I’ve just written that you should be open to feedback on your résumé.
I’m not contradicting myself when I also note that it’s yours to make
the final decision on how it looks and feels. Some of the feedback I received
was negative. After taking in all that feedback, even though it was
not always pleasant, I did listen to it. I then had to determine how much
of it was related to style as opposed to influence and how much of an impact
it would have on the decision makers who read it. People providing
feedback is a gift—it is also an opinion. Many people base their thoughts
on their own template. There is no perfect formula for résumés. Even
when I teach résumé writing, I clearly have to articulate that my own
résumé is a guide, and that their own résumés don’t have to be an exact
replica.

You should be conscious of the jobs you are applying for and ensure
that your résumé meets the target and alignment of that job. However,
there is no right or wrong résumé. To prove this, go to any search engine
and put in the word “résumé” and see how many options pop up. The
last time I did this in Google, more than 73 million results came back.
You will find many varying opinions on résumés. In the end, you have the
final determination of how you want your story told—and you must be
comfortable with it.

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

• Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
• Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
• Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
• The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
• From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
• The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com.  Book and eBook purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com

You don’t want to create an overflow of pity, but you can glean lessons
learned from others who have been through it. Within three days
of the infamous call, I was having lunch with someone who had been
unemployed the year before and had landed a great job. Even as simple
as him telling me to have lower expectations for contacting people in
July due to vacation eased my mind about the process. With advice such
as, I don’t have to accept the first job offer, I was beginning to grasp the
number of choices and the control that I had with the swirl around me.
The level-setting discussion made me a little more “go with the flow” and
patient during the summer months, while making sure that I knew my
true value so I didn’t get low-ball job offers. There is no need for you to
reinvent the wheel. With millions of people who are or were out of work,
you are bound to know someone who is going through it or has recently
been through the process of finding a new job. In addition to the empathy,
you will find insight from mistakes they may have made and can give
you specific and actionable insight to run with.

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

• Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
• Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
• Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
• The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
• From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
• The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com.  Book and eBook purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com

Having the same résumé for over nine years that I maintained each
quarter provided stability and confidence to feel pretty good about
it. It was used often in training classes and mentoring sessions, so I received
plenty of solicited and unsolicited feedback. I used it as a template
for what I taught others, and constantly made the adjustments based on
the feedback I received.

I felt confident that my extensive experience in the financial industry
was a positive attribute and started the first line of my profile with the
statement, “Highly qualified executive offering over twenty-three years
of…” However, a number of people let me know that the executive and
twenty-three years comments may have priced me out of some roles and
put constricting boundaries on opportunities. Even after nine years, I was
getting new feedback! The opinions of some hiring managers may have
been that I would be over-qualified for some positions, even though I
would be satisfied with senior management level positions of growth. It’s not
easy to change something you feel so comfortable with, but the revamped
version received more attention and created more discussion. I’m convinced
the new-and-improved résumé made a significant difference in
how I was viewed on paper.

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

• Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
• Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
• Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
• The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
• From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
• The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com.  Book , eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only) purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com

You will be rejected. You will have passive rejections, when people forget lunch meetings, or do not return your calls or emails. You won’t get interviews you thought you should, and you won’t even get a glance from jobs that you know you are qualified for. With the high unemployment rates, we have to get used to the fact that this unfortunately is normal. The reality is that there are far too many résumés flying around. Recruiters and hiring managers can’t always filter or interpret them all
accurately, quickly, or both. What you do with this rejection is another story.

When your phone is silent and your email inbox is empty, are you following up with past requests? When turned down, are you asking for feedback to become better the next time? Are you asking for suggestions for other possible leads? On several occasions, I was told that “other candidates were more qualified,” that I was “over-qualified,” or that I was “under-qualified,” depending on the job and the people I was working through. In my conversations, I asked questions and was curious. The
conversations that ensued led to times when I became considered for other similar roles, or for lines of businesses within that company that were not previously on the radar screen. I had circumstances when I was reconsidered after further discussion. My thinking is that one person creates an opinion of you based on the block of time that you spoke. Asking questions and possibly involving more people can get your name around, create new context to the conversation, and more importantly, keep you relevant. The goal is not to be over-the-top and in-your-face with the approach. The aim is to be curious, develop, and learn something for the
next time around. If the next time around happens to create a path for you, you can look at it as a bonus opportunity. Even asking questions as simple as, “Who else should I talk to?” can turn rejection into your friend immediately. Rejection: expect it, learn from it, and then use it to move forward.

As a side note, you do need to understand that some people and companies may not discuss the “whys” of their decision-making process. Whether it is out of fear of being sued for discrimination, misinterpretation, or other reasons, it’s important not to be discouraged if a request for feedback goes unanswered or is answered unsatisfactorily. The fact that you asked the question gave you the potential to gather some information to make you better, and is better than not asking at all.

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

• Down the Chute: A Toboggan Tale (children’s book for ages 4-10 years old)
• Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
• Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
• Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
• The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
• From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
• The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com.  Book , eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only) purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com

I would typically put in a ten-to-twelve hour day of job-searching. I don’t want to contradict the need to pursue the main goal—to find a job—but we do need to find balance. I am expanding on it as a distraction to break up your day. Take a lunch break and do a chore or address something you’ve always wanted or needed to do. A fellow unemployed friend wisely gave me the advice to at least take the weekends off to recharge. The amount of productive work goes down naturally, because not everyone is checking emails and messages, although I admit that many of the responses I did get were from people who slowed down enough from their own jobs to send a quick note or response on the weekends. You can partially control your own working schedule now that you’re at home, so take advantage of it. Your spouse’s honey-do list will appreciate it.

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

• Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
• Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
• Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
• The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
• From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
• The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com.  Book , eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only) purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com

What’s your plan for today? What about tomorrow? Have a game
plan and a regular routine scheduled. This is your job. For example,
you may want to set up the morning to review emails, spend the next
section of the morning making phone calls, and the next section of the
day sending out emails for potential networking sessions. You must have a
daily goal, including writing a certain number of cover letters, dedicating
time to review your résumé and marketing plan, looking at the openings
at your highest prospect companies, and sending out a minimum number
of networking requests.

Regardless of the action, building regular routines will keep you motivated
when you wake up in the morning. If your first response when you
wake up starts with you blankly staring at your computer asking, “What
do I need to do?” then it’s time to take a step back and establish a plan.
You are most likely thinking tactically before you’ve thought strategically.
Stop what you’re doing and invest the time to set up a strategic plan*—
even if it takes an entire day. The invested time of organization and time
management will pay high dividends by making you more efficient and
having a clearly formulated plan each day. In fact, this strategic day in establishing
how the rest of your days will play out may be one of the more
important days in the entire job-search process.
*A Strategic Plan will vary based on individual needs and preferences.
Ultimately, it’s your plan of attack. You may want to establish a priority of
people you will be attempting to contact. For example:

• Go to family members (immediate and extended). Generate a list
based on instant ideas.
• Call closest business friends. Generate a list comprised of immediate
contacts.
• Contact friends not associated with the business you are interested
in, but who may have ideas about the job-seeking process.
• Send emails/make calls to inner network: mentors, mentees, outside
interest contacts (Toastmasters, local community/school, etc.),
past colleagues—those with whom you have a strong familiarity.
• Contact people at companies you’re interested in pursuing. Look at
LinkedIn and other sources to obtain details.
• Continue searching LinkedIn, Facebook, and other social media
sites with connections to look for secondary contacts.
• Go to known openings or known opportunities.
• Review job openings on LinkedIn and other sources (write down
sources as they are obtained).
• Review LinkedIn contacts alphabetically.
• Go back to dormant contacts.
This list can go on based on your desires, and the order may be different
for you. However, it should be your starting point. Then, decide
how much time to dedicate daily to networking, sending emails to set up
meetings, exercising, and other activities that will consume your day.

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

• Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
• Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
• Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
• The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
• From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
• The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com.  Book , eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only) purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com

If I stopped everything I was doing expecting my best leads to come
through, I would still be looking for a job. During my search, I interviewed
for a job where I was given the impression, or misinterpreted the
discussions in such a way as to believe, that I was a lock. Three weeks later,
the company reorganized the department and the open job was cancelled.
Luckily, I didn’t have to learn this lesson the hard way. I continued my
pursuit within minutes after that final interview. In another situation, I
was told by a recruiter to call him before I accepted anything else because
he had an opening that just needed to be finalized. I called a few times to
follow up, but was told that, “Things changed.” Things do change, and
your best prospects are only as good as the lead you are pursuing at this
very moment. Your job prospects turn to actual jobs when you start on
the first day. When you recognize that all leads can be fruitful but that
they are not guaranteed, you become more realistic in your views of the
process and more motivated to keep moving until you have solidified
your next position.

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

• Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
• Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
• Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
• The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
• From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
• The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com.  Book , eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only) purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com

Did I just read the heading correctly? If you are part of the “Great Resignation,” “Great Reshuffle,” or whatever you want to call it while searching for a new job, you may want to refocus your goals while networking. Just because you’re looking for a job doesn’t mean that everyone will care, have the time, or even want to bother networking with you. It’s important for you to be strategic in your approach and take a step back to reassess how you’ve approached your past networking sessions. Ask yourself, “Has it worked?”

In too many examples with coaching clients, I find an unintentional selfishness to the approach where you might find that the first and last question asked was related to, “Do you have any openings?” Even when I’ve actively sought a job or trying to expand myself professionally, I need to remind myself about the importance of having a goal outside of job searching, I must constantly ask does the networking session go beyond finding a viable lead or am I doing the harder part of building a relationship?

We get led in this direction because we are the ones who take it this way. We might say it was tough losing our job or are feel the urgency to get out of a job that causes an immense amount of frustration. If our primary goal is to look for a job we might be unintentionally steering the conversation toward sitting back and waiting for the sympathy or empathy to come in to the conversation. When we’re looking to take the next step in our career, sympathy isn’t usually going to land us the job of our dreams.

When I’ve been active job seeking, I always have to remind myself that my first thought is to build or enhance a connection, and not to cut to the chase of what’s available in that person’s organization. If someone on the street asked you, “Are you hiring?” you probably would look at them funny. Ultimately, if our primary goal clearly comes across as a job search, we are creating a wall. Instead, the goal should be to get someone to like, respect, and trust you first. The rest will take care of itself through the developing relationship.

Don’t mistake me: I am not saying you should disguise your underlying goal of finding a job with a thin veil of insincere small talk. You’re not hiding that you’re looking for a job, but it doesn’t need to be your headline. When your pure focus is on the job search and not the potential budding relationship, I’ve found a sense of desperation whether it was in the messaging, tone, or words. I’m clearly stating that your primary goal is not to find a job when you are specifically networking, but to make a connection. If the goal is not to find the next opening while networking with someone, then what should you be doing? First, you must find the common bond—either personal or professional. Why did you think of this person in the first place? That most likely will provide you enough clues to find a link. You have to relate in some way to the person you’re speaking with so it doesn’t come across as a cold call. Whether it’s a common field of expertise, or something you’ve picked up on LinkedIn, or the person who referred you to them, find the common ground. As much as we may inadvertently push the conversation into, “What can you do for me?” the success of the session is contingent on your ability to find what’s in it for the other person to truly make a valuable connection—both sides need to get something from the conversation. Let the network find the job for you. You just need to keep the process moving by building strong relationships based on common bonds.

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

• Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
• Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
• Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
• The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
• From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
• The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com.  Book , eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only) purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com