Facebook Is Not a Face-to-Face

You will never find a job in your pajamas! Surfing the Internet for eight hours a day is not an effective job search. The Internet is a fantastic resource for researching companies, finding job openings, and connecting with people on social sites. However, Facebook should never be used as a substitute for good, old-fashioned face-to-face interaction. If you want or need to find a job, the single, most important thing you can do is to leave your house.

Statistically speaking, the number one way to find a job is through networking. The more people you meet, the more hands you shake, the more times you present your "elevator speech", and the more companies you learn about, the greater your chances are of securing a new position.

Consider joining a job seekers group, attending professional networking events, and telling everyone you know that you are in a career transition. Breaking out of your comfort zone, dressing in professional attire, and conversing with other live people at a networking function is perfect practice for presenting yourself in an actual interview. That is certainly something the Internet can't prepare you for or teach you.

Ask Aimee!

I'm embarrassed to tell anyone I've been laid off...what do I do?
The current unemployment conditions are actually a gift for job seekers. There is no longer any shame attached to being laid-off. You share the same set of circumstances with millions of other job seekers. Just make sure you separate yourself from the position. "My position was eliminated...not me."

Ask Aimee!

What do I wear to an interview if the company is "business casual"?
My advice is to always "err on the side of formality". It doesn't matter if the interviewer is wearing cut-offs, you still need to present your best, professional self. You also treat the interview more seriously when you dress seriously. Make a statement, and dress your best!

Celebrate the Small Stuff

You've heard of, "Don't sweat the small stuff". An even more powerful statement is, "Celebrate the small stuff". Job seekers become intensely invested in the final outcome...the job offer. They're on top of the world if they get the job, or a complete failure if they don't. It's an all or nothing attitude.

Try celebrating the small successes throughout the process. If you're asked for an interview, then you know your resume is working. Great...let's celebrate!! If you're asked back for a second interview, then you know you aced the first one. Great...let's celebrate!! If the company wants to fly you to its headquarters for a final interview, then you know what you're doing is working. Great...let's celebrate!!

So much of the job search process is beyond your control. The company decides to promote an internal employee instead of hiring a new one, there is an unexpected hiring freeze, or the department manager is pressured into hiring the boss's nephew. There are so many scenarios that take place "behind the scenes", that you can't afford to expend unnecessary amounts of energy trying to predict or control the outcome.

When you celebrate the small successes along the way, you build confidence, momentum, and positive energy. Make a conscious decision to focus on the positive and minimize the negative. Congratulate yourself, acknowledge your hard work, toast your accomplishments, and savour your successes.

A Killer and Confident Elevator Pitch

You will hear me say a million times that "it's not always the most qualified candidate that gets the job...it's the one that delivers the best presentation." There is not a more accurate statement in the entire job search process. It doesn't matter how many degrees you have, what your title is, or who you work for. If you can't concisely and confidently present yourself at a moment's notice, then you will have a very difficult time achieving your career goals.

Picture this scenario...You are in an elevator with the hiring manager of your dream job. Before you reach the ground floor, what would you say that would entice the manager enough to either make you an offer, or at the very least, want to continue the conversation? That is an elevator pitch!! You need to know who you are, what you do, why you do it better than anyone else, and how it can help that hiring manager and the organization. If you can answer those four questions, and put the answers in a presentable package along with a smile and a firm handshake, then you have a killer and confident elevator pitch. Going UP...good luck!

Ask Aimee!

Can I find a job on the Internet?
Yes, but it's not very likely. Statistically, the Internet as a job search strategy has less than a 10% success rate. It's a great resource and tool...just use it in conjunction with other, more effective strategies.

Ask Aimee!

Is changing careers a real possibility?
People change careers every day...it's not always easy, but it is very possible. You need to define your new direction, identify your transferable skills, and present a confident and convincing presentation.

Invest in Your Future with a Career Coach

There are hundreds of self-help career books, tapes, websites, and articles all designed to teach you how to update your resume, answer interviewing questions, define your dream job, and change careers. So, then why would you ever need a career coach? The answer is simple...You need a career coach to offer support, structure, and effective strategies so that you can expedite and streamline the overwhelming process of looking for a job.

The reason why people tend to stay in positions long after they have lost interest, why they accept lower-level positions at their brother-in-law's firm, and why they feel paralyzed and overwhelmed at the mere thought of re-entering the workforce is because the job search process is one of life's most critical transitions that no one is ever prepared to make. No one ever teaches you how to market yourself in a highly competitive unemployment environment. That is why you need a career coach now more than ever.

You want someone who can package you effectively, increase your confidence, hold you accountable, and identify any obstacles that are preventing you from achieving your goals. An experienced, candidate-focused career coach will teach you the skills and strategies you need so that you never feel as stuck or hopeless as you may feel right now. Make an investment in your future!!