What’s more important at a time like this, a resume or relationships? I’m not talking about the old “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” adage. We may not like to admit how true that is for some industries but I’m talking about living and interacting truthfully (getting real) with the world around us while we live through a season of unemployment and economic downturn. It can be discouraging to continually rewrite and edit a resume of past achievements and work that seem to go unrecognized. It can make us question our relevance and value. This is one of the causes of the depression characteristic of the job seeking process. I’m here to propose a seemingly counter-intuitive option.
If you’re stuck in the resume re-write rut, try jumping the track by reinvesting some of that time. You’re just going to spend it reworking that perfectly fine resume, ruminating on why you didn’t get that job you were perfectly qualified for, and procrastinating about looking for more jobs to apply for anyway. Take all of that time you are effectively throwing away and reclaim it by finding somewhere to volunteer. Yes, you heard me right. Go do work and DON’T get paid for it.
Look for an organization that matches your core values. It doesn’t have to be in the industry you want to work in. Remember, this is about character, not expertise. Commit yourself to the volunteer opportunity, for the impact you will have and the difference you will make in peoples’ lives, not the benefit it will make to you. Focus your conversations on the task and mission at hand. Don’t try to sell yourself to people.
This isn’t just a different job search tactic. It is a chance to get your mind off selling yourself. If you were good at selling yourself, you would already be hired. Your skills lie elsewhere. Let your skills and character speak for themselves. As you stop trying to get hired, potential employers will get to see what really matters to you and what you’re good at. You’ll be able to have an interview without the employers even knowing they’re interviewing you. If you commit to the process, employers will be so impressed with your work ethic and character, they will re-open dormant positions and sometimes even create positions that didn’t exist before, to have you as part of their company.
