Job Search Strategies: Things to do in January

Aurora Donnelly is a solo practitioner always looking forward to the next exciting transition.

Half of the written material (by my informal count of the sample I see) being published this month consists of lists. Lists of New Year’s resolutions are probably the most common, followed by wins/losses attained or suffered last year. Also, lists prompted by subsets of the resolutions, that is, for example, for those of you who resolved to eat better in 2010, lists of the healthiest foods.

These January lists are a tradition, year after year, and I thought, baahhh, too boring, too trite to write. But I found myself thinking of one after another activity connected to a new year that I wanted to mention to you as worth doing, and, voila, I ended up with a list. So here it goes:

1. Update your contact list. Go to all your sources: your online sites, Christmas cards returned as undeliverable, your email, publications, web sites that “find people,” etc. Make sure you have an accurate contact list. I have a fistful of little pieces of paper, cocktail napkins and random business cards secured by a clip that I am going to immortalize in my computer contact list TODAY.
2. Test your list by sending out a greeting or a thank you to all your contacts. The new year is a great occasion for renewing contacts or initiating new ones. The new year, unlike the other end-of-year holidays, is religion-neutral and connotes renewed hope and positive, fresh possibilities.
3. Sending out a greeting to your list at this time serves a couple of purposes besides verifying that you have correct contact information: It keeps you in their sights so that when you need a specific contact you don’t look like you only think of them when you need something; indicates to the recipients that you are organized, disciplined, on the ball, etc.; updates your status (you can mention what you are currently doing, whether you are still job searching, or have landed a position or are opening your own office, whatever); gives you the opportunity to thank contacts that have been helpful to you during the past year.  You can also add personal notes if they help your professional image: e.g. I have started training for a triathlon in 2010, wish me luck, not, I am determined to overcome my excessive drinking habit in 2010.
4. Please, please, go to Borders or Barnes & Noble or Amazon or wherever you like and get a grammar and style book. Spelling, grammar and punctuation mistakes are instant killers to your job search, whether on a resume, cover letter or networking communication. Have someone proof read your materials whenever possible. I have seen horrifying errors lately, even in professional publications. “Keeping someone in your sites” is not only incorrect, but leaves the reader wondering exactly what the writer is referring to: websites or eyes. Calvary instead of cavalry, this from AP! Aaagghhh. The plural of ”medium” (yes! singular for TV, newspaper, internet outlet) is “media” (more than one TV, newspaper, internet outlet or these, in general), not “medias”, yikes! Needless to say, as lawyers, correct language is even more crucial, since words are our stock in trade.
5. Finally, take a good look at your physical self and maybe ask a friend to critique your appearance and demeanor. Take stock of your wardrobe, update what’s needed, get a haircut, order an exercise DVD, work on improving some part of yourself right away. It will focus your attention on something positive and prepare you for a great year!