Quick Tips for Those in the Trenches of "The Job Hunt"

Here are a few quick tips I wanted to share after meeting with one of the top career counselors in the area:

The big one? Start early and devote 10 hours a week for 8-10 weeks to finding a job.  

Of these 10 hours, do not spend more than 20% spinning your wheels on mass career sites, like Monster or Career Builder.  If, at the beginning, you need to devote time and energy to gain momentum and find comfort in increasing your presence online, that's ok, but pump the breaks when you find yourself spinning and applying to hundreds of jobs online.  That will not help you find your dream job, nor will it differentiate you from the masses.  Differentiate, Differentiate, Differentiate.  (A key to success - always.)

Back to that What Makes You Unique discussion... Do not fall back on submitting your resume to a generic email address on their website, or submitting without follow-up.  Even your application approach is an opportunity for you to separate yourself from the pack.  Directly contact these companies through phone calls, personalized emails (personalized!), and office visits.  Get in front of them.  To position yourself in their consideration set, they must actually have an idea of who you are.  If they can put your face to your name, even better! (Obviously, do not become a stalker, but be assertive, pleasant, and tasteful in your interactions.  You are building the brand of who you are, and it will last throughout your career!)

As I finagle this whole job search approach, look out for more tips to help you learn from my mistakes and to help you work smarter, not harder, but that's all for now!

Good luck to everyone getting started in creating a new future, and if you, too, are in job-search mode, please feel free to share your tips on what has worked and what hasn't!