Countdown to the New Year for Job Seekers
Today’s Activity: Friday December 31, 2010
Happy New Year from all of us at Jobfully. May 2011 be filled with productive networking, intriguing job leads, successful interviews and just the right job offer! As you ring in the new, take some time this weekend to set goals for your job search. Read more about goal setting and why goals work better than resolutions. Great goals and a strategy will help you hit your job search hard in the New Year, leading to a successful 2011.
The Rest of the Month
December is a time of anticipation and surprises. Some are counting down to a special holiday, others eagerly await the New Year. As part of the fun and excitement, Jobfully is offering “Countdown to the New Year”, a month of daily surprises and activities to launch you into 2011 ready to get hired. December may feel like an impossible time to find a job. But there is actually a lot you can be doing this month that will pay off in the New Year.
Sign up to receive your daily Countdown to the New Year surprises by subscribing to the Jobfully Newsletter (the sign up box is on the upper right hand side of this page). Follow through with the suggested action item each day to be fully prepared for success in the New Year.
Countdown to the New Year
Wednesday December 1, 2010
Your first surprise and your first step toward success in the New Year is “Discover the magic of Twitter”. Today, open a Twitter account if you don’t already have one. If you’re already on Twitter, locate 3 new recruiters to follow. Twitter can do a lot for your job search so get started today. Read more about using Twitter in your job search, and get started today.
Thursday December 2, 2010
Today’s treat is “Make a wish list for LinkedIn Recommendations”. Today, put together a list of people from whom you would like to receive LinkedIn endorsements (recommendations). Then reach out to them and ask. Read more about how to get recommendations on LinkedIn, then get your wish list out there today.
Friday December 3, 2010
The holidays are all about getting together with friends. Those friends can be your biggest supporters in your job search. So today’s treat is get three easy networking coffees or lunches. Choose three people in your network you feel comfortable with and invite them for an in person meeting just to get caught up. It’s a fun, festive time of year, so enjoy it while making progress on your job search.Read more about why face-time is vital to your networking efforts, then set up three get-togethers today!
Saturday December 4, 2010
Today’s holiday surprise is the gift of loving yourself. Job searching can be hard on your self esteem. Yet feeling good about yourself is so important to your success. Today, take a break from the holiday hustle and bustle and set aside your job search as well. Write down at least three strengths or things you like about yourself. Post your list somewhere you can see it regularly and use it to remind yourself of how great you are.
Sunday December 5, 2010
Thankfulness doesn’t have to end at Thanksgiving. Being aware of the good in your life can boost your spirits. That positive mindset can really help your job search. So today’s activity is to start (or add to) a gratitude diary. Use a small notebook to track the many people and things in your life that are good including those who are helping you on your job search.
Monday December 6, 2010
Today’s holiday treat is a pitch that befriends, not offends! Are you ready to share your expertise and value when you run into old friends, or make new contacts at holiday events? Today, hone your “elevator pitch” and practice using it correctly. (Hint: It’s not your opening line in any conversation!) Read more about how to use it wisely, then prepare to share during the season of giving.
Tuesday December 7, 2010
Make your list and check it twice. Today’s activity is creating a job wish list that is just the right size. Read about how to make sure your target is not too small, and not too big. Then write out your job search goal and post it where you can review it regularly.
Wednesday December 8, 2010
Time for a little holiday decorating. Today you are going to put garland and tinsel on your resume to make it sparkle and delight.Read how to add that extra zing to your most important job search document, then invest a few hours revising your resume so it shines in the New Year.
Thursday December 9, 2010
Now that you’ve put garland and tinsel on your resume, it’s time to tell the world. Like a bright holiday light display, your LinkedIn profile will get noticed. Read how to optimize your profile, then go to LinkedIn today and make your profile sparkle and shine.
Friday December 10, 2010
Time for a holiday gift that will be enjoyed for years to come. Give the gift of LinkedIn recommendations. Read how to give recommendations that will be truly appreciated, then pick a few colleagues and write their recommendations today.
Saturday December 11, 2010
Will you be on the party circuit tonight? Before you head out, plan a positive response for when people ask you what you’re doing these days. Don’t kill the mood with negativity about your job search. Today’s activity is to prepare to share your job search adventure in a way that engages and makes people want to help.
Sunday December 12, 2010
As we count down the days to the New Year, what is your dream for 2011? Today’s holiday fun is to spend a little time thinking about your ideal new year. In the days that come, you’ll develop a strategy and a plan to pursue that dream, but for today, take a little time to just imagine what you what your future to be.
Monday December 13, 2010
The holidays are a perfect time to reconnect and say thanks. Your activity today is to reach out to your network and thank people for their support throughout the year. Read about the best ways to give thanks, and then spend time today following through with sincere appreciation for everyone’s help.
Tuesday December 14, 2010
Clarity is a real gift, and one your network will appreciate. Today, get crystal clear on your job search goals. Read how to do that and why it’s important. Then spend some time clarifying your goals so you can help your network help you.
Wednesday December 15, 2010
Today you are going to put pretty paper and bow on your resume. How? By adding volunteer work! Read why it’s a great idea to include volunteer work on resume, then get busy adding your recent successes. (Not volunteering during your work gap? Your alternate activity today is to locate a volunteer activity that uses your skills and will allow you to generate fresh successes for your resume.)
Thursday December 16, 2010
You get to unwrap a special gift today! It’s the gift of LinkedIn Groups. They will bring you new connections and power. Read how they work, then go to LinkedIn, join several groups and start enjoying the gift of new avenues for networking.
Friday December 17, 2010
Today’s gift is the miracle of turning holiday socializing into professional networking without being annoying. It can be done! Before you head out to be with friends this weekend, read up on how to network wisely. Then make some new contacts this weekend and follow up next week.
Saturday December 18, 2010
As you look back on the year, you may feel there have been big challenges. A layoff or long job search is not easy. But today, grant yourself the gift of celebrating what went right. Make a list of things that went well this year and reflect on it.
Sunday December 19, 2010
‘tis the season for football including big holiday bowl games. Today’s holiday treat is to watch a football game (or if you’re not a fan, maybe a holiday ice skating show instead), and the chance to learn a little while relaxing. Ask yourself, what traits do those athletes have that you could use in your job search? Perseverance, strategy, the ability to think fast, the will to keep trying, the ability to quickly recover from mis-steps. . . all of these make a great football player, ice skater or great job seeker. Enjoy the game!
Monday December 20, 2010
Today is a perfect day to reach out with holiday greetings. Be sure your greeting shares your job search in a positive and memorable way so your personal network can help you in the year to come. Read about how to use Facebook friends to support your job search.Then create a holiday greeting and send it out far and wide.
Tuesday December 21, 2010
Story telling is a holiday tradition for many. But did you know story telling is also part of your job search? Today’s holiday activity is crafting great stories to share. Read how to do that, then put together a few wonderful stories you can use when networking and interviewing.
Wednesday December 22, 2010
Have you been naughty or nice? If you haven’t been a perfect angel all year, make sure your online reputation isn’t damaging your job search. Read about how to monitor and repair your online reputation. Then take action to fix any problems and gift yourself the gift of a great online presence for the year ahead.
Thursday December 23, 2010
Your gift today is the power of positive thinking. A positive mindset comes across in every job search encounter and can boost your success. Read about how to stay positive during your job search, then take time today to review your list of things that have gone right, things you are thankful for and things you like about yourself.
Friday December 24, 2010
Today’s holiday treat is a quick Christmas story. There was a man who dreamed of giving a gift to every child in the world on Christmas. He tried to do it by himself but it was just too hard. So he formed a network of helpers including elves, a supportive partner and some magic reindeer. On his own, he didn’t get very far. With a great network, he does the impossible every year. Ho ho ho.
Saturday December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from all of us at Jobfully.
Sunday December 26, 2011
Your holiday surprise today is all about Kwanzaa. The values celebrated during Kwanzaa can be helpful for job seekers! Consider self-determination, purpose, and creativity. How can you use these values in your job search?
Monday December 27, 2010
Here is a gift that will keep giving all year long: The gift of great relationships with a couple of strong recruiters. Read how to work with recruiters, then take time today to locate several you think would be helpful. Shoot them emails and get a positive relationship going. It’s a gift that money can’t buy.
Tuesday December 28, 2010
It’s time to ice the champagne for New Year ’s Eve, and create a list of people you want to “cold contact” in the New Year. First, read about the art of cold contact so you know how to do it well. It’s as tricky as popping open a bottle of champagne, and done wrong, someone can get hurt! Then sit down and list industry leaders, role models and others you would love to reach out to in the New Year.
Wednesday December 29, 2010
As we head into the New Year, today’s gift is optimism. It’s a powerful tool in your job search. Read how to use it along with strategic activity. Then take some time to plan how you will combine optimism and action for success in the year ahead.
Thursday December 30, 2010
Your last job search activity for 2010, and a very important one, is to create a job search strategy for 2011. Read why a strategy is critical to your success and how to create one. Then give yourself the gift of a plan for the New Year that will lead you to success in 2011.
Friday December 31, 2010
Happy New Year from all of us at Jobfully. May 2011 be filled with productive networking, intriguing job leads, successful interviews and just the right job offer! As you ring in the new, take some time this weekend to set goals for your job search. Read more about goal setting and why goals work better than resolutions. Great goals and a strategy will help you hit your job search hard in the New Year, leading to a successful 2011.