I am generally upbeat to friends and family about my job search, but I hope you don't mind that I share with you the profound sadness that I sometimes feel as the weeks and months tick away with not a prospect in sight. Your recent column (addressing people who never before had to look for a job because the jobs came to them) was a very welcome acknowledgement that someone out there understands what I and many others are going through. -- E.S.
For those who have never needed to acquire an arsenal of savvy job-search skills, finding employment today is akin to learning to ski at age 45.You can do it, but you'll need practice and more practice.
Search neophytes don't realize that the weakest link in their knowledge can kill a lead. Resumes are a handy illustration. Many smart people now understand that they should throw their generic resume under the bus and directly match their qualifications with each position's requirements.
After that great start, many fall through open cracks by failing to give backup examples of their achievements and accomplishments. Instead, they simply assert that they have the requested qualification.
Suppose, for example, that a job's requirements stipulate effective communication skills. A candidate writes: "My strong communication skills enabled me to establish a good rapport with staff and clients." That's a hot-air statement. Zero credibility. But cite an achievement, and employer trust grows: "My manager so valued my communications skills that he asked me to write 100 percent of his reports. Result: The company adopted my format as its template for all department reports."
Keep on learning the ropes -- all the ropes -- and your skies will sun up sooner.