Last week I received a great question from Ms. Career Girl reader Jill and decided to turn it into a blog post as many of us have been in similar situations. Jill is a very recent college grad who was quick to get it “all figured out” before getting her diploma.  Now that she’s there, she realized she might have jumped the gun.

Please read Jill’s question/situation below and help a sister out by giving her YOUR advice in the comments section!

Dear Nicole,

I just graduated from college in May and was lucky enough to land an accounting job at a foundation I believe in (a rare combination!).  I have my own apartment and I’ve made two new girlfriends here in my new city, but I’m starting to realize that I moved to a place I don’t have any personal ties to.  None of my family and friends are here, and even before I moved here, I have never been in love with it.

I moved here because, honestly, I was just so excited to even get a job as most of my friends from college were struggling to do so.  I figured my career was all I would need in this new city to be happy.  Although I love the mission of my place of employment, I’ve started to realize that the opportunities for growth here are slim: I work with only 1 other person and the expectation is that I log 55 hours per week even though I only get paid for 35.  You always said I should want my boss’s job, and I definitely do not want his!

Now for the advice:  I’m pretty lonely and unhappy here and I want to relocate to London as most of my friends and some of my family is there.  I’ve done some research online and have had luck with my job search so far.  Do you think I need to stay at my job (and/or apartment) a certain amount of time before leaving? If given the chance, is it a horrible thing to move on so soon?  Am I wrong for wanting to be with family and friends?  Am I being immature for wanting to re-locate so soon?

Thanks so much for your help!!

            Jill

Dear Jill,

First, thank you for being so honest in your email.  The hardest part about making positive changes is first identifying and then ADMITING you aren’t totally happy.  Kudos to you for identifying the source of your dissatisfaction right away, and for being proactive about getting yourself into a happier situation.  Some people would spend years complaining and sulking and feeling the need to stay somewhere they are miserable.

I too am a huge family person and my friends have become my family since graduating college.  I wouldn’t want to be far away from my “people” either.  I personally do not think you are unreasonable for wanting to have a network and support system all around you.

As for your job, BEWARE: almost everyone I know hated his or her first job out of college!  Many didn’t love their second job out of college either.  This is totally normal and part of where you are at right now.  BUT, you’ve identified some important things for next time around:

1. Going forward you should screen for companies that offer a clear career trajectory and opportunities for growth.  My guess is that you were so focused on getting a job during senior year that you weren’t thinking about anything else.  Don’t make that mistake the second time around!

2.  Next time you interview, make sure to ask about the office staff, size and culture.  If you had a great group of co-workers, you may feel completely differently about the city you are living in.  I think it is fine to ask to meet with other staff members during the interview process to get their feedback too.

And on your job search- I’m glad to hear you are having luck!  My guess is that finding accountancy jobs is a much easier venture than other fields!   A site like Total Jobs (which will do more justice for you given that you are in the UK) seems like a great place to find recent graduate jobs.

So all in all, I say go for the move!  You can always make your transition less stressful by using self storage for big bulky items until you fully relocate. Just make sure you are really moving for the right reasons and that this doesn’t become a pattern.

My mother always says to, “bloom where you are planted.”  Once you make the move, make sure to branch out and meet new people and commit to your new job.

PS- You may want to read my article about interview liars too so that you are sure to ask all the right questions and monitor your gut in your next job search/move.

Good luck!

Nicole 

Today’s post is by, Angela Armstrong

You’re fresh out of college and looking for a job.  You’ve tried the  job boards, your school career counselor, etc. but nothing has worked.  So what’s next?  Networking is the key to career success and a great way to lead to your next job.  But you are not interested in attending stuffy networking events.  You’re in luck; just about anyone associated with your college experience can form the foundation of a solid network.

11 Connections You Should Make to Build Your Post-College Network

1. Your Classmates – They may seem like competition, but no one knows  you better.   Since you will most likely be going through the job search at roughly the same time, they will know the openings out there.   This is also an excellent resource for information swapping.
2. Alumni, especially recent graduates –   Recent alumni who’ve paved the way for you are more acquainted with the kinds of job you hope to land.    More established alumni may be far  removed from the kind of entry-level job you’d like, but they also may have the hiring power.    To find out updates about what alumni are doing check your college’s publications.  Look for alumni in your field and geographic location.
3. Parents /Parents of Classmates - both can be a great resource for introducing you to new connections and getting tips on networking.
4. Fraternity brothers, sorority sisters and Greek Organization Alumni -
5. Coaches – Coaches can be an excellent network resource.  They care about their athletes and know lots of people.
6. Guest Speakers - The professionals who come to speak to your classes are a vast untapped market.   After their presentation, introduce yourself and ask the best way to keep in contact with them.    By building a rapport and keeping in touch with them, this could lead to something.
7. Current and Former employers –  Most student today can get through college without having a a job at some point.  Even if your job is not in your career field, your employer can still be a useful networking contact.
8. Members of your religious community -your campus ministry or congregation back home can provide a wealth of contacts.
9. Members of professional organizations – most colleges sponsor student chapters of professional organizations, which are rich sources of networking contacts.   Your network efforts will benefit from a student membership in the nearest professional chapter.
10. Peer Volunteers – Volunteering can provide an abundant networking opportunities and college is a great time to get started.  You are only making a difference but also making some productive connections
11. Informational Interviewees –  this is an excellent way to learn about the realities of the work world and what to expect.   People generally are open to informational interviews as it gives them a chance to talk about their industry and give advice.

You’ve heard it before that once a Greek always a Greek.  This network can begin to work for you almost immediately, not only with your current peers but with alumni, who may be able to assist you.

Take a look around you; there are always great resources and contacts to begin building your network.   Put yourself out there and connect.  You are on your way to a fabulous career.

Two weeks ago my sister Jay (a high school senior) and her boyfriend visited me downtown to look at DePaul University.  Afterwards, we sat outside at one of my favorite Lincoln Park spots and talked about college and careers.  My sister and I are nine years apart.  While I’ve already graduated college and gone through those first few post-college years, she is just starting the process.

Our conversation was really interesting and gave me some great topic ideas for Ms. Career Girl.  What most sparked my interest, though, was a comment Jay’s boyfriend made.

Taylor, like a vast majority of college students, is paying his way through school but isn’t totally sure of what entry level career path he’d like to pursue.  He said something like, “I’m not dumb and I’m not lazy.  I just don’t want to waste a ton of time or money until I know what I want to do.”

If I were to venture a guess, I’d say Taylor explained how most 18-22 year-olds feel about their education and career.

Some blame the “lost generation” on schools: High schools aren’t doing a good enough job of introducing students to various career paths.  Others feel college curriculum isn’t focused enough on preparing students for life outside the classroom.  Some of this may be true.  But, to that I say:

There is only one person in charge of your career: YOU.

My advice to Taylor was to make a point to talk to everyone he knows about what they do for a living. I told him to sit down with the professors who teach his favorite subjects and ask them what types of career paths that subject matter could lead him to.  I suggested that he ask his relatives, friends’ parents and everyone else he knows about their jobs, education and career goals.  At some point he’d hear about options that are interesting to him.

But the problem with my advice is that it takes up a lot of time. And, at his age, his network is still small.

After thinking a lot about this conversation, I decided that I want to provide a free “career due diligence” tool to young professionals like Taylor.

Therefore, you’ll start to see some requests to join our free email list.

Ms. Career Girl’s email subscription is designed around the values expressed here at Ms. Career Girl:

• YOU are in charge of your career.
• Network every day.
• If you don’t know what you want to do, then figure out what everyone else is doing and see what appeals to you.
• You must know who you are and what you want before you can go and get it.
• When conducting a career search, look for cool companies, not just cool job postings.
• Read!
• Interview often, even when you’re not looking.
• Your college major isn’t everything.

The details of this premium content email is still in the works, but here’s what we know so far:

Our career email will educate you on cool career paths, awesome companies and unique job openings that you probably didn’t know existed.

Some emails will appeal to you more than others. That’s the point. The info in each email should help you open your mind to what’s out there.  Use this email to learn, network, get inspired and as part of your self-exploration.  Use it as a job search tool and use it to save yourself time from doing all the legwork yourself.

Recruiters, business owners, journalists and more can submit cool job postings and companies by emailing me: nicole@mscareergirl.com.

And YOU should subscribe to our free email list today.  Then tell your friends by clicking some buttons below to share this article with your friends.

Suggestions? Questions?  Leave them in the comments box below or send an email directly to me at Nicole@mscareergirl.com

Guest Post by, Jenny McCoy

They say it’s easier to get a job when you have a job, but I’m not so sure.

I launched my job search 2.0 last week with this site: SocialJenny.com.

Go ahead, check it out.

My reasons for creating this site were:

• I interviewed with a big NYC ad agency and they thought my resume was boring. I think this is a more palatable way of telling who I am, what I’ve done and what I’m looking for. And that damn cartoon is cute as hell.
• I live in Florida but I’m applying exclusively to NYC companies. They surely have countless local candidates, so I need something to make me stand out and show that I’m serious about relocating.
• It’s much easier to post a link on Facebook and other networks than it is to email my resume/cover letter to all of my contacts and I think this site represents me better anyway.
• In addition to a public listing on Monster and other sites, having a stand alone site gives me the ability to be “found” by potential employers.
• It shows initiative. One potential employer said she could tell I was a “self-starter” from this effort.
• I’m now using this site as a landing page for a Facebook ad campaign targeting NYC social media professionals (thanks to Nicole’s suggestion!)

The first week of my job search 2.0 went well. I landed two phone interviews with great companies, but I  was annoyed that because I was still employed my efforts had to be funneled through an anonymous Twitter account and DMs.

I wanted to openly announce my search and this site to my online network, but I couldn’t because unfortunately my coworkers were a part of the network I’d worked so hard to build. We’re Facebook friends, LinkedIn connections, Twitter buddies and a handful of them read my blog.

So I quit. I gave three weeks’ notice with just a couple bites of interest in order to fully utilize my networks.

This decision received mixed reviews, as has my site. For me, both the site and the decision to leave my job only increase my ability to land my dream job in the big city. But I’d like to hear your thoughts.

Do you think a 2.0 approach gives leverage to candidates, or do you think I wasted a little sushi money on a pretty site? Do you think candidates are always more attractive when they have a job? Or it understandable to quit in circumstances like mine?

* Site was written and conceived by me and designed by the talented Andrew Norcross.

Sorry, Penelope.  I’m back.

My fellow career blogger friend  Nick Corcodilos pointed out a blog post written by Penelope Trunk that I couldn’t help but question and discuss here on Ms. Career Girl.  In the post, titled “Why Job Hoppers Make the Best Employees,” Penelope argues the following five points to be true:

1. Job hoppers have more intellectually rewarding careers.
2. Job hoppers have more stable careers.
3. Job hoppers are higher performers.
4. Job hoppers are more loyal.
5. Job hoppers are more emotionally mature.

Really Penelope?!  Do you REALLY believe these statements or was this another way to get more traffic back to your sites and be a career evangelist to lost recent grads?  Why should we believe you?  Or is it just easier to believe you so we don’t have to deal with difficult situations and never learn how to overcome adversity at work?

Nick Corcodilos and I have crossed paths over the last year many times.  Oddly enough, the topic of several of our conversations has been about Penelope Trunk’s odd career advice and strange personal branding strategies.  Well here we are again, looking at more bizarre career advice from the woman who founded my generations most popular career network, brazencareerist.com.  Thankfully companies, including Brazen, have teams of diverse staff- to balance out the outliers.

When reviewing the comments on Penelope’s post, I was surprised (and disappointed) to read that so many people were excited and completely on board with Penelope’s advice.  Groupthink, anyone?  Denial?

For the record, I am 25.  I am as Gen Y as it gets in many ways.  Like most people in my generation, I’m addicted to technology, I love feedback, I’m used to instant gratification.  I’m a bit impatient and I have both a day job and a “passion project.” I’m also a typical Gen Y’er in that since graduating from college four years ago, I have worked 3 different jobs: the first for 7 months, the second for almost 3 years and I started my current position (which is my favorite company thus far and my hopeful long-term landing pad!) 7 months ago.  Heck, it weirds me out but I realize that some may even consider ME a job hopper (even though I do not feel like one at all).

Do I think that having 3 jobs in 4 years is something to be proud of?  Not necesarily.  My job history is what it is, but by no means do I feel it makes me a “better, more loyal, higher performing or more emotionally mature” employee- HA!

In Nick’s recent blog post titled, Job Hopping: Career Crack for Losers, Nick offers some very different advice than Penelope does:

First, toss out your resume. Trash it yourself, before an employer trashes it for you. And I don’t mean you should get a better resume. I mean, Stop using a flyer that says KICK ME on it. Period. No resume. Search for a job strictly through personal referrals and face-to-face contacts which enable you to make your case before your butt is kicked into the can.

Second, find a place to work where you can stay put. Penelope Trunk – who tells you loyalty doesn’t matter and job hopping is good — is sticking a needle in your vein, pumping you full of happy juice, and leaving your career to die while she drives off to the bank to deposit the GoogleAds checks she collects for advertising career crack to confused GenY’s. Stay off the juice. Stay put. Establish a reputation. Then trade on it.

Thank you, Nick, for putting my thoughts into words without me having to do it first.  I really like your first point and think that is great advice for anyone, “job hopper” or not.

Of the 5 points in Penelope’s article, I see SOME truth to her first point: job hoppers have more intellectually rewarding careers.  Well, yeah, I guess, because they are constantly having to get re-trained, and re-acquainted with a company’s culture, procedures and politics.  Intellectually rewarding?  Maybe, for some.  For others?  Terrifying.

Let’s hear it people.

I don’t have to repeat the fact that Corporate America is not what it used to be.  Yes, I always say that everyone needs to create their own “career insurance policy.”  When debating with Gen X’ers and Boomers, I always remind them that Gen Y’ers have been through the crash of Enron, the wrath of September 11th,the fall of Lehman Brothers and a recession- we are scared to trust these institutions that were supposed to be the pillar of security and the foundation of “The American Dream.”

• What do you think: is job hopping career death or a career savior?
• How would you define a job hopper?
• Does Penelope really believe the stuff she “preaches” about?  Do you believe her?
• Would you switch companies every few years to get big raises if given the opportunity?
• Why should (and why do) twentysomethings listen to Penelope Trunk for career advice?

Today I had the chance to chat with the author of one of my favorite career books for college students and graduating seniors. Katharine Brooks is the author of “You Majored in What?!” and the Director of Liberal Arts Career Services at The University of Texas at Austin. If you haven’t picked up this book yet, please do. Whether you are struggling to find a job, are unsure of what you want to “do” after college or have a case of the post-college blues this book is relevant. Katharine’s views mirror mine in many ways. Please meet, Katharine Brooks!

What inspired you to write, “You Majored in What?”

As a liberal arts major myself I loved my education but was never quite sure how it “fit” in the workplace. Later on when I started working with liberal arts students at a college back East (Dickinson College) I realized that they had the same questions and challenges I did. So I set out on a mission to find a career system that would work for them– since the traditional linear (“major in accounting and become an accountant”) approach wasn’t helpful. It took a lot of trial and error with exercises, assessments, etc., but I finally figured out what seemed to work for many students. I started teaching my system in classes but couldn’t find a textbook that covered the material, so… I wrote the book!

Give us a brief explanation of chaos theory.

Chaos theory grew out of an effort to improve our ability to predict the weather. Ultimately, though, the scientists and mathematicians learned that weather is too complex a system to be able to predict with any reliability. There are too many intervening variables and things emerge. Same thing with careers– they, too, can be influenced by unexpected intervening variables (a bad economy for instance) that can throw off any “predicted” plans.

In a tough economy, how should students change their job search strategy?

I think you have to be more vigilant. You need to have the best possible marketing tools– a targeted resume (not a generic one you send to everyone); a well-written cover letter that specifically relates your skills and knowledge to the job; and great responses to interview questions. You need to have an open mind and be willing to take a less-than-perfect job, knowing that you will learn and you will parlay that opportunity into a better one.

How do you recommend students handle the common and irritating question, “What are you going to do with THAT major?!”

I tell them to read my book. (Just kidding!) I tell them that they need to be the ambassador for their degree– they need to think about why they chose it, why they like it, and (this is important) consider how what they have learned has changed the way they view things. I use the example of the movie “Good Will Hunting”– depending on your major, you might view the film from different angles. A psychology major might focus on the interactions with the therapist, an economics majors might notice the different social classes in Boston, an anthropology major might analyze the cultures in the film, etc. Your major can change the way you view political, personal, and other situations. Know that and be prepared to tell an employer why that perspective will benefit the organization.

What was your college major? And how did you end up in the role you are into today?

I started college as a music major– but then I discovered there were people with talent in that field. Actually, I liked music theory, harmony and counterpoint, but I realized early that I didn’t have the passion needed to succeed in that field. I played around with majors in English, psychology, and art history, but ultimately settled on sociology which was great because it applies to everything.

Here’s the quick version of my career path after college:

Human resources specialist in retail merchandising to social worker in an agency for the blind to grad student in rehabilitation counseling to school psychologist running a clinic at West Virginia University while getting a doctorate in Educational Psychology to counselor to college students to career services director and disability services coordinator at Dickinson College (also an Assoc Professor teaching film studies) to
Director of Liberal Arts Career Services at The University of Texas at Austin.

Give us one tip for life after college.

Don’t worry if you don’t know what you’re going to “do”– either with your major or with your career. If you can plan your career in advance, that’s great, but otherwise, just follow what looks interesting, and when something else sounds more interesting move to that. When you don’t like your job, learn what you can from it, and move on as soon as possible. Follow your interests and keep learning.

“Make your life one giant networking event.” ~Dan Schawbel

I graduated college in May 2009 and it wasn’t until I let go of the idea that I needed to spend all day every day looking for work and well, start working, that I began getting job leads. It’s the NUMBER ONE rule of the job hunt – make looking for a job your permanent job. 9 to 5, seven days a week.

Except is that really the best way to find work? Is the best way to network and find job leads to shout from the rooftops that you’re for hire? What if you were passive? What if you spent half that time actively job searching and the other half actually working? Working how, you ask? Temping and freelancing my friends, temping and freelancing.

We all know that the best way to get a job is through contacts. The way to make contacts is through networking. The best way to network is not to hand out your business cards with wild abandon at miscellaneous events serving punch or cold call every person you’ve never met; the best way is to actually show people what you’re made of.

Without a full time permanent job, finding temporary and freelance work are the best ways to show your worth. They put you in touch with people in your industry, build your portfolio and make it possible to can eat on a regular basis. What’s not to love?

For those of you not looking for a permanent job, this article is still for you. All of us could use extra cash to pay off debts, open up a savings account and/or start something entrepreneurial. Personally, I like shoes.

So let’s take a little look-see at how to go about this:

Freelancing

Many people don’t see freelancing as an option because there’s this mentality that you’re either a freelancer or you’re not. But you can take a project here and there for the reasons I mention above. Getting freelance work through friends, using Craigslist and contacting your dream company directly puts great companies (who may not be hiring full time but do need a relevant project taken care of) on your resume, generates contacts and builds up an impressive portfolio.

My favorite ways to find freelance work:

• Craigslist – While it may be the ultimate site of all things spammy, Craigslist actually has some great freelance resources. Use the search function for keywords on jobs you might like to do.

• LinkedIn – This site is one of my favorites because it’s a super fast way to connect with everyone you’ve ever met and take them straight to your resume. Also, the LinkedIn Answers section is the best way to highlight your expertise on any given subject. I can’t tell you how many projects I’ve landed because I rock out solving other people’s problems. Try and answer 1 to 2 questions every day in your field and watch your contacts grow…

• Word of mouth – I know, a little 18th century, but it’s still the best way to advertise. Enlist family and friends to spread the word. However, it does help if you have friends.

• Offer free work – THIS DOES NOT MEAN INTERN. Don’t start doing a 9 to 5 copying job masking as a “learning experience.” No, offer to write an article/guest post, consult on a project or give a free seminar. People love free, but it doesn’t mean you need to lower your standards.

• Check out Freelance Switch – One of the best websites out there for freelancers, helping you stay organize, land more work and provides even more excellent resources.

And at the end of the day, you might find you like freelancing best and decide not to take a permanent position at all!

Temping

Temporary jobs are great. They keep you busy when you’re ready to tear your hair out, add to your resume to give you experience, gives you a chance to prove yourself, can possibly turn into a permanent position and allows you the chance to network and gain referrals. And according to the American Staffing Association (ASA), around 18% of temp jobs a year turn into permanent positions.

To avoid wasting your time, try and hone in on the industry you’d eventually like to be in full time. Because you’d otherwise be spending all your time looking for work anyway, hold out for a cool project you’d really like to work on. Aim to work with temp agencies that cater to your industry.

Here’s a really fabulous post on how to get and keep a temp job.

A Note!!!

I want to reiterate that freelance and temp work are not synonymous with internship. I’m in no way suggesting you should take an internship while you “wait” for the perfect job to waltz on by. I have a pretty public hatred of internships as they’re are really just glorified assistants jobs, so you might as well get paid for the work you’d be doing anyway. Many temp agencies can set you up with part-time gigs in the field of your choice and being a paid employee of a company is always more impressive than being an intern. This also gets around not having the “mandatory” internship on your resume.

Instead, become an expert: Read the top publications in your field, get books, watch webinars, make friends with bloggers – not only does this create contacts and integrates you into the professional community, but slowly establishes you as an expert (basically, all the things you can get from an internship).

Hopefully by now you all realize people hire people, and best way to meet those people is through helping them out.

Sometimes you just have to take a few minutes to to stop and check out where you are, where you’re going and where you want to be.

In honor of the beautiful weather on Wednesday, two of my best friends and I enjoyed an impromptu gathering at Chicago’s finest Mexican and margarita establishment (for those of you who live in Chicago, I’m sure you agree that Blue Agave is really something else). 

My friend Whitney just started a new job at an amazing company that is very focused on personal development for their employees.  As a requirement, each employee must fill out a detailed form which maps out their 10 year vision and goals in several categories.  The CEO of the company reads every single employee’s 10 year vision.

I could go on and on about how wonderful I think this is from a corporate perspective.  Since when does a huge company actually care about YOU, the front line employee, and where you want to go in your life?  And not only does the company care, the CEO cares!  I can only imagine how much more innovative the company is in serving their target market and creating better products because of these visions.  I’d guess that the employees have the highest level of job satisfaction, brand evangelism and retention because of this company’s value for individuality.

So naturally as we started sipping on our margaritas, we couldn’t help but talk about our ten year visions.  This activity was not hard for me in the least.  I quickly spouted off what I saw for myself in terms of my career, lifestyle, family, relationship, etc. 

Which is ironic, because I am not a planner AT ALL.  Like not even a little bit.  I function on the LTF operating system: work your butt off every single day, love what you do, family first and leave it to fate.  I feel that everything happens for a reason.  When I look back on past experiences, even those which were not pleasant, they always led me to a better place or where I am today.  You can argue with me on this one, but just remember that we all have a choice on how to see things.

Our other friend at the table was terrified by this activity.  The mere thought of it practically gave her an anxiety attack.  She is the biggest planner in our group of friends (you should have seen how mad she was at us during the Chicago marathon last year  because we didn’t have a plan!).  She didn’t want to write something down and then be disappointed if it didn’t turn out that way. 

I can tell you first hand that fate was good to her in foiling some of her earlier life plans (I’m sure we can ALL relate to this).   She is exactly where she should be, she is SO happy and she is living a completley different life than she would’ve expected when we met almost 10 years ago.

So maybe the lesson is to stop planning all together.  Or maybe we should set targets and understand that there are a thousand different ways to get to that target.  Or perhaps we should focus more on our top values and know that staying true to those values will lead us down the right path.  What do YOU think?

Am I the weird one here, or is this activity scary for a lot of people?  Do you believe in writing down a 10 year vision? 

For the young professionals out there who email me every day because they aren’t sure what type of career they want to pursue, I challenge you to sit down and try to fill out a 10 year vision for yourself.  It will be like weight lifting for your brain.  Fill it out as if you had no limits: money isn’t an issue and nor are other peoples’ judgements.  Take your college major out of the equation.  Write down your dream life and see what it reveals to you about where you are right now.

To prove that fate is good to us, I will share some of the amazing career stories I’ve received as part of my book research in a follow up post.  You would be shocked at where people started and where they are now in their lives.  All of the stories had much happier endings than where they began.

What’s your 10 year vision?

If you are up for the challenge, here are some of the things on the form Whitney sent us:

• What is your ideal life in terms of: career, income, net worth, home(s), geography, lifestyle, health, family, relationship, education.
• What are your top 3 values?  Some ideas listed are: entrepreneur, fun, passion, leadership, development, balance, diversity, family, recognition, integrity, legacy, patience, growth, achievement, creativity, knowledgeable, wealth, quality, courage.
• If success is a combination of what you are good at, passion and how you make money, how would you describe each of the three categories of success for yourself?
• Set some goals in each of the categories above once you determine a general vision.  These goals can be as specific or general as you want. 

My hope is that envisioning your ideal life in 10 years will serve as a map to get you there.  Maps aren’t always accurate, there are often many pit stops and unexpected detours along the way, but you can’t go anywhere unless you know where you are going.

In my opinion, there are two things job seekers do wrong: they are too general and they are too boring.

I frequently write about the #1 problem of entry-level candidates: lack of focus. If you want to get hired today, you have to be a perfect fit. It’s OK to adjust your marketing materials (resume/CV) to show that.

But why do I feel most candidates are boring? Because they do what everyone else is doing.

The vast majority of job seekers conduct their job search solely online. Just like everyone else.

As I said in a post last week, 80% of job seekers are applying to 20% of open jobs. Career experts claim that only 20% of open positions are posted online. So if you want to get a job faster, become part of the 20% that is seeking 80% of the jobs (which aren’t posted online).

Step 1 is to take your job search offline!

But how?!

Get Guerilla

What does “guerrilla” mean in terms of a job search?  It means get creative and do things differently.  Engage your audience and surprise them.  Here are ten guerrilla marketing tactics you can use in your job search.

1. Pick up the phone. Isn’t it lame that I have to even include this in a list which is meant to consist of creative and unique networking tactics?  The truth is, I bet only 1% of people actually pick up the phone to introduce themselves, ask for a coffee meeting or start a conversation.  You aren’t cold calling for an interview or a job, you are simply starting a conversation.  Don’t over think it!

If you decide to pick up the phone, let the person know who referred you to them or how you know them.  Did you meet at a networking event?  Did you get his card at the bar?  Did you look her up in your sorority alumna directory?

Chances are they won’t answer or be interested in talking to you the first time you call.  Follow up again via email and make one last attempt by emailing them a week or two later referring to your first attempts.  Don’t worry, you can do this without sounding desperate.

2.  Stop job hunting and start company hunting. The beauty of a guerrilla style job search is that your efforts will be very targeted.  You’ve researched industries, companies and even people.  You know what you want and who you want to talk to.  This is not a reactive job search where you apply to 50 jobs online and sit by your phone and wait.  Find companies you like, then look into their competitors and their vendors.  Target companies, not jobs.

3. Send a coffee mug. I first heard about this idea on an awesome podcast series called “Secrets of the Job Hunt” and have since run into this idea many times.  Sending a coffee mug helped former job seeker Janet FritzHuspen land a job within two weeks.

• If you find out about an open position you’d like to apply for, send a coffee mug along with your resume and cover letter in a box via FedEx/UPS ground so you can track the package.
• In your letter, state that you’d like to set up a time to discuss how you can contribute and add value to ABC Company as their (title of position you are inquiring about).
• When the package arrives, give the person a call about 20 minutes later and say “you just got my package” and go from there.

This tactic will not work every time, but word on the street is that it works almost every time.  This tactic is better suited for more creative industries and positions rather than for a legal or banking positions.

4. Send an article. In this tactic you are simply sending interesting articles about the company, industry, or competition.  You can put a sticky note on the printed article that says, “I thought you might be interested in this.”  Also, make sure to include a note that lets the hiring manager know you like their company, what you are interested in and how you could contribute to their firm.  Set up free Google alerts to stay on top of the newly published articles of interest.

5. Get in touch with ex-employers. Most people only look at the future when conducting a job search.  Therefore, you should look behind you.  Hopefully you left your previous positions on good terms and can send a short email saying hello and letting them know you are on the market.  That’s it.  All you have to do is let them know you are available.  They have tons of clients and contacts, and perhaps they even need you back.

6. Take advantage of temp jobs. Let’s say you were offered a temp position at a company you like.  A lot of people would pass up this opportunity.  A smarter thing to do is to accept the temp position and start networking with those within the company.  Since you are already working on site, it’s easy to send an email and grab coffee or lunch with those in your building.  It’s likely that you will be offered a formal interview now that they know who you are.

7. Start work at the interview. Rather than being like every other candidate, consider getting a head start on getting hired.  If you’re applying to a marketing position, bring a fresh marketing campaign idea into the interview.  If you are going into sales, come in with a list of leads.  If you are interviewing for an editing position, bring in a copy of one of the publication’s articles with your edits.  If you haven’t been granted an interview yet, you could also use this approach by proposing an improvement or new idea and sending it to someone within the company.  This is a very proactive approach which shows the employer that you are a hard worker who takes this position very seriously.  You are also adding value to the company before you even start, which is something most wouldn’t bother doing.

8. Consider using a “guerrilla resume.”Authors David Perry and Kevin Donlin of “Guerilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0“  recommend using a resume that includes endorsements of your work in the left hand column (these quotes can be pulled from your LinkedIn recommendations) and up to 5 logos of well-known companies or clients you have worked with.  Although most traditional HR folks would disagree with this approach, they feel color and visual appeal will help you land a job faster.  Perry and Donlin’s website also offers a free informational CDwith tons of guerilla job hunting tips.

9. Use Twitter. I’ve personally seen the effects what Twitter can do for one’s professional life.  So why not use it to help you find a job? The catch here is, you don’t use Twitter to find a job.  You use it to build relationships. Authors Susan Britton Whitcomb, Chandlee Bryan and Deb Dibrecommend thinking of Twitter like a cocktail party that you use to achieve your job search goals.  They also suggest strategically using lists and hashtags.  For more great tips, check out their new book “Twitter Job Search Guide.”

10. Get smart and get out there.

• Read your local paper and don’t hesitate to contact those featured in the articles.
• Read popular business books.  Doing so will provide you with tons of conversation and examples for an interview or when meeting new people.
• Volunteer doing something you love.  You never know who you will meet.
• Start a simple business while you are unemployed, you may be hired on full-time by one of your clients.
• Take a class at your local college, get more training, or obtain a certificate in something that will add value to you as a candidate.

Will you go Guerrilla?

• Do you agree with using a non-traditional job search and networking approach?
• What guerrilla job search tactics have you used?  Did they work?
• What are other examples of guerrilla job search tactics?
• Which one of these tactics would you be most likely and least likely to utilize?