Hunting

Here are some points to consider when job hunting:

Be flexible in what you are willing to do

You may have a degree that specializes in Area51, but that may be a small job pool. As such:

• Find related areas that you qualify in

• Be on the lookout for interesting areas related to your main field

• Don’t get trapped in Area51, think creativily

• Does Area51 make you happy? If not, explore…

Use and Prioritize Your Personal Network

Your personal network maybe a more logical way to find work. That is because a personal reference gets you in the door faster than any cold calling (web) strategy. As such:

• Develop your personal network:

  • Colleagues

  • Friends

  • Business relations

  • Family contacts

  • Bartenders (Hey, they know alot of people!)

• Systematically spread out the word that you are looking for work.

• Prioritize those in your network that are well connected super-spreaders.

• Be willing to meet, discuss, and explore

• Go to trade shows, happy hours, whatever, and network

• Be flexible.

Be Radically Positive

• Put yourself in a positive frame of mind, whatever it takes.

• Always gravitate to work that makes you happy

• Use exercise, yoga, music, whatever it takes to get there

• Be active, pro-active and constantly push forward

• Remember, even in a down-market there are jobs available, they exist, they always will.

• Be relentless

Resumes

Do:

• Make sure your contact info is correct

• Make it no more than one page

• Customize your resume for the job requirements

• Make sure your summary is specific and relevant to the employer

• Remember it might be scanned, so include all relevant key words.

• Make a clean and error-free format:

  • Ensure the format is simple, neat, and visually easy to read

  • Check spelling

  • Make sure dates make sense

• Keep your resume short and concise about your history

• Highlighted skill at top

• Include RELEVANT work experience:

  • Company Name

  • Dates of employment

  • Major achievements and awards: this should be the emphasis

  • Brief highlighted summary of relevant duties

• Include publicly available resources of your work: Ex: Github, Gitlab

• Educational info at college level or above

Do Not:

• Include any personal hobbies or activities not related to work

• Include educational info below college level

• Embellish or exaggerate your experience

Some Random Words of Advice

• Respect wisdom

• Learn from youth

• Be positive in all things

• Cultivate an attitude of eternal optimism

• Be at peace with yourself

• Know yourself

• No resentments

• Want less

• Pride isn’t the opposite of shame, its the cause of it.

• Learn fromm history, live now

• Dont let fear run your life

• Never go shopping on an empty stomach :)