Comments: HAVE you done everything? Aside from contacting your colleagues, job postings and career fairs ... what else have you done? Have you researched the market to see exactly where ELSE other than where you were last that you are marketable AND WHY you are? In other words, have you explored your "other" options (not like the local burger shop)? Consider also the various avenues or tools you are using; are you maximizing on that which is available to you? Do you honestly know all that is available to you to help uncover opportunities and decision-makers? You see, many people do all that think they CAN do, but you'd be surprised how much they (you) may NOT be doing. For example, have you thought to review companies that have gone through recent mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures? These are all clues for where there may be a future opportunity or a hiring pattern unfolding. Consider that there's usually a 3 to 5 month window after a merger ... after systems and people have been integrated; duplication has been eliminated and now the organization is preparing to re-emerge. THAT's when you have to make contact, not after the "help wanted" sign goes up and EVERYBODY knows. By getting in early and demonstrating your "brand" - you know, your unique value-mix (skills, characteristics, competencies, experience, core values, education et al) - you are in a unique position to present yourself and a personalized solution to some of their needs going forward.There are many examples of these "spot opportunities" and many avenues for uncovering them: Emergence of new markets; product introductions; leadership vacuums; Board-level changes; IPO's LBO's, relocations and expansions and many more. If you catch wind on a company relocating from a major metro area to say, Central PA, it's likely many of the folks won't sell their homes in this market at a loss and relocate with the company; so there are going to be new opportunities. Rather than waiting for the relo to take place and then have to compete with the new locals, get in there now - again, ahead of the crowd.Most people are doing all they can do with all that they know, but do they know it all ... really? Simply stated, if I had to go to court for something serious, I would probably NOT go to law school first, nor even bone up and a lot of Law - I'd get a lawyer. (I also wouldn't drill my own teeth). I don't mean to be harsh, but most job searchers don't know a heck of a lot about the art and science of job searching. But there are those that do. If you haven't investigated getting help beyond resume critiques maybe you should now. You sound as though you could use that type of counsel. Like a serious legal issue or a problem with you teeth, the result can be profound. Is that not the same with you career search? The result will affect everything in your life, the quality of your life and that of your loved ones...and for that matter others who also care about you. That's Profound ... AND you health! It's already affected your health: Your self-esteem taking such hits and your waning confidence.There is a lot of free advice, here and everywhere else, but there are always some people who need extra help pulling it all together. Could you be one? Invest in yourself for this go’ round. I think it makes sense.
Original String: T.A.P. Q#36 - Feel Like A Failure at Job Search - What Else Should I Do?
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