Blog Post: To Power Up Your Job Search, Power Off Your Computer

You’ve spent enough time on the computer today - stop reading this and go out and talk to other humans.   It’s easy to spend hours and hours on the internet, going from link to link, page to page, job posting to job posting and use up an entire day.  But when was the last time you actually spoke, face-to-face, with someone that can help you in your job search?

Are you still in your pajamas at 5 pm? 

Disconnecting from your computer and going out into the real world offers many benefits.  People are the key to finding a great job – people who know you and trust you and will recommend you; people who can share helpful information with you; people who know the people you need to meet; people who are looking for great candidates!  Here are some ideas for getting out and meeting those people:

·   You’ve heard this before, but do it: attend networking events.  Look for the professional associations in your field and attend their events.  Many associations have job support groups as well – accountability can be a great motivator.  You can also meet great people at a special interest group meeting, a little less formal but lots of face time.

·   Volunteer – you will help someone in need, and get a clear perspective on your own situation.  Choose an organization or project that is related to your field of interest and you’ll get valuable experience as well. 

·   Take a class to either refresh your skills or just to learn something new (and no online classes right now!).  You can meet people with whom you already have something in common, and you never know where they might work or who they know. 

·   Get some exercise at the gym, a class or join a league.  Exercise will keep you energized and healthy, and helps fight depression.  I met a job seeker recently who joined a softball league and had several job leads by the end of the first game.  He was comfortable talking about his situation and what he was looking for (and a power swing didn’t hurt either). 

·   Just get up and go!  Go get a cup of coffee (maybe at the Starbucks near a company you are interested in…), go to the library, take your dog to the dog park, listen to live music - whatever it might be, just get out and go where you’ll have a chance to interact with other people.  Clear your head, get some air, have a nice chat.

Here are some resources to help you (but don’t spend too long online!):

• Watch this video for fun advice on how to introduce yourself
• Our Community Events Calendar lists career-related meetings, events and workshops
• Our Local Resources page lists over 350 local chapters of professional associations, community organizations, and more
• Meetup.com has over 1,000 special interest groups, sports teams & leagues, and more
• Volunteermatch.org to find a volunteer position
• Maricopa.edu to find a class at one of the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges
• Google “free events Phoenix ” to find interesting things to do