My general advice to job seekers is not to pay for something you can do for yourself. This is what I mean. There are literally thousands of free and reputable resources for job seeking advice. Find them and use them. That is part of what my blog is for.
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Never pay for someone else to find you a job…
- Never pay money to have someone email your resume to 100s of companies
- Don't pay to access jobs paying $100K+
- Don't pay someone to write your resume
The old saying, "if it sounds to good to be true then it probably is" applies. We look for shortcuts- ways around doing the painful acts associated with job search. Paying someone else doesn't make the situation immediately better, you are still out whatever you paid and still not in the dream job.
The journey through job search is a valuable life lesson. Something you will undoubtedly experience again in your life (sorry, sad but true). It is also a life skill that you need to pass along to your children, no matter their age.
There are some things you MUST pay for. Your own personal development. Don't become stagnant. Invest in you and the rewards are much greater.
I was overseeing a workshop this week and a woman expressed her concern over not being able to get into a free workshop. I empathized with her and told her she could get similar training for $25 which included lunch. She shook her head and said she didn't want to pay the money. I then offered her the names of some books that also addressed the topic she was interested in, she didn't write them down and seemed less than interested. Oh well. How badly did she really want the skills from the workshop if she wasn't willing to work at it.
When was the last time you attended a professional development workshop? A seminar related to your occupation or industry? Shut up, that long ago…
Your development is definitely worth paying for!
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.
