Workplace

If you’re looking for a job right now, don’t despair! Even in a tight economy, there are always companies looking for talented employees. Here are the strategies that’ll get you noticed, courtesy of the Boston Globe:

• Step outside your comfort zone. You may find it uncomfortable to ask people for job-hunting help – especially if you don’t know them very well. However, asking for assistance and advice is what networking’s all about. The fact is, your next job opportunity could come from anywhere: A former boss, colleague, neighbor, golf buddy, or even your barber, but you’ll never hear about it if they don’t know you’re looking for a job.  
• Also, be ready to move. There’s an old saying that “luck favors the prepared.” So, make sure you’re ready to jump if a job opportunity crops up. In other words, update your résumé, know who you’d use for references, and come up with a compelling reason you’re ready to try something new. If a job comes up and all your pieces aren’t in place, you may miss a golden opportunity.  
• Treat your job search like a job. It takes hard work and practice to succeed at anything.  Look at Tiger Woods. He didn’t become the world’s best golfer just because he’s talented. He spends hours every day practicing, conditioning and trying to improve his game. So, find a way to set aside the hours you need to do your job search right. Whether you skip the gym one night a week to attend networking meetings or spend an hour every morning sending out résumés. The more you do, the more successful your job search will be.
• Learn to sell yourself. If you feel uncomfortable talking about yourself and how wonderful you are - get over it! Experts say that the best job candidate truly believes he’s got something unique to offer and once the door of opportunity opens, you’ve got to be ready to march through it with a lot of confidence, and a bit of swagger. Bottom line: Hiring managers want to fall in love with you. So give ‘em a reason to say, “You’re hired.”