Why summer is a great time to find a job
Career Corner
“Summertime and the livin’ is easy” are words from a classic song that expresses the general cultural phenomenon of slowing down activity in the summer. Many of us think this slowing down pertains to job search activities as well. In fact, there is an urban legend that the summer isn’t a good time to job search because so many people take vacation. This is definitely not true.
Job search in this current economic climate has to be proactive and strategic. If you are still just answering job postings, then you need to rethink your approach and get out there and network. This goes for recent grads and the unemployed as well.
Here are five steps you can take to make your job search more proactive:
• Make your job search about selling yourself through networking. Get out there and sell your product: YOU! Network at every barbeque, fireworks display, and event you go to.
• Use social media, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to let everyone know you are looking, the type of job you want, and where you want to work.
• Figure out what makes you unique and different from all your competition. Why should an employer hire you?
• Create a resume that talks about your accomplishments and how those accomplishments can help an employer.
• Create and tell accomplishment stories to potential employers and networking connections, in which you are the star. These accomplishment stories should be 1-2 minutes long, and in the CAR format. C-challenge, A-action, R-results for the employer.
If you need help with any or all of the above steps, contact Carol Einhorn or Sheri Brown at the Economic Response Initiative of Jewish Family Service of Central NJ at 908-352-8375.
The Economic Response Initiative is a program of JFS of Central NJ fully funded by the Jewish Federation of Central NJ. It consists of two weekly job-seeker groups, one in Elizabeth, 655 Westfield Ave., on Mondays from 10 a.m.-noon, and one at Temple Sholom/Presbyterian Church, 74 S. Martine Ave., Fanwood, on Wednesdays from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Evening forums are held on the first Wednesday of each month from September to June at the JCC of Central NJ, Scotch Plains. Individual career development sessions are also available upon request for resume review, interview preparation, counseling, etc. All services are free of charge. If you would like to participate in any of these programs, contact Carol Einhorn at ceinhorn@jfscentralnj.org or Sheri Brown at sherib@jfscentralnj.org.
comments