Good morning! Happy Monday! 
If you are job hunting or in a job you hate, Mondays can be a huge disappointment. They mark the beginning of five days of doing stuff you don’t want to do. While I can’t change the fact that you don’t want to do them, I can suggest some things you can do to be more effective in seeking new opportunities, right!
Attend Networking Groups
One of the things I’ve come to realize is that many job seekers rely on attending networking groups for the unemployed. That’s not a bad thing, in moderation. What I have seen is that the job seeker spends a majority of their time networking by only attending the groups (because there are so many options). They aren’t spending quality one-on-one time with people. Please, don’t mis-understand, groups are great, especially if you have a very limited network. Groups offer resources, tools, information and an instant bond with everyone at the meeting, so go! But, chose one. Check them all out, but invest your time wisely and chose the one that you find has the biggest return on your investment of time. If you aren’t sure about what groups are available in your area, you can check with the Department of Labor/One-Stop in your city and you can check out the newspaper and you can check for Meetups.
What I am recommending is that you start putting stuff on your calendar- planned activities!
Meet with People
Next, schedule as many meetings with people you need to meet as possible. Let me be clear, this isn’t about hit and run networking. It is about following up. It is about uncovering as many stones as possible so you can find the right opportunity. It is a mix of quantity and quality. I am urging you to expand your existing network while at the same time nurturing your existing network.
Invest in Yourself
Improve yourself by attending classes, workshops and reading! If you need to brush up on some skills, consider taking classes at community college. You might find you are eligible for government re-training dollars (ie grant money). Another option is self study. I wrote about some great free resources to take advantage of online curriculum here. Find local professional associations and see what programs they are offering. The options are truly endless as long as you know where to look and what you are looking for!
If you are having difficulty achieving the results you want and you live in the Rochester, NY area, I will be offering three workshops to help move you forward in your search. One is on networking, one is on social media and one is on interviewing! Learn more about these workshops on my site at Upcoming Workshops.
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
