I reestablished this blog under the notion that it would NOT be just another annoying pulpit.

Then I remembered I attach my name to every square inch of this site, so bear with me as I take a moment to give my two cents (sense?) on being unemployed today (and what great Internet resources can get your ass back to work).

You’re looking for a job. Laid off, downsized, fired, mutually-parted or whatever, fact of the matter is you’re looking for a job.  Guess what, there’s about 3,489 “prospective employees” just like you swimming in the same pond (although it’s easy to get over-consumed in your own unemployment).  Don’t try and butter-up your friends and colleagues; get to what you want.  Cut the bullshit, get to your point, and get them out to lunch or a drink after work (or a “coffee” if you’re listening to your career “coach”).  Asking: “I want to get your take on the industry,” is worth its weight in gold.

Don’t use the closing “Regards” if you’ve known me for more than 3-minutes. I know you, you know me; we’re probably buddies; when is the last time you ever said the word “regards” out-loud?

Why aren’t you on Twitter, LinkedIn, or Craigslist? The millisecond a job is posted on Careerbuilder of Monster chances are that your dream job is already gone. Companies have to publicly post jobs in many cases to tell their boards and advisers that they are approaching as many “qualified” candidates as possible.  They’re not.

You need to be listening to your future employer. Have a company in mind? Follow their blog, see what they’re saying. See who they respect and admire professionally.  Follow the companies’ principals (or your individual hiring manager) on Twitter or their personal blog (if applicable).  Engage your employer on as many levels as possible, remembering that your unemployment is about their 418th priority this hour. (Also, be yourself and not overly annoying; if you comment 13 times on a blog post that doesn’t mean you’ll get noticed positively). Be memorable in your brevity.

Your resume needs to be bulletproof and your cover letter needs to be identifying and personal (have a portfolio? throw it on Flickr).  Spend the $150, buy Adobe Acrobat and get your intro and resume into a .pdf  (or sign up for the 30-day free trial and save your resume 45 different ways).  Microsoft Word doesn’t e-mail well and often looks skewed in different editions (God forbid your interviewer uses a Mac). Sending your resume/portfolio  as a Google doc is a distant second behind Acrobat.

Use your own voice.  As Seth Godin puts it, “A resume is an excuse to reject you.” (throw your profile’s LinkedIn HTML badge on your e-mail signature, link to your blog, let people see you on multiple, professional levels).

Many of these concepts work while your employed too.  It never hurts to tune in to your old recruiter, or manager that you never talk to.  If you think your job is on the line, make sure you have your eyes and ears open on everything.  It doesn’t hurt being paranoid and searching for your job on any of these sites (and let’s face it, you may just find your next move up the ladder).

Now get out there and give it 40 hours a week (and don’t spend 20 of those feeling sorry for yourself!).  Being unemployed is your new job and it needs to be treated as such.

This mentality worked for me, and I’m hoping will work again the next time I see myself as a mere “budget cut”.  Keep up the fight.

Peace.
mjb