One of my favorite Christmas songs is “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” I have written the words to the song below and have taken a bit of poetic license in changing the lyrics so we can use them as a memory tool to help remember the important parts of a successful job search campaign. The song can be sung in any key you desire. Very unintentionally, I change keys quite often while singing.
And-a-one, and-a-two . . .
On the twelfth day of job searching, I had the following . . . (fol-low-ing . . . 1-2-3, 1-2-3)
12 contacts made through networking
Up to 80% of current jobs today are born from networking.1
11 phone calls made this morning
Networking is more than telling someone you know that you are looking for work. Networking includes actually making some phone calls and other things necessary to catch that job opening BEFORE it is posted in the want-ads (electronic or written).
10 internet favorites
A regular part of a successful job search campaign is “following” certain companies. The companies you follow will depend on your field of employment (engineering firm, accounting firm, etc.) or simply a company you desire to work for (Google, Microsoft…hint, hint). Creating internet “favorites” may be used for career industry information or simply to find out how things are going in your part of the country, state, county, city, block, etc.
9 cover letters
Cover letters are used to further explain our resumes, to make a connection and basically to “sell” ourselves to employers.
8 thank you letters
Thank you letters are essential in closing the deal, or at least making a great reflection on an employer that might serve well for another position in the future.
7 hiring events at Workforce
Similar to job fairs, hiring events are exclusive to Workforce Solutions offices in and around the Houston area. Employers use Workforce facilities to actually interview candidates. An always current list of upcoming hiring events at the many Workforce Solutions offices can be found at the following link: Workforce Solutions Hiring Events.
6 dates for job fairs
Attending job fairs is a good way to network your way into a job (see the first verse of this song: “12 contacts made through networking”).
5 resumes
Yes, that’s 5 different resumes. I don’t suggest a different resume for each position you apply for, but perhaps one for each industry or type of position. Another suggestion is to consider a different resume that reflects on the different sets of skills you have.
4 LinkedIn Updates
Another method of networking is electronically. I know a lot of us have a LinkedIn profile that has not been updated in a while. How do I know this? Because I’m right there with you, and I need to update mine too!
3 scheduled interviews
Of course, scheduling an interview is practically the capstone of job searching, so be prepared:
• To answer questions
• To know the employer/industry
• To ask questions
• To be yourself
2 new suits
You might consider dusting off your suit that is still in the closet in preparation for an interview. Since most workers wear “business casual” attire these days, consider a new shirt or blouse; perhaps a new tie. Remember to “dress for success.”
1 completed Work-in-Texas portfolio
Having a completed portfolio in Work-in-Texas can be effective in having all necessary application information at your fingertips, as well as an effective electronic job search tool. Job searching can be performed across the entire state of Texas, according to occupation, whether you’re interested in public or private opportunities as well as a host of other search criteria.
There we go. What a great Christmas gift that would be… To begin or continue our career with a new company!
1 MacIntosh, Bob. Recruiting Blogs. 80% of today’s jobs are landed through networking.
David Spears is a member of the Workforce SolutionsNavigator team for the Texas Gulf Coast Region. Combining training and education to real world examples, David brings personal and professional experience with disabilities to the table in order to help job seekers with disabilities realize their potential. David has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration with over 20 years of experience in the business world.
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