from http://msn.careerbuilder.com/
Erin Paige had a good job. As the manager of a small gift shop in
"We were in a hotel lobby, so I had a pretty steady flow of customers," says Paige. "And since our hours were limited, there were a total of four employees. The set-up was perfect."
So perfect, in fact, that Paige figured she'd stay at the store for a while, even though she knew she could make more money when a friend at a clothing retailer offered her a position as a store manager at a mall in
"I'm the type of person who finds comfort in a routine, so I didn't want to do anything to upset my daily life," she says.
But when Paige found out her store was closing to make place for a hotel cafe and bakery, she was forced to scramble for a new job.
"I didn't have anything ready - no resume, no suit for interviews," Paige says. "I started from ground zero."
Be prepared
Career adviser Micah Pratt says he hears scenarios like Paige's often.
"People don't think they need to prepare themselves for whatever might be next in their lives," says Pratt, who advises information technology workers in
That's why Pratt says he thinks employees should continually look for the perfect situation, even if they've recently been hired.
"Until you're working for a place that gives you exactly how much money you want - meaning you name the price - and showers you with perks and time off, you don't have the 'perfect job,'" says Pratt. "You may have a great job but there might be something out there that can offer you more."
Pratt doesn't advocate jeopardizing a current job by overtly looking for a new employer, but he does say workers should always be ready to look for a new job at a moment's notice.
"Be prepared to find work immediately," Pratt says. "That's the important part. Whether you're looking or not is unimportant. What matters is that you're always ready to look."
Basic guidelines
Once you decide to remain active in the job market, there are a few things to remember:
- Update your resume each time you take a class or seminar, are assigned to a new project, complete an exemplary task or are honored with a company award. It's easier to summarize accomplishments for a resume when they are still fresh in your mind.
- Proceed with caution when networking with clients and peers. You want to establish yourself as a talented, ambitious individual, not a glad-handing job seeker.
- Do not publicize the fact that you're looking for a job to your co-workers.
"You shouldn't assume everyone wants what's best for you," says Pratt. "Sometimes, people just want your job, and they'll use whatever you say to them to help their cause. You don't want to have to defend yourself in front of your boss because someone opened his mouth."
- Do not send off resumes in every direction. Pick and choose the jobs that really appeal to you. You may come across these jobs as frequently as once a day or as infrequently as once every two months. Too many resumes saturating the market could eventually lead unnecessary information back to your boss.
- Make your current job your main focus. Turning your back on your work to send out resumes and cultivate contacts may hasten your plan to look for a new job.