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Health & Fitness

Exploring Options Aids Immensely in Job Search

Diversification in one's job search can effectively produce results for any professional.

I was recently working with two clients on their job search. Each client is middle-aged, one is male, and one is female. Both spent several hours talking about their past experiences and focused on what they would like to do in the future.

Each one was clear about their expectations. On the surface, both seemed very attentive to their job search and had goals set for themselves.

But therein lies the difficulty. Though they had a goal, each was too locked in. They were not open to expanding their search, looking at new opportunities, or looking beyond their comfort zone.

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Yes, Women at Work continues to see a growing influx of jobs and employment positions. yes, hiring has increased as illustrated by the 42 people we have put back to work in the first six months of the year, but there are many others who are still searching, still on the unemployed list and still wanting that next prospect.

Job seekers need to pump up their areas of interest. Looking beyond the usual categories in which one has always been employed is an opportunity to take a chance, to make a change, to grow oneself. Stretch beyond the borders!

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Candidate number one is a middle-aged male, with dozens of years in the construction industry. One could say he truly has sawdust under his fingernails. Nonetheless, we all know that market is not moving ahead at a rapid pace.

My directive to him: take those skills and transfer them to another field. Certainly he knows how to operate an array of machinery, from a complicated forklift to simple handheld tools, he knows equipment. Combine those skills with his understanding of building codes, add a bit of customer service and look for jobs in equipment yards, or inspection or operations. These are fields where we are seeing more work.

Join a training program that is relative to his field. Look at the growing solar industry as an example. Solar also couples with a background in construction. Finally, I suggested he look a bit further afield at trucking, as this industry is picking up with the decrease in gas prices, and it is an industry that will continue to be part of the economic future. often, he can compliment this with part-time work in construction as well.

Candidate number two, the female candidate was a similar challenge. the difficulty started with being an older woman with limited job skills. she had previously worked for a small school, had trained as a paralegal and had recently started taking advanced computer classes. she has been out of work for more than 12 months, but is continuing to look.

This candidate definitely wants to work in an office setting but simply does not possess the abilities. We’ve talked often about job leads, but her discouragement is a large focus of our conversations. Now she is struggling as to where to turn. I suggested she change up her job search. Add some broader fields to her search: retail, nonprofit office assistance, billing/accounting and in-home care.

Plus, she was able to collect a few announcements for positions in these fields.

Certainly reaching beyond one’s comfort zone can be a bit daunting. Plus the task will involve extra work: create a new resume, highlight other knowledge, focus on diverse capabilities. Then the search begins anew, often with new vigor.

I would be remiss if I did not emphasize that many new talents can be easily acquired through volunteering. Look for a good cause, of course I know one (Women at Work is always in search of new volunteers). The range of tasks our volunteers perform is extensive and diverse, and they always come with our sincere gratitude.

Finally, the candidate might want to practice his/her interview techniques for this new field of work. Ask some additional questions. Look at best practices in that field, engage a friend, look online for information about the field, or attend a workshop on interviewing.

When the job search expands, the results can be incredible.

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