great values, is well connected to many others, has managed finances and family well, and yet you only see this person every 2 or 3 years. That’s probably not the good friend you need either.)
For the fast majority of people, regular interaction about your job search is important. A good friend will tell you when you’re off course, or help you refine your messages for clarity. Good friends will help you stay on track!
A good friends is somebody you could confidently call at 3 in the morning
Lesson 5. ASK for help
Plans, discipline, accountability, mentoring, coaching – what do YOU need?
Friends vs. coaches
5 Tips for Working With an Accountabilty Partner – Article (source)