"Just tell us how to get a job!" you've implored us at AOL Jobs, and we listened. We're getting out the heavy artillery for you by printing the "One-Day Career Makeover" from the book 'Career Comeback--Repackage Yourself to Get the Job You Want.' It's a makeover you can give yourself at home, so it costs very little, if anything -- and you can do it no matter where you live. In just one day, it can put you head and shoulders above your competition.
Dare we say it? It can even be fun, if you do it right. This doesn't have to be an expensive, laborious, months-long process: Everything can be completed in a lively eight hours, the equivalent of one normal weekday. And if you already have a job but are worried about hanging onto it, you can set aside a Saturday for it, so you'll be ready to start a job search if, god forbid, you get laid off. As a matter of fact, this is also a helpful exercise if you're happily employed and seeking a promotion.
Who knows? Once you complete these steps, you just might wake up the next morning and find, waiting patiently in your e-mail box, a few job opportunities from employers who are looking for you!
Here's your agenda:
8-10AM: Spend two hours producing a killer resume, highlighting your special skills and eliminating work experience that is irrelevant to the types of positions you're currently seeking. You might want to create a few different resumes, if you're applying for diverse jobs in different fields. See emurse.com for answers to all your resume questions, as well as resume templates and useful examples and tips.
10AM: Start the physical process. If you're feeling flush, go for a blow dry if you're a woman or a haircut and/or shave if you're a man, at your favorite (budget) salon. If you're watching your pennies, wash, dry and style your hair at home so you look your best
11AM: Women: Have your makeup done for free at the makeup counter in your favorite department store. You might want to at least buy a lip-gloss to thank them. If you're doing the home-version of this makeover, carefully do your makeup in-house, as if you were going to an important event. Men: Take this time to shave and trim any unruly facial hair.
Noon: Select a fresh, hip, outfit from your closet. Make sure there are pops of color in it -- no plain white shirts, or a boring cream shirt and black jacket combos. Feel free to use the news anchor's trick of wearing a colorful shirt/top and/or tie with jeans or sweats underneath -- you're only going to be shooting head and shoulders. No big prints, and no busy backgrounds. It's best to stand against a plain colored or brick wall, so no one will be able to tell where you are. Once you look your absolute best, have a friend, spouse, neighbor, whomever, snap several digital photos and download the best on your home computer.
1PM: Serve your photographer lunch -- it's the least you can do for his or her services. While you're eating, have your photographer proof your resume. You should NEVER send it out without having at least one other person proof it.
2PM: Select an elegant business card template from one of the many free online providers like Vistaprint.com or Bizcard.com. Some sites will print the cards for you free -- all you have to do is pay postage. You'll want these cards to have your name, your e-mail address, and your phone number. No street address, and only include your profession or the position you're seeking if you have something very specific in mind. Otherwise, leave it open.
3PM: Start your own blog so it will be easy for employers to find you online. Post that fabulous digital photo you just took and a professional profile using information from your new resume. Also, provide snippets, tips and teases from any online articles about your profession that you've read recently. Make sure you provide a link to the original article. A few sites that offer free blogs include blog.com, blogger.com and blogster.com.
4PM: Begin your social networking campaign. Post that flattering photo on LinkedIn.com, and fill in all the professional information that site allows you to. Remember to use the job title you're seeking quite a few times, so that recruiters who are searching for people in your field can find you easily. Send connection requests to people who work for companies you admire. You can do the same thing on a professional Facebook page. If you already have a personal Facebook page, start a professional one that has no pix of your kids, pets or any references to Farmville or Mafia Wars, etc. Find connections and friends in alumni groups, former employer groups and special professional interest groups on these sites, and any other networking sites that pertain to your profession. Search old yearbooks and company directories for ideas about connections.
5PM-on: Step away from the computer. Relax on the couch, kick your shoes off, poor yourself a glass of your favorite beverage and indulge yourself with some mindless TV, reveling in the knowledge that even while you're sleeping, prospective employers could be searching for you, finding you, and praying that you'll take the job they're offering.
You can get more information about each of these steps in the book 'Career Comeback--Repackage Yourself to Get the Job You Want.' But if you're eager to get started right away, just do a search for the parts you want to clarify on AOL Jobs. Happy (and fast) job hunting!
