25 Tips on How to Get Started to Find That Job

Here are 25 tips on how you can get started to find the job you've always wanted:

Defuse the job search myth: Good things come to those who wait. Probably not. Good things come to those who initiate. Don't sit around and expect a job to come to you. Make it happen- now!
The Job Game is a game of elimination. Like musical chairs, the winner is the one with the seat at the end. So don't get eliminated along the way. You want to make sure you're in the game long enough to get a job offer.
Is your goal to get any job offer? Probably not. What if the offer is to do something you hate 50 miles from home midnight to 8:00 a.m. for 50 percent less than what you're making now?
One job offer is not enough. Your goal should be to get multiple job offers - so you can choose the best one for you.
Never procrastinate when it comes to looking for a job. If you're working and feel it's time to leave, trust your instincts and start looking now.
Unemployed and want to take a month or two off? Don't do it! The longer you're out of the job market, the harder it is to find.
Fired? Laid off? Downsized? Displaced? Don't panic. Seventy percent of all job seekers find another job within six months, usually making more money to boot.
Good people are always in demand, regardless of the economy. Continuous self-improvement is the key. Keep your skills current, your resume updated, and your network active.
Don't stay angry at your last employer. The longer you keep connected emotionally to the past, the harder it is to get on with your life. Success is the best revenge. Don't get even-get ahead.
Usually it's better not to waste time and energy on thoughts of litigation against your former employer. Move on.
There's no stigma associated with losing your job. It's happening to a lot more people now than ever before. So never, never be ashamed of it.
Don't be lulled into a false sense of security by big, fat severance packages. Over time, money runs out.
Don't go on vacation, rehab your house, or relax for a few months "to get your head together" right after you leave your job. Line up your new job now and negotiate a delayed start date instead. You'll feel a lot better.
But if you're really in shock after losing your job, take a couple of weeks off before plunging into your job search.
The best time to job hunt: mid-January through March and September through October. The worst times? Mid-November through New Year's.
Know you: What job or jobs you want, in what kinds of fields, industries, and companies? How can you get somewhere if you don't know where you want to go?
Don't know what you want to do? Pick 5 industries and 10 companies that really interest you-regardless of what field or job you're in now. Start gathering information about them. Read. Research. Talk to people. You may find a perfect fit.
Never listen to what other people say you should do for a living. It's your career. You decide.
Never buy into job search myths-overqualified, over educated, over the hill. Companies need trained, experienced new hires who can hit the ground running. Let them know: They can't afford not to hire you.
Forget excuses like "I can't get a job because I'm over 50," "No one wants me because I'm hard of hearing," or "I don't stand a chance as a woman in this male-dominated industry." Employers want qualified candidates, regardless of age, race, gender, or disabilities. Talent triumphs.
Never be ashamed to stand in the unemployment line. It's your money. You've earned it. It's available to help your transition to your next job.
Networking on the unemployment line? It's really possible! four local unemployment office is a great place to meet people, share job leads, and get support.
Looking for a job when you're still working? It's tricky. Be careful of noticeable changes in your normal pattern. Don't take extra time off, come to work dressed better than usual, increase or decrease the amount of work you do, or go low profile if you've always been high profile.
Job in jeopardy? It is if you've been cut out of the loop, that is, not invited to meetings or not put on key committees. So act now. You want to leave on your terms, not theirs.
Interviewing begins the moment you have any contact with a potential employer-whether via your resume, a telephone call, or a face-to-face meeting. Always put your best face forward and never let your guard down.

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25 Tips on How to Get Started to Find That Job