Five things to amp up your job search in 2010

Finding a job is likely the top New Year’s resolution for out of work Delawareans, many of whom have spent weeks or months looking for employment.

While optimism may be in short supply as the economy limps toward recovery, there are opportunities for those willing to get serious about job hunting, said Elaine Mazerella, an employment specialist at Professional Staffing Associates.

Here are her top five tips for those focusing on finding a job in 2010.

1. Keep your chin up. This could be a stressful year for many unemployed people, who spent most of 2009 searching for a job and are starting to feel discouraged, she said. “Going into 2010, people need to have a renewed sense of confidence in their job search,” she said. Without a positive attitude, a job seeker can be defeated before they even start looking, she said.

2. Set goals. It’s vital to set weekly goals with deadlines about how many employers to contact and which markets to research, Mazerella said. “If you leave it open ended, it won’t happen,” she said. Without a deadline, a job seeker could end up procrastinating for months, waiting for the right opportunity to come along, she said, instead of proactively finding opportunities.

3. Get organized. It’s a good idea to keep a spiral notebook during a job hunt, she said, and record the employers you’ve contacted, the places you’ve applied and the dates. “Looking for a job is a full time job and it should be treated like one,” she said. “It needs to be a top priority.” Keep a copy of the resumes and cover letters you’ve sent on file and the contact information of each employer, Mazerella said, so even if they call back a few weeks later, you’ll be ready.

4. Network at every opportunity. But networking doesn’t necessarily mean going to a mixer, she said. A good first step is to tell everyone you know what you do and that you’re searching for a job, she said. Many employers aren’t spending money to advertise job openings and are instead giving their employees incentives to help find candidates, Mazerella said. Networking fills most jobs before they are even posted, she said.

5. Send thank-you notes. It may seem simple, but a thank-you note may become the factor that determines whether or not you get a job, she said. An employer will more likely remember you if you send a note, she said, and it can also be an opportunity to emphasize something you talked about during your interview or clarify your salary requirements. Wherever you interview, be sure to mail a thank-you note within 24 hours, she said.

Source: HERE