“What we think, we become.” – Buddha
You’ve given your resume a complete makeover, revamped your wardrobe, and practiced your networking skills on LinkedIn, but you still haven’t gotten any job leads. If this sounds familiar, it’s possible you have overlooked some very helpful career resources. Many people are unaware of the resources available to help professionals find jobs and support during a period of unemployment. To make your job search more fruitful, consider the following career resources job seekers often overlook.
Industry Associations
Industry associations, also known as trade associations, are excellent tools for expanding your network, connecting with hiring managers, and developing skills to make you more valuable and marketable for the job you are seeking. Industry professionals come together in to educate newcomers on the best practices in the trade, while helping others expand their professional networks. Industry associations can also offer the opportunity to include the association logo or association name on your resume. Exhibiting your membership on your resume can add credibility to your background and show employers that you are serious about the industry.
Your Alma Mater
Going back to your alma mater might be the last place you would think to look, but most colleges offer career service departments designed primarily to help students find a job after graduation. Contact a representative in your alma mater’s career services department to discover which programs are best-suited for your needs. You can also attend job fairs and seminars and participate in a resume editing program. Furthermore, you can leverage your alma mater by connecting with your former professors and peers to make stronger connections with the professional world. Beyond networking, you might consider enrolling in classes at your college or university to increase your appeal in the job market. If you are concerned with fitting school into your schedule discuss online class alternatives with a career adviser.
Networking Groups
You may be able to find access to networking groups through your college’s career services department. However, if these programs are not a part of the services offered, they are certainly worth looking into independently. Networking groups are usually organized according to industry and meet regularly to discuss networking leads, share contacts and offer helpful strategies for job searching. Many groups even provide the opportunity to listen to professional speakers on the subject of finding a job, in addition to organizing interactive workshops to help you sharpen your networking skills.
Job Seeking Groups
General job seeking groups, the broadest category in this list, are available within the community, churches, colleges and other local organizations. Such groups allow individuals to offer support and advice during the physically and emotionally stressful endeavor of searching for a job. There is also an opportunity to be introduced to additional resources and you can take tips from other job seekers in the group about how to improve your skills and appeal for the competitive job market.
For many job seekers, things are beginning to look up—the unemployment rate dropped slightly near the end of 2011. But by using the resources around you and looking for new ones, you might be able to start the New Year with a new and better career.
Jesse Langley specializes in writing about education, professional and personal development, and career building. He writes on behalf of Colorado Technical University.
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Good luck in your search.
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