I am a big fan of the Biblical epics. Despite the fact that I have seen “The Ten Commandments” dozens of times, I will make sure to watch it the next time it is televised. As a result, I have decided that there should be commandments that also apply to job search.  Here are my 10 commandments of job search

1): Never Give up

Everybody who has written anything about job search always makes this point. This is why I feel this should be the first commandment. Let’s face it, there are going to be times that the phone will not ring, even after you have re-invented yourself, made new network contacts, or gone to a dozen job fairs. This is a normal part of job search.

2): If the shoe doesn’t fit, don’t buy it!

There will be a time when you go on an interview, and you feel that the job is not right for you. If you get that feeling, pay close attention to it and proceed with extreme caution if you get an offer. Here is my thought. Are you really going to do well, and are you going to thrive at a job you really do not want to be at in the first place? Someone once told me that job search can be like shopping for shoes. Would you really buy a pair of shoes because they do not fit right? Just like the ill-fitting pair of shoes that look fantastic in the store, do you really want to work at in a position that makes you feel miserable? I am fully aware that the longer you are out of work, the harder it is to turn down an offer. Here is an extreme example, If you were laid off from a position where you worked closely with many people, would you accept a position in a one man office if it was offered to you? You may be glad to be earning a steady income again, however, how long would you happy at your new position, or how long would you be able to wear those ill fitting shoes? My points are as follows:

• Try to find some happiness in what you do for a living

• Never sell yourself short.

3): Use six senses when you are on an interview.

This is advice I give my friends when they are fortunate to land an interview. We were born with five senses, however you develop a sixth sense as you go through life. That sense is to know whether or not the environment you are in is a safe one. Here is how it applies to job search. When you are being interviewed, take some time to sense what is going on around you. If you are interviewed in a closed door environment, ask the interviewer if someone will show you around. Be wary of your surroundings. What is the work atmosphere like? How high is the stress level? Does it seem like there are adversarial relationships? Someone once told me to check the employee parking lot at 5PM. This makes sense if you are used to a 9 to 5 schedule. If no one is leaving at 5PM, take a look again an hour later. If there is no activity in the parking lot, you may want to check an hour after that.

4): There are things that are more important than job search. The most important is the gift of life.

I was reminded of this today from a good friend and former co-worker. Those of you who read my Nightmare piece may remember Don, who was my pilot on the trip to Egypt, which, unfortunately, did not end very well. Actually Don really exists, although in real life, he would never consider being a pilot as he tends to get airsick. Recently Don was diagnosed with a particularly virulent cancer. A second diagnosis revealed that he has caught it early. This has given him a whole new perspective on life. I have often been told that you never know what you have until you lose it, and life is one thing that we tend to take for granted. In fact, life is the most precious gift we have.

5): You must experience sadness before you can enjoy happiness. When things seem at their worst, you may not be as far as you think from finding happiness.

This is especially true in job search. I began my search with specific ideas, specific targets, and a resume that established my brand as unique. I lost my previous job at the start of summer, which is a difficult time to start with. When it seems that you have done all you can to make something happen, and there are no responses, it is easy to find yourself in a sad place. For me the darkest experience was applying for a position for a company that managed funerals. I do not know what motivated me to do that. It was definitely a case where the darkest hour was before the dawn.

6): Never forget to say “Thank You.”

I will never forget the difficulties of this job search, however, it is also difficult from the other side of the table. Employers have hundreds of resumes they have to go through. As Regis Philbin used to say to the panel of potential contestants on Millionaire: “Congratulations for getting this far!” Not to trivialize job search, but whether or not you end up being the candidate of choice, it is an arduous task for the employer as well. Saying “thank you” never hurts, and it may be the difference between being the number two candidate, and the candidate of choice.

7): Watch a good comedy and spend time with your family

Job search is depressing. Comedy helps. Whether you prefer to laugh of George Costanza’s job search in Seinfeld, of the bumbling of Maxwell Smart (my personal favorite), there is nothing better than a good sitcom when the stresses of job search get the better of you. While you have the time, make sure that you take time out to enjoy some time with your family. If you cannot afford to go our to dinner, have a family game night.

8): If you are fortunate to receive an offer, negotiate:

In an earlier job search, I was so pleased to get an offer from a company, that I accepted it immediately. By doing so, I lost a great opportunity to give myself a raise before I started with my new employer. Contrary to what you might think, Employers build “wiggle room” into the employment proposal. You should make sure you get it in writing and review it carefully. Here is an interesting example.  My wife does not have to pay for her medical insurance, and I am covered under her plan. I could have used this as a bargaining chip. Many companies contribute a significant portion of the medical premium. If, for example the company contributes 80% of the premium, I can tell them that I can save the company money by declining insurance. Although a better tactic is to convince your prospective employer that you have a greater net worth, it does not hurt to tell them how you will save them money as soon as you start your new position.. Do not lose this great opportunity!

9): Keep Physically fit:

Here goes my broken record again. I spoke about this in my previous writings, I will avoid making additional comments at this time.

10): Don’t forget to close out your job search at the right time.

This is something that I have given much thought about. Some of my contacts announced the good news as soon as they accept an offer. In a few cases, some found they were too quick to accept the offer and realized their mistake. My personal feeling is to wait until you complete at least two weeks with your new employer, before closing out your job search. By keeping your job search open an extra two weeks, you will save time reopening your search in the event the position turned out to be less than what you expected. Some employers give new employees a 30, 60 or 90 day probation period. Although some may wait for the probation to expire, my feeling is that by the two week milestone, you will have a pretty good idea as to whether your new position works for you and your employer. So my rule of thumb is to close out your job search after you have completed two weeks of service with your new employer.

Good Hunting to all

-By Howard K. Young, Contributing Writer & Member of The 405 Club.

Read more from Howard here.