2 Major Job Search Problems You Can Fix This Week
A lot of my ideas come from personal experience. Some directly as a part of my 2007 job search experience, some from my 18 years as a hiring manager and some that originate in life and remind me of either of those two.
Here is an example of the last one from this morning.
I woke to the sound of a beeping smoke alarm. Now if this has happened at your home, you know that it likely is a battery issue. And you know how frustrating it can be to stand under each detector waiting for it to beep.
That way you know which battery to change. Before you pull your hair out.
Not only is it annoying to wait. It is also incredibly inefficient.
And job seekers are making these same mistakes. Every day.
Job seekers have two major problems. They wait for others. And they act with a surprising lack of efficiency.
Having been there, I know. And meeting with 10-12 job seekers a week, I see it. So today my goal is to alert you to the problems. And then point you to some resources to help you solve them.
Problem #1 – Job Seekers Are Waiting
Just like my waiting under each smoke detector for the beep, job seekers spend too much time waiting. Waiting for others to impact their search.
Waiting for:
– recruiters to find them a job
– a job search engine to return a relevant result
– the blind resume blitz to turn up a hidden job
In my experience, successful job search isn’t about waiting. It’s about taking action. And while there are times in job search when patience pays off, generally you are rewarded for constant and smart activity.
Problem #2 – Job Seekers Are Inefficient
Most job seekers I meet with don’t have specific goals. They act with impulse. And do what feels right each day. They apply for jobs even if not qualified, they socialize at networking events and, while they have a profile on LinkedIn, they don’t actually use the tool for what it is intended.
So set goals for your job search process. Monthly, weekly daily goals to keep you focused. And measure your ability to stay on track.
If you are on LinkedIn, use it to find key people in your extended network who work for your target companies. Don’t have target companies?
Someone asked me once: “what can I do to get my resume noticed?” My answer was to apply for jobs for which you are really well qualified.
As a hiring manager, I paid attention to resumes that included jobs, companies and experience and accomplishments that fit my needs (i.e. the job description). So while there are great things you can do to improve your resume and cover letter, nothing is better than being a good fit.
Career networking is essential in today’s job market. It is the single biggest reason I see some people landing new jobs and others struggling. But it’s not just career networking. It’s career networking with a purpose . It is specifically identifying who you need to meet and acting with purpose to find them online and at events you attend locally.
So if you are looking for a boost in your job search success, stop waiting for others and begin working with goals and a sense of purpose.
It will increase your confidence. And will stop that annoying beep
About the author:
Tim Tyrell-Smith is the founder of Tim’s Strategy: Ideas for Job Search Career and Life, a fast growing blog and website. Tim is also the author of: 30 Ideas. The Ideas of Successful Job Search. Download the book and other free tools at http://www.timsstrategy.com. Follow him on Twitter @TimsStrategy
Tags: Building a network, Career Mistakes, effective networking, Job Hunting, Job Leads, Job Referrals, job search information, job search knowledge, Job Search LinkedIn Discussion Group, Job Search Mistakes, Job Search Preparation, LinkedIn Job Search, Linkedin Job Search Expert, Networking Events, Networking Failure, Networking Mistakes
Job Search Mistakes, Marketing, Networking | bradremillard October 27, 2010
About the Author
Brad Remillard is a founding Partner of IMPACT Hiring Solutions, co-author of "You're NOT the Person I Hired", and "This is NOT the Position I Accepted". Brad is an award-winning international speaker, retained executive recruiter, and expert on hiring and retaining top talent, and executive job search.
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By Donna Svei aka AvidCareerist, October 27, 2010 @ 7:39 pm
Hi Tim & Brad,
Tim, we seem to be channeling the same thoughts today. I just posted “The Top 10 Ways to Pick Target Employers” (http://j.mp/cXV7zR) and noted that targeting separates serious job seekers from everyone else.
Best,
Donna
By Ed Han, November 1, 2010 @ 9:51 am
Tim, I know a lot of job seekers myself and I have to say, I believe you’re exactly right.