Are you frustrated by employers who don’t follow up with you? On tenterhooks waiting for the next interview or the job offer? There’s some excellent advice in this week’s issue of the Ask The Headhunter newsletter. I recommend that you sign up to receive this free resource every week! It’s full of honest (sometimes painfully so) responses to very common questions related to recruiters, employers, job search, resumes, etc. - from the perspective of an experienced, ethical, trenchant, witty, and opinionated recruiter!

With regard to the “waiting game,” The Headhunter suggests that you not play along. At the close of every interview, set expectations for when the next steps will be taken and when you should (and will) follow up. Most important, don’t place all your eggs in one job “basket”; you have virtually no control over the situation until you’ve received an offer, when the shoe shifts to the other foot.

Nice article by Susan Kreimer in the Washington Post - “A Season for Discreet Schmoozing” - I was pleased to be able to contribute some tips!

While it’s easy to assume hiring doesn’t happen in the 6 weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, that’s a defeatist attitude that (1) ignores reality and (2) prevents you from making the most of the truly wonderful networking opportunities that occur during this season.

Sure, you can (and should) enjoy yourself at the parties, family events, and casual meetings that mark the holidays for so many. Just be prepared with a 1-2 minute message that will help build your network and keep your job search/career on the front burner. Don’t get caught flat-footed and tongue-tied when opportunities knock - even if they’re wearing a !

As a contributing editor to RecruitingTrends.com, I like to introduce the candidate’s perspective whenever possible. In my latest article I discussed the candidate’s experience with online application systems. Most job seekers know these are usually time-consuming, non-intuitive, frustrating, and difficult to complete.

And I’m certainly not finding that online applications are eliminating the need for a powerful, well-written resume… hence the title of my article, Long Live the Resume.

What’s your experience with online applications? I’d love to share some real-life stories with recruiters!

In the final throes of building a new home, my husband and I are beset by countless things to do, remember, follow up on, buy, return, decide, etc. This often results in one of us waking in the middle of the night as another “thing to do” pops to the surface of our befuddled minds. Of course, this drives the sleeping spouse crazy! Last night I commented on my husband’s energy level… and he, the engineer, corrected me. “It’s not energy,” he said, “it’s entropy.”

For those of you not up on the laws of thermodynamics, entropy is “energy that is not available for work” - in other words, wasted energy… exemplified by lying awake worrying about stuff you can’t control!

Is your job search “entropied” rather than “energized”? Do you spend a lot of time on nonproductive activities, expending energy without achieving results? The answer is “yes” if the following makes up the bulk of your activities:

• Reviewing countless online job ads and replying to any and every one that is remotely a fit
• Netsurfing for hours on end without a specific purpose and without gathering much useful information
• Attending countless networking events without a clear plan, goal, and follow-up strategy
• Talking to everyone you know about your job search without giving them a clear idea of how they can help you

If this describes you, it’s time to get energized! Establish a clear goal and map out the steps to achieve it. Have a purpose for each activity. Don’t do just “anything,” do something productive, and be sure you do the necessary prep work so you are getting the most out of every action.

Career transition is never easy, and it can be anxiety-provoking. With a purposeful, energetic approach, you’ll not only make faster progress, you’ll keep the anxiety under control. You might even get a good night’s sleep.