11 easy steps from jobless hell to career heaven!

Have you lost your job recently? Are you looking for your next role full time? Spending too much time here on LinkedIn or staring at your inbox wandering what happens next? Reading all the depressing news stories of yet more layoffs and woeful economic forecasts that never seem to get better?

Well, here are a few points that might just cheer you up:

1. You’re very on-trend. I’d go so far as to say, being in a well-paid job in a thriving business is ‘very 2021’. The 2023 look ‘du jour’ is the #OPENTOWORK green circle and being in your pyjamas at 10am on a Monday.
2. This will pass and you’ll end up in a better position than you started at. That might be a better job in a better company. Or it might be just having a clearer idea of what makes you happy now you’ve had time and space to reflect.
3. I’m in the same boat as you. Not in itself a reason to be happy (you may not even know me!) but it does mean I’ve got some useful tips I can share with you from my recent experience (read on!)

I was in this same position 5 years ago and I learned a huge amount about searching for a job when you’re out of work. After I’d landed in a great new job, I sat down and wrote an article on how to find a job in 7 easy steps. It was pretty well received, even by me when I found myself back in the same position this year!

As I’ve gone through the joys of job searching for the last few (long) months, I’ve learnt some new things. This time around, I thought it best not to wait until I’m in a new role before I share it. For a couple of reasons. Firstly, my job hunt this time feels even slower and could take many more months. Secondly, it feels like there are a lot more other job seekers out there who might value the advice right now.

I’ve grown the list of tips from 7 to 11, so more than 50% more! For free!

Hope you enjoy and feel free to drop me a note for any support or advice I can help you with.

11 Easy Steps!

1. Get ready for the long haul.?

Your job hunt will take 6-9 months. The more senior you are, the longer it takes. If you are?changing industry, that could slow things down again. Be prepared for that length of time:?mentally, emotionally and financially.?That way, you're less likely to be disappointed/terrified when you're 3 months in and maybe no further forward.

2. Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster.?

By the time you land your dream job and start working again, you will have gone through plenty?of ups and downs. Moments when you feel like you’ve landed on your feet and moments when?you’ve missed out or been rejected, or that the phone seems to just stop ringing. Try and stay?positive, back yourself. You’re a great talent and your perfect job is out there, you just have to?keep hunting for it.

3. Don’t do it alone.

One of the best book recommendations I’ve had for my job search is ‘Never Search Alone’ by Phyl Terry (which I also very much recommend) The key idea is that the best way to navigate the emotional rollercoaster of the job search is to create or join a ‘Job Seekers’ Council’. This is a group of 4-6 people of similar experience and career background who meet every week to give support and feedback using some simple tools and templates. Having gone through this process on my own before, I can safely say that doing it with a support network like this is much, much better!

4. Get your story and your strategy right first.?

Be really clear about what makes you great and why. Why are you the best hire for your next?employer. Be really clear on what industries you want to work in and what your ideal target?company looks like, with some clear criteria (eg size, location, culture, values) Work up a?shortlist of at least 10, and a longlist of another 40. Edit as you go.?

5. Network like mad, but with focus?

Work up a list of all the relevant contacts you have and get in touch with all of them. This is no?time to be shy! It’s not about just asking for a job, you’re using your network to get more insight?into your target companies, further contacts and yes, eventually a great job. This will also help?your thinking on target companies, your approach, plus make you more knowledgeable and?networked when you do get into an interview. You will also benefit from having a stronger?network for the future, whether for your next 3 jobs or mentors to advise you.?I would never class myself as a big ‘networker’ and I abhor small talk and schmoozing at ‘industry bashes’ but – once I got the hang of it – I really enjoyed this part of it. Having the time to chat to a wide range of interesting people and old colleagues was really special and valuable.

6. You’ve got to ‘hustle’

This is linked to the previous point. Once you have a shortlist of companies you’d like to work for, set aside any British foibles about not being pushy and ‘hustle’. Email the CEO or someone who knows them. Give them some ideas about how you think they can improve and grow and how you can help them do that. Only recently, I had a great intro chat with a CEO of a company that’s top of my shortlist after a few weeks of emails, messages and at least two other mutual acquaintances doing the same. At no point did she complain about my persistence or call the police!

7. Get structured

You’re used to having your week planned out with meetings and processes when you’re in a job,?but now it’s up to you to structure your day, your week and your plan of action yourself. Not?only that, this is a project without a known end date and with precious few structured?milestones. Break up your time, give yourself a set of actions. Don’t fritter away the hours surfing LinkedIn. That way madness lies, not jobs.?

8. Keep your profile top of mind.

Hiring managers, recruiters and headhunters have all manner of things to think about every week and all manner of different briefs to manage. Even the best of them can’t remember every person they’ve met and what’s great about them – or even if they’re still available! It’s up to you to make sure you’re on their radar by consistently reminding them of you, what you’re looking for and why you’re a great candidate (eg, send a reminder email every 4-6 weeks) Another approach is to build your reach and personal brand on LinkedIn by posting regularly (most days) and even doing a blog (like me! Subscribe here! )

9. Use headhunters, but don’t rely on them?

Headhunters can be a useful tool, but they don’t work for you and most jobs don’t come?through them. Make as many introductions as you can to headhunters and get?recommendations on who’s the best for your area of focus. Do this early on in your search?(when you’ve nailed your strategy) and then switch your focus to targeting prospective?employers directly yourself or through your own network.?

10. Keep an open mind

The jobs market has evolved hugely in the past few years. Although you might be holding back for the perfect permanent role, the truth is that it might take a year or two for it to come along, particularly in a period of economic uncertainty like 2023. Seriously consider offering up your skills and experience for interim roles or ‘fractional’ (part time) roles. Any historical stigma attached to making a move like this has disappeared by now. On the contrary, interviewers may well be impressed that you’ve used your time between roles well and broadened your experience. An interim employer might even like you so much they offer you the job full time!

11. Make the most of your ‘time off'?

Sure, it’s not a holiday but there are benefits to being out of work and with any luck you won’t?find yourself in this position again, so do try and make the most of it. Use it to really think about?what you want to do long term, to explore and read about your industry (or new ones) maybe?do some training (plenty of free online courses out there) Equally, don’t feel bad about doing?non-work stuff that you never normally get time for: more time with your family, fixing up the?garden, a few hours out on the bike. As long as you’re doing enough on your job search, you?deserve a break!?