A job called Job Search

Job Search is a task which is done by a position holder commonly called as job seeker/ job hunter. A person posted on this position are of two types:

1. An employed job seeker: The person has a relatively unsatisfying job and s/ he is seeking for a better one

2. An unemployed job seeker: The person doesn’t have a job and s/ he is seeking for one.

My article would concentrate on the second category. It is generally observed that unemployed job seekers put the utmost energy they have in the task of job search. It is interesting to note that they display huge list of skills without any regular compensation or other source of motivation.

Few worth-mentioning skills and associated tasks done by them are:

1. Alacrity/ Swiftness
   1. Prioritising the task of mailing employers/ recruiters early morning to ensure that they read it first as they reach the workplace
   2. Applying for job as soon as they appear on LinkedIn, Indeed, Monster, Twitter, Company’s’ job notifications to get the privilege of being first ten applicants for increasing the probability of getting shortlisted
   3. Updating regularly on all the primary social sites for ensuring visibility on Google for prospective searches by employer
2. Proof Reading
   1. Improvising the mails intended for employers/ recruiter as many times to ensure that it has the right impact and no errors; to ensure no spam – prone words and sentences; to ensure that it does not look like pestering and begging;
   2. Improvising the cover letter and resume as many times to ensure that job related relevant skills are honestly displayed with the right effect
3. Interpersonal and Diplomatic skills
   1. Meeting potential employers/ recruiters during networking events/ workshops with grace, dignity and smile on the face hiding the pain of not getting a job despite huge efforts
   2. Talking to employers/ recruiters in various events about one’s own skills and the current state as a job seeker without falling in the image of a job beggar.
   3. Mailing for taking follow ups while ensuring to not to pester but to convince the other person
   4. Helping other fellow job seekers by giving relevant advices or leads and also emotional support
4. Research and Analysis skills
   1. Researching regarding the organization for understanding their work before applying
   2. Maintaining a spread sheet for updating various aspects of the job applied for so as to be at a better position if there is a fortunate shortlisting; to regularly analyse different aspects so as to get good insights for improvisation in the “Job Search” process
   3. Researching and trying to connect to the recruiter who posted the position for ensuring a second look on the sent application
   4. Researching regarding the interviewer, if there has been shortlisting, to get a good understanding of the person with whom the interview would be.
   5. Researching regarding the mentor, if one is privileged to have, to ensure effective meetings and good support for the job search
   6. Researching on keywords for the prospective job and add them in the resume in order to appease ATS for shortlisting
5. Networking skills
   1. Going to networking events and talk to as many people as one can, discussing with fellow job seeker, employers, recruiters, volunteers; exchanging business cards; thereafter sending message on Gmail along with an invitation to connect on LinkedIn
   2. Volunteering at as many places as one can so as to enhance the network and gaining reference
   3. Regularly watching “Who viewed your profile” section on LinkedIn to notice and network with those who are interested.
6. Time management and multi-tasking skills
   1. Managing the time between applying for jobs; discussing with mentor; writing updates on social sites; reading relevant articles; investing time on some hobby for rejuvenating; regularly volunteering; attending events, workshops; registering on prospective company’s career sites and writing about oneself.
   2. Preparing for a job interview along with continuation of regular job search acknowledging 50% probability of rejection
7. Scrutinising skills
   1. Filtering the most pertinent jobs for applying from almost 50- 60 positions received from variety of  job portals regularly
   2. Filtering the most pertinent skills to be displayed on the cover letter and resume while applying for each position
8. Active listening, reflecting skills with detail orientation
   1. Writing each and every question asked and the answers given during an interview to reflect on the strong and weak points for further improvisation
   2. Discussing drawbacks with mentor for guidance
   3. Listening to different speakers, coaches; reading various articles on different sites to get valuable points for enhancing employability

As an author of this article, I take the ownership of doing all the tasks mentioned under the skills. I am sure that I would display all these skills in my next organization. Moreover, as the Maslow’s needs would be fulfilled, I would be more motivated and thus display my skills with double energy for sure 😉