Introduction

Asking for help is a significant challenge for me, especially since I have not experienced a layoff after working for a long time. I have been contemplating how to tell my friends that I need assistance. Specifically, I require help reviewing my resume, online profiles, LinkedIn account, methods, techniques, tools, and approaches. Until now, I had only considered asking one person for help with everything without realizing that there might be multiple people who could help with various aspects of job searching.

Ideas sprout from the most unusual places—one day in the shower.

As I became more focused on my job search, I started to reflect on my progress at the end of each day. I wondered if there was anything I had overlooked in my search, and I thought about my approaches to see if there were any loose ends to tie up. I was meditating on my approaches.

One day, while I was showering and thinking about what was missing, I had a simple idea: “Why not ask recruiters for recommendations, tips, or techniques to improve my resume?” At first, my logical mind questioned why recruiters would help me find a job, but I decided to try anyway. I asked recruiters for ideas on improving my job search with every call I received. To my surprise, it was one of my best decisions.

I wrote it down on a post-it note to keep track of this idea. At the end of each call with a recruiter, I used the following script: “Hi, Mr./Ms. [x], can I ask you a question beyond the recruitment process? I understand that you have been in this area for some time and have seen both sides of the coin – job seekers and jobs. Do you have any recommendations, tips, or tricks to help accelerate my job search? As you can understand, my contract is ending, and finding a new job in this economy is crucial.“

Requested gatekeeper for help on ideas and approaches.

Surprisingly, many recruiters who are the first point of contact in a job search are willing to help in any way they can. Some have been in the field for so long that they know how the system works and can give ideas quickly. When I asked for help, some spent 15 minutes, some spent 20, some looked at my profile, and some gave direct feedback on my resume and communication style.

Here are some of the tips that I remember:

• Make your LinkedIn status “Open to Work” so recruiters can easily see you’re looking for a job.
• Include additional details about your situation in the summary section of your profile, such as your work status, clearance, degree, certifications, and any other qualifications that might help recruiters. One recruiter mentioned that until she spoke to me, she was unaware of some of my qualifications, such as my master’s degree or certifications.
  • Example: “US Citizen with public trust clearance. Masters & Bachelor’s degree in computer science. Certifications in Azure, AWS, PMP, ITIL, TOGAF”
• Search for candidates on LinkedIn with similar skill sets, see their profiles, and update your profile accordingly.
  • Use as many buzzwords as possible in your resume and online profile. Nowadays, application tracking systems (ATS) filter the candidates.
• Search for candidates who recently joined a new company; this means their old position could open up.
• Create a GitHub profile and upload some code samples. Recruiters search in GitHub for specific skill sets and look up that person on LinkedIn.
• Create your profile on other job sites like Dice, Monster, Zip Recruiter, Clearance Jobs, and Indeed. Most recruiters need to buy services from job aggregators.
• Practice your communication skills before the interview. I used https://toastmasters.yoodli.ai/
• Keep posting content online so your profile can be seen by more people. Ensure you post something relevant and add value to the group.
• Join some of the online groups with many members. I joined a group with three million members, where it can be easy to find a job while posting content. Use algorithms to your advantage in this case.
• Tight wording in your resume is important for the employer to see your actual work rather than word stuffing.

I am grateful to all the recruiters who helped me on this journey.

I finally reached out to friends for additional help.

After receiving valuable insights from recruiters, I realized there was no point in holding back. I started reaching out to friends for help. One of my friends reviewed my resume and gave me feedback, which I incorporated before going back for another round of review. As I contacted more friends for one-on-one calls, more ideas were shared, and additional references were offered.

It’s fascinating to see how important networking can be. As the saying goes, “Your network is your net worth.” From this experience, I started viewing my network as a garden of small plants that must be nurtured, fed, and maintained to grow organically. Seeing how many people are willing to help when we ask is exciting, so I can easily brush off job search failures or rejections.

Telling a different story that this is the best thing that happened to me.

This is a unique part of my story. For some reason, my mind keeps telling me this is one of the best experiences of my life. I have a habit of staying in the same place, under the name of loyalty, until they kick me out. This habit has both pros and cons. For an employer, it’s a good indicator that the person is reliable and steady. For the employee, it’s a comfort zone unless they choose to take on additional responsibilities.

As I prioritize my job search, my mind stays sharp. I am super-efficient in my use of time and resources. Even though uncertainty and second-guessing are brewing in the back of my mind, I really like the uncertainty, as my focus becomes singular. With a singular focus, I can stay in a flow state and make a lot of progress quickly.

During a deep discussion with my wife, who became my best friend, supporter, guide, and philosopher in this journey, I realized how blessed I am.

Some mornings, I clear my thoughts and start the day fresh with morning pages. This practice helps me realize how many gifts I have. It’s easy to write down realizations in a line, but when I write them down in a book with a pen in hand, dumping all my thoughts, it’s like cleaning my tank to fill it with new fuel.

My employer, a mentor, used to call me to inquire about how I was doing after my employment ended. The tips he gave me were phenomenal.

Conclusion.

Asking for help can be daunting, but once you cross the “help threshold,” which is usually asking three people for assistance, it becomes much easier. Initially, I had to face my fears and ask for help from the first three recruiters and friends, but after that, it was a joyful ride.

Remember that everyone needs help; most of the time, people need positive support during their job search journey. Encouraging words and support can make up 70% of the pie, with the rest being easy to deal with.

It’s important to ask for help because how would anyone know you’re looking for work unless you tell them? As it says in the Bible, “Ask, and you shall receive.“

Are there any other methods you can think of to seek help?