Having the same résumé for over nine years that I maintained each
quarter provided stability and confidence to feel pretty good about
it. It was used often in training classes and mentoring sessions, so I received
plenty of solicited and unsolicited feedback. I used it as a template
for what I taught others, and constantly made the adjustments based on
the feedback I received.

I felt confident that my extensive experience in the financial industry
was a positive attribute and started the first line of my profile with the
statement, “Highly qualified executive offering over twenty-three years
of…” However, a number of people let me know that the executive and
twenty-three years comments may have priced me out of some roles and
put constricting boundaries on opportunities. Even after nine years, I was
getting new feedback! The opinions of some hiring managers may have
been that I would be over-qualified for some positions, even though I
would be satisfied with senior management level positions of growth. It’s not
easy to change something you feel so comfortable with, but the revamped
version received more attention and created more discussion. I’m convinced
the new-and-improved résumé made a significant difference in
how I was viewed on paper.

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

• Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
• Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
• Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
• The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
• From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
• The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com.  Book , eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only) purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com

You will be rejected. You will have passive rejections, when people forget lunch meetings, or do not return your calls or emails. You won’t get interviews you thought you should, and you won’t even get a glance from jobs that you know you are qualified for. With the high unemployment rates, we have to get used to the fact that this unfortunately is normal. The reality is that there are far too many résumés flying around. Recruiters and hiring managers can’t always filter or interpret them all
accurately, quickly, or both. What you do with this rejection is another story.

When your phone is silent and your email inbox is empty, are you following up with past requests? When turned down, are you asking for feedback to become better the next time? Are you asking for suggestions for other possible leads? On several occasions, I was told that “other candidates were more qualified,” that I was “over-qualified,” or that I was “under-qualified,” depending on the job and the people I was working through. In my conversations, I asked questions and was curious. The
conversations that ensued led to times when I became considered for other similar roles, or for lines of businesses within that company that were not previously on the radar screen. I had circumstances when I was reconsidered after further discussion. My thinking is that one person creates an opinion of you based on the block of time that you spoke. Asking questions and possibly involving more people can get your name around, create new context to the conversation, and more importantly, keep you relevant. The goal is not to be over-the-top and in-your-face with the approach. The aim is to be curious, develop, and learn something for the
next time around. If the next time around happens to create a path for you, you can look at it as a bonus opportunity. Even asking questions as simple as, “Who else should I talk to?” can turn rejection into your friend immediately. Rejection: expect it, learn from it, and then use it to move forward.

As a side note, you do need to understand that some people and companies may not discuss the “whys” of their decision-making process. Whether it is out of fear of being sued for discrimination, misinterpretation, or other reasons, it’s important not to be discouraged if a request for feedback goes unanswered or is answered unsatisfactorily. The fact that you asked the question gave you the potential to gather some information to make you better, and is better than not asking at all.

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

• Down the Chute: A Toboggan Tale (children’s book for ages 4-10 years old)
• Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
• Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
• Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
• The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
• From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
• The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com.  Book , eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only) purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com

I would typically put in a ten-to-twelve hour day of job-searching. I don’t want to contradict the need to pursue the main goal—to find a job—but we do need to find balance. I am expanding on it as a distraction to break up your day. Take a lunch break and do a chore or address something you’ve always wanted or needed to do. A fellow unemployed friend wisely gave me the advice to at least take the weekends off to recharge. The amount of productive work goes down naturally, because not everyone is checking emails and messages, although I admit that many of the responses I did get were from people who slowed down enough from their own jobs to send a quick note or response on the weekends. You can partially control your own working schedule now that you’re at home, so take advantage of it. Your spouse’s honey-do list will appreciate it.

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

• Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
• Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
• Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
• The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
• From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
• The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com.  Book , eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only) purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com

What’s your plan for today? What about tomorrow? Have a game
plan and a regular routine scheduled. This is your job. For example,
you may want to set up the morning to review emails, spend the next
section of the morning making phone calls, and the next section of the
day sending out emails for potential networking sessions. You must have a
daily goal, including writing a certain number of cover letters, dedicating
time to review your résumé and marketing plan, looking at the openings
at your highest prospect companies, and sending out a minimum number
of networking requests.

Regardless of the action, building regular routines will keep you motivated
when you wake up in the morning. If your first response when you
wake up starts with you blankly staring at your computer asking, “What
do I need to do?” then it’s time to take a step back and establish a plan.
You are most likely thinking tactically before you’ve thought strategically.
Stop what you’re doing and invest the time to set up a strategic plan*—
even if it takes an entire day. The invested time of organization and time
management will pay high dividends by making you more efficient and
having a clearly formulated plan each day. In fact, this strategic day in establishing
how the rest of your days will play out may be one of the more
important days in the entire job-search process.
*A Strategic Plan will vary based on individual needs and preferences.
Ultimately, it’s your plan of attack. You may want to establish a priority of
people you will be attempting to contact. For example:

• Go to family members (immediate and extended). Generate a list
based on instant ideas.
• Call closest business friends. Generate a list comprised of immediate
contacts.
• Contact friends not associated with the business you are interested
in, but who may have ideas about the job-seeking process.
• Send emails/make calls to inner network: mentors, mentees, outside
interest contacts (Toastmasters, local community/school, etc.),
past colleagues—those with whom you have a strong familiarity.
• Contact people at companies you’re interested in pursuing. Look at
LinkedIn and other sources to obtain details.
• Continue searching LinkedIn, Facebook, and other social media
sites with connections to look for secondary contacts.
• Go to known openings or known opportunities.
• Review job openings on LinkedIn and other sources (write down
sources as they are obtained).
• Review LinkedIn contacts alphabetically.
• Go back to dormant contacts.
This list can go on based on your desires, and the order may be different
for you. However, it should be your starting point. Then, decide
how much time to dedicate daily to networking, sending emails to set up
meetings, exercising, and other activities that will consume your day.

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

• Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
• Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
• Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
• The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
• From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
• The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com.  Book , eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only) purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com