Be an Active Job Seeker

Be an Active Job Seeker Are you happy with your current job? Is your career path what you thought it would be? Have you been unemployed for several months? Do you wish/dream/hope for a different job each day when, in reality, you have to go back to the job you currently dislike? If so, then you need to become an ACTIVE job seeker. Recently, I was talking to several acquaintances that are unhappy with their current positions. This is nothing new; these people have not been happy with their jobs for months. After listening to their grievances and issues, I felt bad for them. And, to be honest, their unhappiness is probably not unfounded. However, I then asked if they had applied for any new positions elsewhere. Have they sent resumes to prospective employers? Have they let their network know they were looking for other opportunities? In most cases, the answer was a simple “no.” These people have not yet become active job seekers. If you are unhappy with your current job, then do something about it. Become active, not complacent. You cannot expect a new, perfect, and wonderful job to simply fall right in your lap. It requires dedication, diligence, and a can-do attitude. There are several steps you can take to become proactive, rather than reactive. First, revise and update your resume. This ensures your documents are ready-to-go when that perfect opportunity arises. While it is important to update your job-related information, don’t forget to add quantifiable details that illustrate what you achieved during these positions. Next, be sure to check online job boards, the newspaper, your personal networkâ€"whatever it takes to find opportunities. You cannot simply look in one location for job opportunities. And, remember that most people find jobs through other people, not through advertisements. Finally, take a class, volunteer with an organization you feel strongly about, or attend trainings. Increase your skill-set so that you are an even better employee for your next workplace. Being proactive shows future employers that you are taking the extra initiative to improve yourself and move ahead with your career path. An active job seeker is much more likely to achieve positive results than someone that just hopes for a fantastic opportunity to come along. In today’s competitive economy, being an active job seeker means spending time actively searching, improving your skills, and networking. These are the real skills that will lead to the next fantastic opportunity.