A Jobseekers Holiday Wish List - CareerEnlightenment.com

A Networking MentorIt’s my wish that every jobseeker finds a networking mentor this holiday season.   What is a networking mentor?   This is someone who is in your line of work, is power connected in your industry and who unconditionally mentors you through the job search process (and beyond).   Job hunting can be a lonely process and having a networking mentor help you along is invaluable.   Finding a networking mentor is part luck, part intuition, part attitude, and part effort.I consider a close friend, Adam Berman, a networking mentor.   Adam offered to meet me at Starbucks when I was having trouble getting people to accept my networking requests.   He clued me in to networking organizations that I never knew existed because I was a “heads down” corporate employee for many years before.   He opened up his virtual rolodex and connected me with many other influential people.   And Adam was there to provide advice on which job to take and how to negotiate the best offer.   Eve ryone, especially a jobseeker at this time of year, needs an “Adam.”   You will know it when you find one.A Job Search TeamIn the same spirit of not tackling a job search alone, a job search team can be so beneficial.   A job search team is a group of like-minded professionals who work together and support each other through the process.   Generally, team members have synergistic careers and networks but do not completely overlap.   It can be awkward if job search team members directly compete with each other for the same positions.The job search team meets weekly or bi-weekly to share job leads, networking suggestions, tips, tricks and techniques.   The job search team provides moral support, smoothing out the high and low emotions associated with job search.A Career Coaching SessionHiring a great Career Coach can help you shave months off your job search and can help you earn more than you thought possible.   Here’s another way to look at it. If you are sick, you hire a doct or.   If you need tax advice, you hire an accountant.   If you need career advice, you hire a Career Coach.   A coach normally has a lot of experience in career dynamics, either from spending time in outplacement companies or corporate human resources departments.   These professionals know how to strategize and are on top of the latest trends, such as using social media and personal branding.Many Career Coaches will provide a brief complimentary session to help you evaluate your needs.   My wish is that you find the right professional to help guide you through a very difficult and challenging time and through a process with which you have limited experience.To RecapIf you are in job search mode, what other gifts would you like (other than a six figure job offer!) to see this year?   If you currently have jobseekers in your network, what would you recommend for them?