Here's a little exercise to help you decide if you're ready to hit the job market running.

1. Do You Have An Employment Action Plan?
This exercise gauges whether you are prepared to seek
new employment. To keep this simple, circle the points in
right-hand column if you can respond affirmatively—except for
the last question.
If you have to ponder a question, do not circle it. Once
you have responded to questions, total your circled points. To
achieve accuracy, you have to respond candidly. (A passing score is 68.)
1.
Do you have a specific employment goal?
 To collect the points, the goal must be specific. Merely having a
vague idea in mind or being “open” does not qualify.
3
2.
Do you have this employment goal written down?
 Unwritten goals amount to little more than whimsical daydreams
that fall into the wanting and wishing category.
4
3.
Do you have a file (or folder set up) on potential employers that
includes their website addresses, phone numbers and contact names?
 The file folder must tangibly exist, and not merely stored in your
mind.
4
4.
Do you eat real food high in fiber with low carbohydrates?
 To interview effectively, you need to be mentally sharp and well
focused. A high-sugar, processed foods diet will slow you down
significantly.
4
5.
Are you visibly overweight (or underweight)?
 If you are +/- 20 pounds (or more), you do not qualify for the points.
4
6.
Do you have a minimum of 3 professional (work-related) references?
 Close friends and family members with different last names do not
qualify. Only up-to-date, work-related references qualify.
3
7.
Do you keep in regular contact with your references?
 You need to be in contact with your references at least once a month
minimum to keep them up-to-date and fresh.
3
8.
Do you use Cloud access to store and link vital information?
 This information may include copies of reference letters,
certifications, degrees, résumé, cameo photo(s), Credit Report, or
any vital documents needed for employment purposes.
4

2. 9.
Have you read your detailed Credit Report within the last 11 months?
 Merely knowing your Credit Score does not suffice—you must
know the detailed content of the credit information.
3
10.
Have you corrected any errors or reporting mistakes that may appear
in your Credit Report?
 The law is clear on this: Your Credit Report is deemed to be 100%
true and accurate unless you challenge that information. All
unchallenged information is deemed true.
3
11.
Do you have a LinkedIn account that is at least 80% complete?
 If anything that appears on your LinkedIn account is in conflict with
whatever appears in your résumé, do not circle the points.
4
12.
Is your résumé up-to-date?
 Up-to-date means that nothing needs to be changed, added or
deleted. It must also be easy to read, concise, well-focused, and be
two-pages or less. (Most employers prefer one page.)
5
13.
Do you have a professional résumé? Or, have you had a professional
review and critique the résumé?
 In this case, a professional is deemed to be someone who regularly
works with résumés all the time. (Employers can easily spot
homespun material from professional grade.)
5
14.
Does your current résumé include or incorporate any of the current
technological features?
 This means it has to be totally portable electronically (Internet
friendly), and include links to appropriate information.
4
15.
Is your interviewing wardrobe appropriate and ready for use on short
notice?
 To qualify for the points, the wardrobe has to be preassembled and
ready to wear in 45 minutes. If interviewing after work, you may
have to have it available in your vehicle.
4
16.
Do you have an e-note (or cover) handy to accompany your résumé?
 The e-note should not exceed 4 soundbytes. A soundbyte is
approximately 12 words. (Busy employers do not have time to read
lengthy correspondence.)
4
17.
Can you respond to all basic interviewing questions?
 80% of job candidates cannot. Most will rely upon their ability to
make something up that they think sounds good.
5

3. 18.
Can you respond effectively to advance interviewing questions?
 Advance interviewing questions include psychoanalytical, stress and
behavioral questions. If you are not sure, do not award yourself the
points. (Either you know, or you do not know these questions.)
4
19.
Have you written down and rehearsed your questions for the
interviewer?
 Most candidates (80%) rely on winging it. Then, under extreme
pressure, they forget to ask engaging, thoughtful questions.
4
20.
Have you rehearsed your interviewing responses with someone
qualified?
 Cousin Joey and Aunt Martha do not qualify unless they are actively
engaged in the job interviewing process.
4
21.
Do you have all the various documents ready for an employer?
 You must have them either physically in hand, or be able to produce
them in under 24 hours. (Employers have to be able to verify your
employability status.)
3
22.
Do you have a pre-interviewing (written) checklist handy?
 There is a modest list of tasks your need to complete prior to an
interview. (Mental checklists routinely fail.)
3
23.
Do you have a job-networking system in place?
 This goes to your self-organizational disciplines. If you did not
award yourself the points in question 3, you do not qualify here.
You have to actively utilize the information available to you.
5
24.
Do you have a degree or any certifications relevant to the type of
employment you are seeking?
 If you are currently completing a degree or special certification,
circle the 2 points—do not circle both.
5
(or)
2
25.
Do you have anything in your employment or educational background
that needs to be explained to someone who does not know you?
 If your employment background speaks for itself, and requires no
explanation, add these points!
6
67 or less indicates you will encounter significant difficulty. _____
68 to 76 is passing, but not cause for celebration.
80-plus is a strong indication you are ready to actively interview.
Copyrighted © 2013 by Robert James