The Unemployment Marathon

I recently read an article on Marketing The Ladders that advises how to keep up your stamina on the path to a job. While the marathon analogy is applicable, I hoped the article would give more relevant advice. Below are some snippets from the article with added comments by me. To read the article in its entirety, click here.

"How to Handle Extended Unemployment: Tips from a Marathon"
What to remember when a job search goes from weeks to months, or longer.
By Dan Coughlin (comments by Job Seeker)

Before you can deliver a great performance, you need an opportunity to perform. With at least 15 million Americans out of work, the length of the job search has stretched from a sprint to a marathon. To endure and succeed, you need to be in shape. Here are a few tips to get you through the long haul:

1. Warm up and cool down

… my very first suggestion when you’re looking for a job for an extended time is physically exercise. Get in the best condition you can. This is something you are in control of. Even if this means walking around the block one time to get started, do it. As you begin to get into better physical shape, you will strengthen your self-esteem and remind yourself that you are to a large degree in charge of your destiny.

Comment: Note: you are not completely in charge of your destiny, just to a large degree in charge. And remember this: in a job interview, arm strength always makes up for lack of work related skills. I look forward to the part of the interview where they ask “So, how much can you bench?”

2. Count your calories.

Before you start searching for a job, know what you’re getting into. Research the industry and any targeted companies you would like to work for.

Go on the Internet, and be creative. Put in search words for the type of industry, organization or job that you want. Intelligently use Facebook and Twitter to reach out to people to see if you can uncover opportunities for the type of job you want and the type of company you want to work for. When the actual job opportunity opens up, you will be infinitely better prepared if you’ve been doing your research all along.

Comment: I agree with this whole-heartedly. However, I don’t think this is enough. Just because you know where you want to work and you educate yourself on the opportunities available, you are not necessarily well prepared to succeed. You need to find what skills are necessary to perform the job and then find ways to acquire and sharpen those skills. When given the chance to apply and interview, you need to be able to show the company you already know how to successfully perform in that particular job function. Knowing industry information is great, but not enough on its own.

Further, the longer you are out of work the more you need to justify your lack of work. Employers like to ask "What have you been doing with your time?" Saying you have been aggressively looking for work is not a good enough answer. You want to be able to say something like "I took a course on Excel and have developed a website solely to learn more about digital media analytics and metrics. I have also gone on six informational interviews with Brand Analysts at companies X, Y and Z." In this instance, you have shown that you are actively working to better yourself and enhance your skills within this particular area. Remember: Unemployment is not a vacation. It is a time to reassess and rebuild.

3. Block out time.

Businesses sell products and services. You are selling yourself. Your product comprises your:

• Values
• Strengths
• Passions
• Knowledge
• Skills
• Experience.

Take out a sheet of paper. Under each of those headlines describe what you bring to a potential employer. Then think of an example that supports why you feel you bring that characteristic.

Comment: This may be a fun thing to do during your first week of unemployment, but assuming you are looking for a job for a while (a marathon), you should have already done this and incorporated these findings into your resume and cover letter. If you haven’t, maybe this is the reason behind your marathon job search. This should be priority one when looking for a job. You should know this information from the get go.

4. Don’t train alone.

Take out several sheets of paper. Start writing down every single person you know. Really challenge yourself to think of people who might know you. Write their names down, and then start to contact them systematically. Let these individuals know specifically what type of job you want and what type of organization you want to work for. Remember: Clarity is powerful, vagueness is not.

Comment: for those of us with computers, you can put the paper down. Instead, try leveraging professional networking sites like LinkedIn. Also, don’t be afraid of trying to communicate with people you do NOT know. Writing personal letters to C-level executives at companies you are interested in has worked for me. I have gotten several interviews based on communicating my interest directly to the top. Also, headhunters and alumni networks can be helpful. Regarding alumni networks, people have a loyal allegiance to their alma mater. I have found that fellow alumni that I have never even met are willing to help me out solely because I went to the same school as them (I'd like to understand the psychology behind this. Any psych majors out there with an answer?)

5. Make it a lifestyle.

Instead of thinking of a job search as a once-a-decade activity, think of it as part of your professional life. Not having a job right now isn’t the point. Whatever your current employment situation, you should always sharpen your ability to search for a job. It’s really like running a marathon. Get yourself ready and go after the finish line.

Comment: I agree. Whether you feel confident in your current position or not, you should always have an updated resume and be aware of current opportunities available. Even if you are not interested in leaving your job, it is worth your while to know what other employers are looking for in positions similar to yours. See if there are skills or job functions necessary that you can work on now. And if you are thinking of transitioning careers, learn what the job function entails and then try to gain experience within your own company (i.e. Do you work in finance and want to get into marketing? Well go talk to your marketing department and see what they are doing. See if you can help out with a project. It will go a long way into helping you make that shift down the road).