Job Search Nuts & Bolts: Don't Make It Harder Than It Needs To Be
By Dan Puleio
Is finding the “right” career enhancing next job a difficult endeavor? Whether you answered yes or no, the correct answer lies in your mental perception of the challenge at hand.
The diverse tasks contained within this “project” are frankly no more complex than many assignments that you have taken on and accomplished in the past. However, in the job search, an added burden is imposed by the crushing emotional pressures and distracting “mind games’ that we impose on ourselves.
The job search is indeed an excellent time to re-evaluate our life and spiritual goals, spouse and family relationships, friends and civic community involvement and, fundamentally, our very deepest core values. The danger herein lies in that if the immediate priority of replacing the loss of income is not firmly fixed in our mind, it is all too easy to allow the days and weeks to slip by without moving purposefully toward the goal of securing the next career enhancing position.
It is absolutely critical that the job seeker block out the week, in advance, with meaningful and measurable job search activities as the first priority. Then, take it one step further… be true to yourself and follow your plan.
Understand this natural avoidance behavior and judiciously guard against it. After all, these various job search activities are totally out of one’s daily habit patterns and “comfort zone”. As such, it is very easy to exercise “creative avoidance” and subconsciously allow the mundane day-to-day tasks and philosophical ponderings to fill our working hours.
Based on my years of professional experience in the job search and career coaching arena, I maintain that a job seeker at any level needs an objective and preferably informed third party to keep them on track. I have found that even with a self-motivated job seeker, knowing what to do and actually following a results-focused plan, on a consistent basis, are two distinctly different “animals”.
Okay, time to get down to the Nuts & Bolts basics addressing the activities required for success. The first step is to recognize that we are typically our own worst enemy. Once we have confronted our enemy (our own mental attitude) and let “him” know that failure is not an option, then it’s time to define a game plan and structure the action channels required for success.
Fundamentally, a job search is much like product marketing. You first must develop the “brand” that you will be selling…You! This is done with your resume, printed correspondence, phone and in-person communications. Simply stated, you are defining what you have to sell, and what your market is being asked to buy. What solutions have you delivered in the past and fully expect to deliver, time and again, in the future…for the next employer?
Who is going to be that lucky next employer? Good question! Ask yourself, “Who is in my market, to present the product… Me”? Consider such factors as your primary and similar industries, the company size or environment in which you prefer to work and the geography of your job search. Your goal is to come up with a large number of targets. Avoid the “mind game” of questioning whether you would like to work for them if an offer was made. That question can be resolved later, after the job interviews!
Now let’s get down to the game plan itself and not make this project more difficult than it needs to be. There are only a finite number of action channels that anyone can pursue on a job search. How you choose to emphasize them and allocate time and monetary resources is unique to each person’s job search. Once again, objective third party assistance is often invaluable. I encourage you not to be “penny wise and dollar foolish”. It may be wise to invest the equivalent of a few days pay to shave weeks or months off a job search by purchasing a quality subscription, targeted research lists or professional assistance services.
Regardless of how you have chosen to structure your plan, once you have established this plan, go for it! The time for self-doubt is over. Forgive my humor, but I can’t help conjuring up images of the “good guys” charging over the hill and into the heat of battle in any number of adventure stories. Their decision has (obviously) been made.
The action channels may be divided into two categories…Passive and Pro-active. The passive approach endeavors to get your credentials in front of people who may have a business interest in contacting you. This is typically accomplished via standard post or email sent to targeted (and often purchased) lists. You make the decision that they will call you if they are interested. You have no intention of initiating a personal follow-up contact. This method is typically employed with recruiters, Human Resource personnel, company management-level staff or, in occasional executive job searches, to the principals of Venture Capital or Private Equity firms.
You may also post your resume on Monster.com and hosts of other free or subscription sites, or submit to openings posted on your target companies’ websites in anticipation that folks will call. The key to success in employing the passive approach is to have quality written materials, targeted research lists and to work in large, LARGE numbers.
The pro-active approach says, “If it is to be, it’s up to me”. This method involves targeted networking and personalized correspondence (personalized in a few cases by way of a direct referral, however, in most cases personalized via your prior company research). This method requires your full commitment to follow-up…ultimately by phone. Your goal is that these folks will soon know you as a person and not just by a resume that may (or may not) have crossed a busy desk. Work the pro-active channels in smaller numbers, but be consistent and true to your weekly planning calendar.
A balanced, and statistically most effective, job search campaign typically involves aspects of both the passive and the pro-active action channels. Every job search has its unique qualities and only you can ultimately research, structure and execute the plan that best meets your needs. Take charge of your job search and be the “Good Guy” leading the charge over the hill. The good news is that there are no spears, arrows or bullets flying, and you will live to fight another day!
About the Author:
Dan Puleio offers 20 years "hands-on" experience as a recruiter, career coach and employment offer negotiator. A principal with Your Life-Your Career LLC, his proven systems get job seekers into the "game" quickly and cost effectively. See www.yl-yc.com for more on Dan's approach.
