taking charge™

The holidays are a good time to take a break from your job search, right?

Wrong!

Here are five reasons why you should speed up your search, rather than slow it down:

1. For a lot of hiring executives, their 2010 budgets are set in stone now.   They need to hire in December to fill those positions they (finally) have budgeted in 2010.  

2. For a lot of hiring executives, if they don't spend what's left of their 2009 budget, they lose it for 2010.   Can anyone say "hiring bonus"?

3. Many hiring executives curb their travel schedules during the holidays, so it will be possible to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of your networking.

4. A lot of executives and professionals in transition believe the myth and have halted their searches during the holidays.   With less competition, you have a leg up.

5. Holiday spirit makes many people more open to meeting new people (think networking), more generous with their time and money (networking and negotiating), and generally more open to change (making a hiring decision).

Keep that search going.  You may have a new job by the new year!   

Another benefit of the holiday season for the job seeker is the holiday party.   Every professional association,  Chamber of Commerce, civic association, neighborhood, country club, and church has a holiday event of some kind.  Take advantage of the busy calendar and fill your dance card with opportunities to build your network and nurture your network relationships.

Assuming you've done your homework and have a clear value proposition positioned for the current global marketplace AND a solid networking strategy to land your next job, and the one after that, and the next and...  

It is time to party.    

A few things to keep in mind:

Networking is about relationships, not asking for a job.   Which person would you rather talk to: the down-in-the-mouth guy who offers his card to anyone who will take it, and attends every event he can, talking about how he really needs to find a job OR the interesting professional who engages you in conversation and learns more about what is important to you?

Look at every holiday event as an opportunity to grow your network and build relationships.  

Yes, I know, you need a job, NOW!  

The fastest way to your next job is to grow that network.  

Go to those holiday events, meet new people, learn about what makes them tick, and how you can help them.  Then, follow up.  

Of course, do let them know who your current target companies or leaders are, and see if they can recommend someone you should talk to.  

It is that simple.  You will leave each party with follow ups and introductions that will grow your network, strengthen your relationships, and shorten your search this time, and the next.  

What a gift! 

The recession has been good to LinkedIn. Check out this article from Fortune: http://tinyurl.com/d9no89 featured in our reading list.

How can LinkedIn make the recession good for you?

1. LinkedIn can help you build your network.

2. LinkedIn can help you build strong relationships in your network.

3. LinkedIn can help you build your value-add offerings.

4. LinkedIn can help you build your credibility and brand as an expert in your field.

5. LinkedIn can help you meet the people who can hire you.

Want more information?  Stay tuned.

Recent job numbers have unemployment at 8.5% and 663,000 jobs lost last month.   Employment markets are said to lag the overall economy by about 3 months.  So, if the economy bottoms in summer or fall, 2009, then the employment markets are likely to bottom by end of 2009.  

What does that mean for you?  

You need a game plan that recession-proofs your career.

How do you do that?   Follow the lead of any good entrepreneur:

1. Know the market.  Follow trends.  Know what will be hot next year, the year after.   Identify blue ocean opportunities and avoid red ocean opportunities.

2. Know your product. In this case, you.   What makes you stand out in the crowd?  Why should customers (aka employers) buy your product (aka hire you)?

3. Have a strong sales and marketing strategy and execute it. 

It is that simple.  The keys to taking charge of your career in any economy.

In order to cut through the red tape, and land a job fast, you need to be clear about what you have to offer and who your ideal target companies are.  How do you do that?  Start with your skills and talents.   Do you know what your skills are?  What your talents are?  Do you know the difference?

Skills are like the clothes and shoes in your closet.  They may go out of fashion, or they may be something that survives the trends.   You need them, but they aren't necessarily going to last.

Talents are like style.  Style is never out of fashion.   Neither is talent.   Talent, like style, doesn't just survive trends, it thrives, no matter what the trend.

So, do an inventory and know what your skills and talents are.   That way you come to every networking event, every informational interview, and every job interview able to offer the value that is uniquely you.  Your personal style will come through and you will land your next job fast.

(Editor's note: Special thanks to the client with a passion for fabulous shoes who inspired this analogy.)