For the previous two-and-a-half months before yesterday,  I was waist deep in the foul smelling trenches of the world of unemployment.

Since that time, I have been paroled and at least momentarily released due in part to good behavior.

The emotions that I felt surrounding the moments just after the offer call left me euphoric.  My journey through the valley of the jobless, though having been easier than most  (only two months in duration vs. the  9 months from one colleague – and 18 months from another) all the same came with its own ups and downs as  I cycled through 15 in-person interviews, 8 phone screenings, what felt like a ton or more of “acceptance of application” e-mails and turn-down notices, and not to mention the week after week after week of nauseating networking events.

I am not complaining about what I had to do – it taught me a lot! I am glad however,  that I was emancipated when I was because I am not sure that I could have taken much more of the stress as one week slipped into another, and then another, and then another without feeling as I had much to show for my week long undaunting efforts but another interview to kick the following week off with…but at least I was getting something I guess.

My point of the post  that follows is not to recount a sob story,  but to share what seemingly worked for me.  I hope that it helps those of my jobsearch brethren and sisters who are still on the prowl – may the followings words help and serve as a lantern by which to guide your toil…

I would first like to tip my hat to the resources that I have made/learned from over the last months as a plebe in the world of social media. My “Thank You” list abounds.

First, I would like to thank Jorgen Sundberg, with www.TheUndercoverRecruiter.com.  His knowledgeable posts about job search e-tools are a wonderful primer and easily provide step-by-step directions on the set-up and function of the latest-and-greatest e-resources (linkedin, buzz, twitter, blogging, etc).  The next Thank you goes to JenBenz, http://www.benzcommunications.com/ it was her post on www.fistfuloftalent.com about Health Care Reform that helped me to land this job.  I shared  her “email template” with the potential employer as an example of a resource that I had in my professional bag-o-tricks that could be put to use for them if hired.  Finally,  I would like to thank Rich DeMatteo, www.cornonthejob.com, Nicole Crimaldi, www.mscareergirl.com , and Jessica Miller-Merrell, www.blogging4jobs.com for their creation and facilitation of #jobhuntchat on twitter every Monday evening from 10-11PM EST.

WHERE TO START A JOB SEARCH?

An ancient Chinese war strategist, Sun Tzu wrote “Know your self and you have won the battle”.  I will profess the same ideology when approaching a job search. Yes, understand the job market – who is hiring and all that, but I don’t care what anyone else says – being in a job search is an emotional event that takes a bit of a process to unravel. Early on in your process you need to find your path by sorting through your own emotional junk to find your passion. Put everything that you have done in your job history onto paper. Once on paper, you will be able to quickly find a common thread running through everything.

FIND YOUR PASSION

Now that you have your job you all laid out, and seen the common thread, check out what made you happy. A funny thing happens when you are actually something you like – you do it more and become passionate. This passion is hard to fake in an interview and will make you genuine. It is this genuineness that will help you stand out from the crowd.  So what is it? What is your passion? What do you get all jazzed up about telling folks about?

DONT BE SINGLE FOCUSED IN WHAT COMES NEXT

I unfortunately have some bad news for you, finding your passion is only the first step to your job search journey.  A lot comes next – and doing just one thing will NOT get you there.

A lot of people are looking for the miracle cure in a job search. They believe that if they only do one thing in their search, say networking that they will find that next job faster. Others feel that if they utilize social media only, that will do the trick. I say ” build a bag-o-jobsearch-tools” that you can utilize. Don’t linger in one area - view your search as casting your net as far-and-wide as possible….but wanting to keep all the plates spinning together. (yes, I know these to analogies don’t go together – they aren’t supposed to for me to prove my point). Employ person-to person, and computer skills inter-changeably. Spend a few hours doing one, then switch to another.

For Lords sake,  your mother was right – don’t put all of your eggs in one basket!

This also includes forcing yourself to get outside of your comfort zone and doing things you don’t like – like networking if you are an introvert or planning out your resume if you are an extrovert. I had to work at a couple of different areas of my job search that I didn’t like (writing, and re-writing my resume drove me up a wall) before I became competent in them – and this was hard. Just be prepared to do whatever it takes, and you need to get that job! (short of killing anyone of course)

OPEN YOURSELF UP TO THE UNIVERSE

Finally – realize that yes, hard work and dedication will pay off if, and when the universe is ready.  As long as you have prepped enough and done your homework better than the other guy you to may be paroled.

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