Has the state of burnout outweighed your good intentions to stay focused on your job search? At a recent networking seminar for unemployed executives, several volunteered who had been unemployed for months. Many were burned, burned, and just plain tired. If that sounds like you, now is the time to re-examine your job search strategy and improve it! Imagine a tired long-distance runner approaching the finish line. What does he do? Get out of the race or dig deeper in search of the extra blast of energy needed to cross that line? Let’s look at some ways to improve your job search that will help speed up reemployment.

Boost your activity

How do you keep track of your job search activities? Do you have a system for keeping your contacts organized so that you can follow up regularly and methodically? Do you set goals and reward yourself when you meet them? Organizing is the only way to stay on top of all the activity surrounding a career search. Using technology can save time with the support of a running coach to stay on track. Challenge yourself to increase the weekly contact you make. If you currently get to three per day, increase to ten. For anyone with a sales background, this tactic should sound familiar. Increase your chances of success by increasing your calls. Track your average rate of return … you’ll have to collect your “no’s” to get a “yes”, but it only takes one “yes” to get a job!

Increase your visibility

Now is not the time to stay home. When you’re unemployed, looking for work becomes your full-time job. How many people do you meet in a week? If it is less than 20, you are probably contributing to your unemployment status. Most people (some career experts say up to 85%) get their jobs today through networking, the kind of face-to-face interaction that involves building personal, ongoing relationships. Sure, money may be tight, but only consider the cost of breakfast and lunch as an investment in your career. Of course, when you meet and greet people, you must come out of that “black hole” that you may have fallen into. Put a smile on your face, even if you don’t feel it in your heart. Get to know others by asking questions to find out what you can do for them and their job searches. When you leave the meetings, you will feel reconnected with humanity. You will be remembered for what you have to offer, which will result in others wanting to return the favor. Watch how many job opportunities start coming your way!

Boost your creativity

When small business owners launch their businesses, they are advised to publish articles and make presentations to increase public awareness of their startups. And works! So what if you did the same? Try writing and talking about your experience to attract interest in your personal brand. It would be interesting to see how many responses you receive due to this new notoriety and how many could turn into bona fide job offers. How do you reach your target markets through publishing and presentation? Do your research to find out what they read, then write and submit articles relevant to their interests and expertise. Both print periodicals and online publications can be beneficial to you. Use the same approach when scheduling presentations. Where does your target market go to learn more about their expertise? (Hmm, are we reconnecting?) Reach out to the event organizers to offer your speaking skills. Most professional groups welcome presenters who do not charge fees.

Increase your knowledge

Visibility and creativity will work in your favor as long as you stay current in your field. Since learning is a life-long process, take advantage of your unemployment status to attend seminars and workshops that keep your skills fresh and up-to-date. This rings particularly true for anyone in the information technology field. However, people in most industries would agree that change is happening at breakneck speed … don’t be left behind! As you continue your learning, remember to read business magazines, nonfiction bestsellers, and current affairs periodicals. What business trends do you detect? How can you position yourself as an agent of change? Companies look for drivers of innovation that impact their bottom line. Does your resume portray your successes in such a way that hiring authorities can easily see the value it offers them as they try to not only cope, but thrive, in an ever-changing market? Ask a running coach to critique your resume to make sure all your bases are covered. You may not have heard it and you may not agree, but some business futurists are predicting a huge talent shortage for 2010. If you’re stuck in the present with the inertia of job hunting, this may be hard to imagine. . However, based on research by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, a new book has emerged that clearly describes this next turn of events. “Impending Crisis” by Roger Herman, et al, is a must-read if you are looking for your next leadership position. One thing he addresses is the age factor of over 50 in relation to the value companies can receive from hiring people with proven leadership experience. When you read this book, you can get ahead of the learning curve!

Increase your chances of success

With most things in life, history repeats itself and change challenges the best of us. The state of work in the 21st century is being defined as this article is being written. It will continue to evolve as baby boomers retire and are replaced by their children and grandchildren. For those currently out of work, today’s heartache will eventually fade into the past as new positions are gained and careers advance. What role do you want to play in overall career satisfaction? Do you want to take charge of your own destiny or give up its control? You don’t have to do it all alone. “At a time when companies are downsizing and out of place … at a time when boomers are facing 50, coaches are easing traumatic transitions.” This quote is from “Professional Coaches Offer Help in the Game of Life,” Long Beach Press-Telegram, July 9, 1996. Let’s see … that was almost nine years ago. Isn’t it time to hire a career coach?