A half empty job search can be a lonely endeavor. You sit at your kitchen table scanning the ads on Indeed.com, occasionally submitting a resume to an ad that sounds somewhat interesting. You try to keep your head up among your friends who are still employed. Occasionally, you go to lunch with the old gang but it is hard to listen to their chatter when you feel so desperate. It is tough.
A glass half full job search is much more exciting. It is a chance to meet new people, explore new career ideas, and learn something new. You have meetings to attend, people to meet, and things to do.
Which one do you want?
I hope you want and already have a glass half full job search. One key to a job half full job search is getting involved with people who can help you.
Go find a job seeker club!
Job clubs provide support during your job search. Usually they are small groups of between a few and a few dozen people. They usually have regular meetings, often in churches or libraries, and often led by talented people who have been through the process and are giving back. Sometimes they are organized with similar professions like a finance executive networking group and sometimes they are organized across industries and professions. It doesn’t matter. They all provide excellent opportunities.
If you are not actively engaged in one or more job seeker clubs, here are some great reasons to get involved.
- Provides structure to your week with a place to go regularly so you get out of the house. Everyone needs a change of scenery from the kitchen table or your home office. Having a steady appointment every week means at least once or twice a week you are guaranteed to get dressed up and get out of the house. This helps your attitude and gives you energy.
- You can compare notes about what works and what doesn’t with other people who are looking for jobs. I don’t mean complain and gripe. I mean talking with other people in the same situation who are trying something you haven’t thought of yet.
- Many clubs bring in interesting speakers. Sometimes these folks are recruiters or know people you should know. Sometimes they present new techniques you haven’t tried yet. This gives you energy and new ideas you can try when you get back to your office.
- Learn something new about job search or careers. Every time you leave the house, you have a chance to learn something.
- Networking – meeting new people. Isn’t this the key to a great job search?
- Stay in touch with what is going on in your community. You will learn about companies with new opportunities or maybe new businesses moving into the community. You might miss something if you just stayed home.
- Share leads – you can share a lead that might not be right for you but might be right for someone else. They say giving something away rebounds in abundance back to you.
Reach out and find a job seeker club or two in your community. Build yourself a job half full job search!