Survival Jobs

Jobs are a hot commodity.
So are you.

It's hard to keep a positive frame of mind when it seems like it's slim pickins out there. Sometimes we have to start looking for the Plan B while Plan A is panning out, or even to take a whole new route to a whole new destination.

No, I'm not saying give up looking for Your Job. I'm saying that while you're waiting, the bills need to be paid and food put on the table. That's where "Survival Jobs" come in.

A lot of us need to take what I call a "survival job" while we're waiting for the "real job" to happen. Maybe we've been made obsolete, been let go, just out of college - there are a ton of reasons why we're on career hold.
Survival jobs are usually where you would be in your free time - shopping or getting a coffee - only on the other side of the counter and maybe wearing the dreaded uniform (Shudder. Been there. Done that. Lots.).
The good thing is that these jobs pay the bills and take the heat off panic mode for awhile. Another good thing is a lot of these survival job places offer benefits and insurances that sitting at home worrying doesn't provide. (I'd be a millionaire if THAT paid off!)
It's nothing any of us want to do but when the crunch is on, what the heck. You always looked good in orange baseball caps, right? It's all in the perception and here are a few tips to keep your perspective.

1. The thing you have to keep in mind is that no matter what anybody else says (ie: in one of those standard, vague, letters of rejection) or doesn't say (ie: Why isn't that phone ringing to say they're hiring me?), you're needed and valuable.
2. If you're in a job finding slump and you've done all the traditional "take a break, take a walk, take a bubblebath" things, then take a step back and see what you can tweek.
3. Your resume - how many do you have? Your PhD is going to look mighty pretentious to the Hiring Dude at the 24 Hour U-Mart. It might be time to create a new one. In fact have a look at what's out there that you feel you might be qualified for and create a whole new resume for it.
4. Make sure in the Summary of Qualifications that you're mentioning what they're looking for in their ad especially if the ad was on the net. KEYWORDS are what are in the ad, KEYWORDS are what internal databases read from incoming resumes, KEYWORDS are what the person who is sighing through the hundreds/thousands of resumes is looking for.
5. Don't be afraid to put "re-entering the workforce" if you think it'll boost your chances of not being overlooked. You might have been on parental leave or making a career change for all anyone knows; the idea is to make your resume so enticing that they just have to bring you in for an interview to ask why. Remember, you want an interview and then you can sell yourself. Get that interview first.
6. No, you're not "too old" or "over qualified". Semantics. It's all in the words you choose. If you're trying to get a job in retail, think like a retail person thinks. "Mature work ethic" is a boon to any employer whether you're 16 or 116, and that's just one of the great qualities that a lifetime of experience in Life 101 gives you as a career boost.
7. If your gut tells you you might be "overqualified" instead of "perfect!", put your status a few sections below, if at all, under "Other experience" and chunk it down if you need to.
8. Are you willing to relocate or commute? Let'em know.
9. Do you have any related experience? See if you can reword it. Don't forget that "Sanitation Engineer" is the new "Garbage Man" on a resume and vice versa.
10. Check your nearest library for resume books. If you're editing down it's good to see other examples. The internet isn't alwasy the best place for free advice on this one. Go to the library or an employment centre, see what you like that you can apply to yourself.
11. No, it might not be your dream job but if you feel bad about your resume it's going to reflect somehow. Love your resume or make one that you can.
12. Survival jobs are not the end of you or the end of the world. They're not permanent. Whatever you learn will probably come in handy; whatever you have to offer will definitely come in handy. Like, remember that co-worker or boss that irked you before? They're everywhere, just in a different form. You have the skills to deal with them wherever they may pop up in life. No problem, right? "CAN DO!"
13. YOU ARE NOT YOUR RESUME. None of us are. It's just a summary of some of the things we're capable of. And we're always capable of more, better, transforming and morphing into better - it's the nature of that beast we call Life. Which leads me to
14. It's ok not to put everything you did as President at XYZ company on a resume applying for Local Call Centre. Tweek it to reflect all the great customer service skills you provide but not necessarily that you managed global marketing to the tune of 3.7 billion dollars.
15. If you can join a support group or job leads/ networking group, jump in! Not only does misery love company, there are nuggets of wisdom, job leads (hopefully someone will be complaining about being interviewed by Candii with two i's who is a manager at 22) and inspiration, AND more often than not, free coffee!
16. If you've decided to wait it out for the dream job, think about the scenariothat is unfolding. Somewhere, right now the dynamics are in motion for you to get that job. Either a company is getting more orders and building up the feasibility to hire you or...somebody's getting pregnant or moving somewhere else so you can move into that job or somebody's screwing up so they'll be fired - the scenarios are endless - rest assured that ineveitably the forces are in motion. Keep breathing and sending out those resumes!
17. None of this is forever. Chin up. Smile on. How's your resume collection going?

More on the nitty gritty details of resumes in upcoming posts.

Two thumbs up - you're awesome and a Hireable Desirable. Everybody has something to offer employers. There ARE jobs out there, the choice is up to you!
Today's Survival Job recipes are at http://www.drtoast.com/departments/toast-recipes. It'll take your mind of the job search for a few minutes and hopefully put at least a tiny grin on your face for a few minutes - it put one on mine!


Search Amazon.com for job hunters survival guide