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Job Recovery Checklist
By Robert Shindell, ILostMyJob.com's CareerDoctor
When job loss occurs, one of the best things that you can do is to take some time to get organized. Developing a plan of action may help you to focus your time and energy effectively. To assist you in developing a plan of action, the CareerDoctor team at ILostMyJob.com provides you with the following checklist of items to consider. Please feel free to add items to this checklist to make it relevant to you and your specific situation. The old saying "Failing to plan is planning to fail" could not be more true than when you are dealing with and recovering from job loss.
Remember, we are here to help and assist you through this process. If you need help, or are getting frustrated with your job search activities, email me!
Pre-search Checklist:
Before you hit those job boards or head to your first networking meeting, take some time to get organized, focused and inspired. Think of this time like a "warm-up". You would not just start running a marathon without the proper training and pre-race activities would you? In this economy, your job-search might be a marathon - so make sure you are ready to endure!
1) Conduct a skills and career accomplishments self-assessment – You can access the very best career assessments here.
2) Create competitive professional presentation materials – find out how by clicking here!
3) Develop categorized references
4) Research the industries that you are interested in working in.
5) Create or revise your resume and cover letters
6) Get Help for the issues surrounding job-loss. Especially stress.
7) Visit the ILostMyJob.com Bookstore for recommended resources to assist you in your search.
8) Watch the interview series “Get Back to Work Faster” with Author Jill Konrath
9) Find your passion!
10) Learn how you can use LinkedIn to your advantage in the job search.
11) Take charge of your online reputation.
This page sponsored in part by:
The Basic Resume Checklist
First and formost, you should be customizing each resume that you send out to meet the specific needs of the employer and position for which you are applying. Remember, resumes are used for three things: to get an interview, to introduce yourself, and to provide a documented, factual work history. You may not like it, but you've got to have one, and if you don't have a great resume, you will be lost in the quagmire of job search. In this section, we explore the many types and uses for resumes. With the help of ILostMyJob.com, you can have a resume that really stands out from the others.
Spelling Mistakes
- Don't use words with which you aren't familiar.
- Use a dictionary as you write.
- Perform a spell check on your finished resume.
- Carefully read every word in your resume. If you write "from" instead of "form," your spell check will be unable to detect your mistake.
- Have a friend or two proofread your resume for you.
Punctuation Mistakes
- Check for periods at the end of all full sentences.
- Be consistent in your use of punctuation.
- Always put periods and commas within quotation marks (i.e., Won awards including the "John H. Malcom Memorial Service Award.")
- Avoid using exclamation points.
Grammatical Mistakes
- Do not switch tenses within your resume. The duties you currently perform should be in present tense (i.e., write reports), but ones you may have performed at past jobs should be in past tense (i.e., wrote reports).
- Capitalize all proper nouns.
- When expressing numbers, write out all numbers between one and nine (i.e., one, five, seven), but use numerals for all numbers 10 and above (i.e., 10, 25, 108).
- If you begin a sentence with a numeral, spell out that numeral (i.e., Eleven service awards won while employed.).
- Make sure your date formats are consistent (i.e., 11/22/05 or November 22, 2008, or 11.22.08. Choose one and stick with it.).
The Basic Resume Checklist, Part 2
Choose Your Words Carefully
- Be on the lookout for the following easily confused words: accept (to receive), except (to exclude), all right (correct), alright (this is not a word), affect (to bring about change), effect (result), personal (private), personnel (staff members), role (a character assigned or a function), roll (to revolve).
- Use action words (i.e., wrote reports, increased revenues, directed staff).
Other Potential Mistakes
- Check dates of all prior employment.
- Check your address and phone number - are they still current and correct?
- Check the number of returns separating your categories: are they consistent?
- Check abbreviation of state names. All state abbreviations are two letters - no periods. For example, New York is abbreviated NY, California is CA, and Florida is FL. Look up other state abbreviations.
Design Is Important
- Don't overcrowd your resume; allow for plenty of white space.
- Keep your resume to one page whenever possible.
- Keep the number of fonts you use to a minimum -- two at the most.
- Use a font that is easy to read. Do not justify the lines of type on your resume. Allow the right side of the page to "rag."
- Do not overuse capitalization, italics, underlines, or other emphasizing features.
- Make sure your name, address,phone number and email address appear on your resume and all correspondence, preferably at the top of the page.
- Print your resume on white or cream paper using a good-quality printer. Print on one side of the paper only.
What To Omit
- Omit salary history.
- Omit sex, age, race, marital status, or other similar personal information.
Checklist for Creating Interviews:
Simply applying for jobs on job boards or from the newspaper are simply not enough any more when searching for a job. You need to be proactive and create interviewing opportunities for yourself. Here are some helpful hints and suggestions to create interviewing opportunities for yourself.
1) Research interviewing skills and topics.
2) Identify key contacts on LinkedIn or through other networking activities.
3) Watch the interview series “Get Back to Work Faster” with Author Jill Konrath
4) Contact Mary Elizabeth Bradford, the Career Artisan and sign up for the Job Search Success System!
5) Watch "Get back to work faster" with Jill Konrath.
6) Ask for the interview
7) Interact with 3rd party recruiters by using resume distribution services where you can connect with 1000s of recruiters instantly.
8) Perform follow up calls to everyone who you have determined to be an asset
9) Stay focused!
10) Establish meetings or informational interviews with key-decision-makers onsite or offsite
11) Write a GREAT cover letter!
Preparation Checklist for Interviews
When you do get an interview, it is vitally important that you spend an appropriate amount of time in preperation. You will only have a very short period of time to make an amazing and profound impact on the interviewer, so you need to make sure that at a minimum your are doing the following:
COME PREPARED
Know yourself — your strengths, weaknesses and accomplishments. An interview Is not the time to wing it? Prepare as much as you would for a presentation to the Board of Directors at your company.
RESEARCH THE COMPANY
Find out as much as you can about the company through annual reports, Newspapers, Value Line," S&P, etc. Your effort will show in the interview, and you’ll be seen as proactive, hardworking and astute.
DRESS APPROPRIATELY TO MATCH THE COMPANY CULTURE
Many companies have gone to corporate casual. Check with your contact to see what they require. When in doubt, always err on the side of formal business attire. Learn what NOT to wear to an interview.
ARRIVE 15 TO 30 MINUTES EARLY
Punctuality is a subtle clue about attitude and behavior. Tardiness, no matter the excuse, is a major blunder. Research in advance what your parking options are and allow plenty of time.
EXHIBIT ENTHUSIASM
First impressions, positive or negative, dramatically affect the ultimate evaluation. You can make or break an interview within the first five minutes.
APPEAR FRIENDLY AND OUTGOING
Smile and say hello to everyone. A positive reaction from the support staff is an important factor in the evaluation. Many hires have been heavily influenced by an Administrative assistant.
BE SELF-CONFIDENT
High self-esteem and self-confidence are the hallmarks of the successful individual. With confidence, be able to demonstrate how you have overcome obstacles. There’s nothing wrong with feeling good about yourself.
Preparation Checklist for Interviews, Part 2
COME PREPARED FOR KEY QUESTIONS
Practice your responses to all the typical questions, such as "tell me about yourself" and "why are you looking for a new position?" How well you speak will have a bigger impact than what you say. Learn what NOT to say in an interview.
REMAIN INVOLVED
The most effective interviews are those where an active two-way conversation takes place. Not the typical question and answer type. Begin early in the interview to interject your own relevant insight.Remember, don’t interrupt your interviewer.
ESTABLISH YOUR WORTH
Discuss your specific accomplishments that demonstrate a proactive attitude. Such as: have you installed systems, done something not required, trained someone, etc. It’s always important to demonstrate how you either created revenue or saved expenses, and be specific with the amounts and how you accomplished that goal.
KNOW YOUR SIX KEY STRENGTHS
Be prepared to discuss in detail and with examples your five or six main attributes. These should be the ultimate reason you get the job over someone else. Assuming you have done the proper homework on the company, these strengths should also be closely aligned to the key traits the employer is looking for in a person to fill their position. Make sure you are ready to answer the "Killer Question"
GIVE 1 TO 2 MINUTE RESPONSES
Communication is the key to successful interviewing. A minimum of one to two minutes of well-prepared discussion gives the interviewer insight into your intellect and supports your contentions.
KNOW YOUR REFERENCES
It’s important to know what people say about you. It is wise to have an 3rd party or independent person call your references for you to ensure only the best information is being passed on about you.
Preparation Checklist for Interviews, Part 3
REMAIN ATTENTIVE
Stay alert during the interview. Maintain good eye contact. Sit forward in your chair. Be animated. Show high levels of interest and stay enthused. These actions can maintain or generate momentum during the interview. This is especially important when you are doing multiple interviews on the same day. The energy level must be as high for the last as it is for the first.
DON’T BE ARROGANT
A presumptuous, overbearing attitude will offset the finest abilities. There’s a fine line between being too confident and cocky. Don’t cross that line. Focus on your soft skills!
ASK PROBING QUESTIONS
A few strategic questions can demonstrate your intelligence, analytical skills and assertiveness. Have these prepared from your research. Avoid superficial small talk.
BE POSITIVE ABOUT CO-WORKERS
Don’t bad mouth previous positions, companies or employers. No matter how well founded, this implies a negative attitude, typical of those who don’t take personal responsibility for their actions.
KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE TOUGH QUESTIONS
Being prepared to answer the difficult questions, like "Why were you fired from your last job?" are crucial to your success in the future. Also, you need to know how to handle "Illegal Interview Questions"
CLEARLY STATE YOUR INTEREST
By the conclusion of the interview, state that you are definitely interested in the position and would like to know when the next step will take place. It’s best to demonstrate this interest throughout the session. Be careful not to go overboard. But make sure you are ready to answer the question "Why should I hire you."
KNOW YOUR OBJECTIVE AND END WITH IT
Establish your objective before the interview, like a second interview or an offer. Ask for it if you have not achieved it. Ask a question such as, "do you think my skills match your needs?" This gets straight to the point and, at worse, reveals other obstacles to overcome.
Post Interview Action Checklist
1) Post Interview contact including follow up by phone and email/written note
2) Research position location and personal needs
3) Continued action calls to contact network
4) Dealing with alternative interviews and recruiters
5) Seizing secondary interviews
6) Follow up procedures including any requested documentation or proof of credentials
7) Early negotiation techniques
8) Pre-offer research steps
Every job-seeker should anticipate that any search for a better opportunity is not a standard process. Each and every company that you identify will have a different process that you might have to go through. The process itself is dynamic and every-changing. Treating your job-search as your new full-time job is a key step in being able to be fluid in your approach.
Now that you have read this Job Search Checklist may we suggest that you take the next step and check out "What NOT to say in an interview", a video by our Career Doctor, Robert Shindell. It is important to us that we are able to help people as they recover and prosper after job loss, so please contact us with suggestions, corrections, and even your personal experiences. If you found this article or video to be helpful, we'd love for you to share it with a friend.
Also, be sure to check out all of the amazing resources for your career transition in the ILostMyJob.com Book Store!
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