Summertime and the Job Search

"Summertime and the living is easy…." not if you are in the job hunt. As the weather heats up and the job market cools down, what can you do to keep motivated and energized? Here are a couple of ideas:

1. Visit a free career assessment site. Oprah Winfrey has a few in her on-line magazine that are good for men and women and the government has several good ones. Review your strengths and development needs. Ask how you can strengthen both?
2. Update your skill set. Take advantage of the library or unemployment office course offerings. Many of these are free or low cost.
3. Attend networking events. Look in the newspaper or your social networking sites for events in your area. Don’t let the “Unemployed Networkers” events ever stop you. These events showcase some fantastic sessions and every person attending is a potential networking contact.
4. Volunteer. Find something that you like and get out there and do it. Seriously. As an added benefit, you are using your strengths (see #1 above).
5. Update your resume and social media sites. As you take new classes, learn new skills or volunteer, add these to your on-line and electronic profiles.
6. Network. Revisit your network contact list. Is there anyone new to add (maybe from volunteering or networking events)? When you are at that 4th of July party, let your friends and family know that you are still on the hunt. Ask for their suggestions/ideas/contact names.

These are just a few ideas and I am sure that you have others. Let’s hear from you. What are you doing?