Don’t slack. Being unemployed
can be a depressing situation, sending your self-worth down the toilet and
thereby sapping your motivation. But motivation is a key component of a
successful job hunt. Using your joblessness as an excuse to sleep in and
lounge around all day can be tempting, but won’t get you anywhere. In
order to really get serious about job hunting, you need to treat it as a
job. Get up early (well, before 9 AM,
anyway), get dressed, and get going – work on your résumé, pick up and
fill out applications, go to interviews. Give yourself a lunch break, and
then go at it again. At that rate, it won’t take you long to find work.
(Of course, if you’re doing one of the money-making activities listed
above, you’ll have to budget in time for that as well.) In the same vein,
don’t let your appearance, or your home, reflect the hopelessness you may
be encountering. Keep dressing smartly and grooming yourself, and keep
your surrounding environment well-organized, in case you are called for an
impromptu interview. You don’t want your look to say “slept late, didn’t
iron, lost my keys and forgot to brush my teeth” … you want it to say
“completely and impressively pulled-together!”
Have a professional-looking
résumé. It should be attractively organized, yet simple; you don’t want
anything to distract from the information you’re presenting. Skip the
patterns and designs and choose a thick, good-quality paper – there’s
nothing wrong with plain white or cream when you’re using it for a résumé.
Keep it brief, uncomplicated and honest.
Before you go to a job
interview, make sure you prepare yourself to answer very straightforward
questions such as “Why did you leave your last job?” If you have a
truthful answer all lined up in your mind, you can avoid an awkward
situation (such as stumbling and stuttering through a mediocre excuse).
Be yourself at job
interviews. Look the way you normally look – polished and nicely dressed,
of course, but still you. If you don’t usually wear makeup, for
example, don’t wear it now. Act the way you always do, letting your
personality shine through in your actions, answers, and mannerisms. Don’t
be afraid to smile and joke with the interviewer, if it’s appropriate (if
you’re not sure whether something is appropriate or not, your best bet is
not to do it). Be comfortable, even in your posture; don’t sit up
ramrod-straight unless that’s your normal stance, but don’t slump either.
Be you at your best: that’s what potential employers will respond to.
If you have a phone interview
or some occasion to talk to a potential employer over the phone, check
your phone manner. Does your voice sound shrill, or do you slur or mumble?
Your voice should convey confidence, not cockiness … politeness, but not
to the “doormat” degree. Make important calls standing up and smiling, and
make sure there’s nothing in your mouth – nothing says “unprofessional”
like a Lifesaver clacking against your teeth.