Burg Workshop:
Surviving A Leeengthy Job Search

Career counselor Bob Burg kicked off a new series of half-day Marin Professionals workshops Tuesday, February 16, 1999 by addressing the problems and strategies involved in a lengthy job search.

Burg stressed being organized, being diligent and avoiding a defeatist attitude.

He said it is common to get discouraged when the first foray into job-seeking fails to return a satisfactory new position. But he cautioned attendees to "avoid negative, self-fulfilling prophecies." A negative attitude creates "mental and emotional obstacles to being open to the world of possibilities."

"Finding work is your job," Burg pointed out, "and you should spend a minimum of 25 hours a week in activities related to your job search." Burg called finding the right job a "numbers game. Everyone here is employable in a good job at good wages. But it takes diligence to find the right employer."

Successful job seekers are highly organized. An important indicator of that organization is faithfully following up each resume submitted.

Burg's list of job sources

"The fishing expedition": Make a list of 50-100 companies you would be interested in working for and contact them by phone, mail or e-mail, preferably identifying and reaching someone with hiring authority.

Networking: Make a list of 50 or more friends, relatives, acquaintances, former co-workers, etc., and let them know you are looking for work. Renew those contacts each 3-4 weeks.

Internet: Best used as a source of technical jobs.

Job hotlines: Because many hotlines have lengthy messages, record the call and listen to it later at your leisure.

Specialized publications: Newsletters, industry bulletins, etc., such as Opportunity Nocs, carry ads for openings in a particular industry or sector of the economy.

Newspapers: The least effective source of good job openings.

Burg emphasized the importance of the cover letter as a marketing opportunity. "It creates the employer's first impression of you." He urged tweaking the resume periodically to remedy weak points. He also encouraged using more than one resume, tailored to each specific job opening.

Burg's counseling and resume service is based in Richmond. He can be reached at (510) 527-3199