How to kickstart your job hunt while everyone is OOO
Hello from Cape Cod! And welcome to August, where everyone -- including myself and members of Congress -- is on vacation. If you’re employed and vacationing, more power to you. But if you’re on the job hunt, this could be a great time to move your search forward while everyone else is enjoying a cocktail by the ocean somewhere. As I’ve written about before, the job search takes longer (often way longer) than you think or want it to. So take advantage.
Here are my tips for making job hunting progress while people are OOO:
Come up with a fall plan. This year, Rosh Hashanah and Labor Day are in the same week. Both holidays serve as a natural restart to the year, so I'd recommend using the days to mark the beginning of a job search campaign. Whether you are just starting to think about your next move or are actively on the job hunt, set specific goals around what you want to do between Labor Day and the end of the year. For example, it could be getting 500 more LinkedIn connections, or conducting 100 one-on-one networking and outreach meetings. More goal ideas here.
Focus on your personal story. First impressions matter at every aspect of the interview process. In every interview I do, I always ask candidates to tell me a little bit about themselves or to walk me through their resume. Use the month of August to write out your story so that you can nail it when asked. Bonus points if you can get a friend to practice it with you.
Spend time researching organizations you are excited about. The idea here is to do your research when interviews might be slow so that you are ready to jump in when folks come back to work. I can always tell when a candidate has done their homework and knows the organization and field. Spend time building a list of groups and companies you are excited about and go through their websites. Set up Google news searches for them, see who on staff you have any connection to, and reach out to them for a meeting.
Apply for jobs. If everyone else is on vacation, maybe (just maybe) you can get in with an organization because you are an early applicant.
Consider hiring a coach. At the start of 2021, we launched a coaching program. August is a great time to chat with someone else about your job search. We've had over 50 people receive coaching support. For $500, you can do three sessions that will set you up well: materials alignment, telling your story, building and cultivating your network, and then some. All the sessions are offered ad hoc as well -- more info on our website.
Here are the top three jobs we’re featuring this week:
Policy Director at United Democracy Center; $160,000-$180,000; Remote.
Campaigns Director at Only One; $65,000-$80,000; Remote.
Associate Director of Recruiting at Galileo; $100,000-$150,000; Oakland, Calif.
Now, onto housekeeping!
NRG Consulting is offering coaching programs to folks on the job hunt, whether you’re an entry- or senior-level candidate. Check out the programs we’re offering on our website, and get in touch with us.
If you find this newsletter helpful, forward it to your friends and help us build our network! Also, if you have feedback or an idea for a future newsletter topic, shoot me a note.
Naomi