Fun(ctional) in the Sun How to Stay Motivated in Your Job Search During the Summer

Fun(ctional) in the Sun How to Stay Motivated in Your Job Search During the Summer Fun(ctional) in the Sun How to Stay Motivated in Your Job Search During the Summer Setting Attainable Goals, Changing Up Your Routine, and Taking Breaks. According to the recruitment software company Jobvite, it takes 43 days on average for an open job to be filled. But that average job search time isnt anywhere near consistent. Looking for a job with the words director or vice president? Your wait time goes up to 76 days.If youre in job limbo in the summertime, it might be even harder to stay motivated. Vacations, summer parties, and, of course, killer heat might make it difficult to keep your head in the game. But summer can be a great time to experiment and learn new skills. Here well give you tips for how to maximize your job hunting in the sun.Create a doable to-do list.The surest way to get burned out by your summer job search is by being too ambitious. If applying for 10 jobs a week means that y oull send out 10 cookie-cutter resumes, make a goal of applying to 2 jobs per week with well-considered resumes youve had time to put through Jobscans resume optimizer. As an alternative, you can plan to reach out to two professional contacts each day, or else job search for one hour each morning. Simple, straightforward tasks that you can complete motivate you without being overwhelming. Learn from the jobs you didnt get.You could have been nearly the right applicant for an open job. But perhaps you were lacking a killer resume or a sought-after skill. Get someone you trust to read over your resume. What isnt compelling about it? Ask a hiring manager what skill or qualification you didnt have for a stelle you really wanted. After you figure out what youre missing, you can work on learning a new skill or expertise to make yourself even harder to turn down. Change up your routine.Sameness is the route to boredom, and boredom is the surest route to giving up. Instead, find ways to cha nge up your job materials. Using a chronological resume? Try a hybrid resume format, the best resume format for job searching in 2016. Have a resume with duties that dont sound compelling enough? Change it up by adding some quantifiable resume accomplishments. Searching for ways to change up your application package keeps you motivated and betters your chances of getting hired.Take time off.Its not easy to stay positive on your summer job search, but you want to be upbeat and energetic when youre called in for interviews. Most hiring managers make a hiring decision within the first six minutes and 25 seconds of meeting you, so you want to find ways to energize your life. Find a hobby that you really enjoy- be it hiking, volunteering, or cooking. If you set your mind on goals you can achieve- running a marathon, cooking that killer French dish- youll be more positive that you can achieve your job goals, as well.

5 Tips for Coping With Joblessness Over the Holidays

5 Tips for Coping With Joblessness Over the Holidays5 Tips for Coping With Joblessness Over the Holidays5 Tips for Coping With Joblessness Over the HolidaysDont let your employment situation get you down this season. Use these tips to thrive over the holidays.While its never easy to be without a job, it can be particularly challenging during the holidays. But its the most wonderful time of the year Dont let your employment situation get you down. Here are some tips to help you survive the holiday season by gearing up for job-search success.1. Update your resumeEven if you are employed, its a great idea to update your resume annually, and theres no time like the present to give it a thorough overhaul. Since the holiday season is usually slow, its the perfect time for some resume housekeeping. Make sure your resume is formatted correctly and contains your latest employment accomplishments. If youve been sending your resume out for some time with no response, thats a good sign that it p robably needs a tune-up. There are great resources online to give you an idea of how your resume should look, and if writing one is notlage your strong suit, consider investing in a professional resume writer.2. Revamp your cover letterTake advantage of the holidays to customize a cover letter specific to the season. Adding a simple Happy holidays or Happy New Year is a safe way to add some personality to your letter. And of course, dont make the mistake of sending a generic, copy-paste cover letter that youve sent to every other employer. Just like customizing your letter with a holiday greeting, tailor it to include specifics about the role for which you are applying.3. Work is slowing down? Interview timeThe good thing about an end of year slowdown in the workforce is that hiring managers have more availability to talk to you. Find the important people in your target companies and ask for appointments. This can be accomplished by leveraging your network or contacting the company directly. Even if the employer is not hiring until after the new year, a meeting will make them more likely to remember you when the time comes.4. Tis the season to networkDecember is the prime season for parties, so take advantage of the opportunity to get out there and talk to people. Whether its a networking event or your spouses holiday party, you can use this chance to get dressed up and show off your elevator pitch. Meeting new people, finding out what they do, and asking for introductions is never wasted time. Remember the cardinal rule of any professional gathering, though, and do not overindulge on the eggnogRelated Fresh Networking Conversation Starters for Your Next Holiday Party5. Get into gratitude.Think about starting a gratitude list of all the things for which you are thankful. Its okay if you include more negative things like not having to deal with THAT person at your former job or a particularly nasty commute. Gratitude is gratitude, right? And no matter what they are, finding things to keep yourself grateful will help you keep your chin up while you continue your job search.Click on the following link for more job-search advice.This holiday season, let TopResume give you the gift of a free resume critiqueRecommended Reading12 Holiday Gift Ideas for Job SeekersWhy the Holidays May Be the Best Time of Year to Look for a JobHow to Advance Your Job Search During the Holidays

4 Communication Touchpoints to Focus on During Your Next Interview

4 Communication Touchpoints to Focus on During Your Next Interview 4 Communication Touchpoints to Focus on During Your Next Interview In an interview setting, communication skills can make all the difference in determining which of two equally skilled candidates will get the job.Some people are naturally good communicators, giving them the advantage. If you dont consider yourself a natural, that doesnt mean youre incapable of improvement, nor does it mean you need to act like someone you arent. The value of authenticity in communication is undeniable.However, if you keep getting interviewsbut arentlanding the job, it might be time to reevaluate the glaubenszeugnis youre sending.Consider these four communication touchpoints as you analyze the effectiveness of your communication skills1. Phone MannerThe first interview for any role is usuallya phone interview. The conversation may not take mora than 10 minutes, but length and depthare not really the point. The recruiter has already s een your resume and has a good idea of your hard skills.As you answer questions and discuss your background, the recruiterwill be trying to get a sense of your communication style and personality. Unfortunately, giving the wrong impression here could cost you. Take the call in a quiet place, and keep your notes in front of you to stay on track.2. Written CommunicationAnything you write to anyone at the company with which youre interviewingwill be scrutinized. Of course, you want to avoid spelling mistakes and typos. You also want to remember that no matter how short your note may be,it is still an opportunity to leave an impression.For example, say you need to reschedule your interview. Your email could be to the point Im sorry, but Im no longer available to interview on Wednesday. Do you have time on Friday?Or you could make more of a connection Hope youre doing well. I just learned of an important meeting at work this Wednesday that I cant miss. Would it be possible to move the in terview to Friday? Im so disappointed to have to delay our meeting. I have been looking forward to it since our last conversation. Thanks in advance, and my apologies for any inconvenience.Which email do you think would leave a better impression with a hiring manager?All types of communication offer an opportunity to create some sort of bond with another person. Why should communication in an interview setting be any different? Use each opportunity you have to make a deeper connection or leave a better impression.3. Body LanguageHunching your shoulders or making yourself appear smaller when interviewing willsuggest a lack of confidence, while folding your arms across your chest will create communicative distance between yourself and the interviewer. Eye contact or the lack thereof is also something interviewers notice. Remember, its critical to communicate your enthusiasm for the role and the company, and your body languagewill play a key part in expressing that enthusiasm.4. Verbal CommunicationThis covers everything from your tone and articulation to the content of your speech. There is great power in being well spoken and able to project confidence - but confidence doesnt mean that you always have all the answers.Dont get frazzled if you dont know how to answer a question. Instead of becoming visibly uneasy or rushing to blurt out an answer, consider saying something like this Thats not a situationIve had to deal with, at least not exactly in the way youre asking. But what I do think those situations call for is someone who can really think on their feet, and Ive had to do that in many other ways.- Whether youre on the phone, sending an email, or at an in-person interview, communication is key. When competing against other qualified candidates, your message and brand need to come off clearly and confidently. Take each communication touchpoint seriously, and always consider the impression youremaking.A version of this article originally appeared on theAtriu m Staffing blog.Michele Mavi isAtrium Staffings resident career expert.