by Brian Dooley

Created on: February 10, 2007   Last Updated: November 08, 2011

The reality is, they haven't gone anywhere. In fact, you more than likely have come across them already. The problem is that most people job search using the same old-fashioned approach that got them the hated job, they just lost. There's a gross lack of education of when it comes to job hunting and employment. And no one's teaching what questions to ask. It usually feels like you're blindfolded and throwing darts at a dartboard. You hope you hit the target.

If you truly enjoy long commutes stuck in stop-and-go-traffic, low pay, clock watching until 5:00 and complaining about Monday mornings, then be my guest and do what most people do: open the local paper's Help Wanted ads, look for your profession and hope that the mighty Employment Gods were smiling and placed an ad for your skills today.

It's amazing to me how many employees complain about how much they hate their job day after day, year after year, spending their whole career whining. Until one day they're called into the boss' office on a Friday afternoon and told with a sad face and a rumpled brow that their years of service and loyalty are no longer needed. Thank you very much, here's a box for your things. You're welcome to leave early and we'd like our office key back.

And so, 6:00 AM Sunday morning rolls around and the weight of panic having set in like a pair of cement shoes, they've got the classified ads laying wide open on the kitchen table with more boxes circled and highlighted than a kid with a Toys R Us catalog at Christmas Trying to do it all over again. "Thank you sir may I have another?!" Whack! Someone once told me the definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results.

Now if this describes you, as it did me before I became a headhunter, then drop what you're doing and listen closely.

Of the long list of to do's when job hunting, these two starting points will give a launching pad to take off from.

First Make a list of your wants. While it may seem trivial, I was shocked to learn how few of my applicants had even remotely considered what they wanted, outside of a paycheck. Do yourself a favor and list of at least 10 "dream" qualities that are important to you. For example; How much money would it take for me to be truly satisfied? Do I want a start-up company with growth potential, or an old established company? Or, how far do you want to commute? Do you want to commute at all? By taking a little time to think through what you want, will help you select or de-select "Submit Resume" effortlessly.

Second, make a list of dream companies. If you could work for anyone, who would it be? Think about companies you've heard good things about from others. Don't start by checking to see if there's an opening in the Mail Room, either. Just list "who you would, if you could."

Have you ever wondered why there aren't a lot of openings for "CEO" or "Vice President" in the help wanted section? Even though people in these positions move around too. Because those openings are out there, they're just never printed! Target those companies first, and submit directly to them, regardless of what you think is or is not available. Rather than looking through the leftover scraps on the internet, wouldn't it be nice to ask for the position you really want for a change.  If you want a good job, then doesn't make sense to ask for it?

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