Looking for a job can be discouraging, especially in this economy. If you're depressed, you get discouraged more easily than most people. Chances are that you're discouraged before you even start looking. I've been in this position a few times (including times I was depressed), so I want to give you a bit of a leg up on the competition with some job search coaching, including some tips that I got from a friend who's a Human Resources professional. Here are the six phases of a job search:
Deciding what you want and what you can live with: The very first step in your search will be to target both the jobs that would be perfect for you as well as those you would be willing to accept. By clearly defining these limits, you will make your search easier and take a lot of the anxiety out of deciding whether to apply for a specific job. This step also forces you to think about where you want to go with your career. If you've been a salesperson, do you want to be a manager and could you be good at it today? Or, would you be happier as a stock clerk with less customer contact? Remember that growing in your job can often be a way to increase your self-esteem and reduce your stress. Remember, reward is commensurate with risk and you should consider reaching a bit further if you can handle it.
Preparing Your Resumes: It is a good idea to have several resumes, each with a different focus on your skills. There is nothing dishonest about this, and it allows you to closely target your resume at specific jobs in different market sectors. If you were a secretary for the IT Manager in a large company and set up all of the staff training sessions, you might want to look for a job as the IT Training Manager at another company. Build on what you know, and then go back and take another look at the job you want. Would you be better off as the IT Training Manager or as the secretary to the Senior VP of Operations? Do you want your career to move in a straight line, or move in a slightly different direction? The 3-4 resumes you create will frame your future, and don't forget to create a separate cover letter for each resume. Also, if you are submitting a digital copy of your resume to an online service, don't miss the opportunity to add in a few of those obvious "key words" in the job posting.
People with depression tend to be pretty negative about their abilities, so have a friend read your resume before submitting it to make sure you're not downplaying your skills and experience.
Passive vs. Active Searching: Passive searching is responding to print and online ads. Active searching is reaching out to people you know, not to ask them for a job, but to let them know that you are looking and seek out their advice on where to look and what direction to move in. There is nothing that makes a person more uncomfortable than a friend asking for a job, however; that is the very reason that most people will put a lot of thought and insight into giving you good information if you are just asking for ideas. Passive searches will often require you to submit as many as 100 or more responses before you get a single inquiry. This type of searching takes a lot of time, but it is relatively easy. List the companies that you would be willing to work for and look at their websites for job postings. Visit a few of the few job search sites, but be careful. There are those who would be happy to take advantage of your employment needs for their own gain.
