Job Searches: Dealing with the Wrong Kind of Help
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As much as you may wish to keep private your lack of work or your unhappiness with your current job, the people who care about you will notice. In many ways that is a good thing. When they become a part of your job search team, you have more chances of finding someone who needs an employee just like you. But how do you ensure that well-meaning friends and family offer the right kind of help? Here are some frustrating job search stories and how to avoid them.



Job Search Story 1: “My friend keeps sending me job listings that have nothing to do with my skills—they are either way below my level or way above. How do I get her to stop?”



Make sure your friend understands what you do and what type of job you are looking for. One of the best ways to do this is to send her your resume. Your resume will point her to the right jobs in the right industry with the right requirements. You might also send her a sample job listing, letting her know that this is just the type of position you want. But do not sell her efforts short; many a job was won after a friend found the opening.



Job Search Story 2: “My family knows I am doing everything to find a job but they are frightened of the future. They want me to take any job, even though that will cut into my time to hunt for a job I am truly qualified for.”



Anxiety about the future is normal for family, especially if they depend on your income. Here again, sharing your resume may help. In describing your accomplishments over the years, it should give your family (as well as hiring managers and recruiters) a sense of your reliability, dedication and ability to problem solve. You might also want to consult with a Career Coach, to make sure that your job search is broad enough and you really are not overlooking opportunities.



Job Search Story 3: “A friend hooked me up a company owner with a possible job opening. That did not work out but I thanked everyone, my friend and the owner. The owner and I have even connected on LinkedIn. Now my friend, who is not very savvy about social media, is insisting that I phone the owner regularly about job openings. I am very uncomfortable with that.”



Sometimes friends have trouble letting go. You might reassure your friend by saying that you are very grateful for his help and advice, but you are maintaining a professional connection with the owner through LinkedIn. You might want to pass on to your friend some of my blog posts that mention LinkedIn and the importance of social media in a job search so that your friend realizes this is a valid approach and regular phone calls are not necessary.



Engaging family and friends in your job search may require some work on your part to make sure that they are targeting the right jobs for you.