I had the pleasure recently of working with an executive client on her job search strategy plan.
I was very happy to learn that she stayed engaged in her career management and networking efforts over the years.
I recognize that it’s scary for many jobseekers who have not looked for a new job in more than 10 or 20 years to “embrace” a whole new way of finding a new job.
Today’s job search tactics seem counterintuitive to their past experiences with getting a new job.
Just a few years ago, you could find a good posting online, generate interviews within a few weeks and have several job offers to consider.
Beyond the obvious impact of technology, why has the rules of job search changed so much?
1) The competition is great, so being qualified for the job is no longer a differentiator.
Track your quantifiable achievements and leverage them extensively in your resume, LinkedIn profile and interviews to support your candidacy for the job.
Tip: It works to your advantage to your strengths and have a rock-solid brand that attracts employers to you long before your NEED the job.
2) Ongoing brand management both inside your company, among your peers and with external industry leaders and professional contacts.
The point here is that networking is critical at ALL times, not just when you are in “I really need a job” mode.
Tip: It is hard to effectively build a reputation and forge relationships, when you need to be in a new job within a month.
3) The standard resume is no longer a paper/email-only document.
Your career background and accomplishments needs an online space for every recruiter, potential employer and referral to find you.
Tip: Your first line of “attack” and introduction will most likely come has to come through LinkedIn, Twitter, Google profile, media clip or any strong online mention of you.
4) Online job boards and career sites are not where your going to find your next leadership opportunity.
You may find interesting leads on LinkedIn from verified recruiters, but with a success rate of less than 4%, staying glued to the computer is not an effective strategy.
Tip: Be honest and evaluate how many recruiters have received an email blast from you and how many hours are you spending searching postings and visiting job boards?
When you want different results, you have to try something different.
So if you are running out of ideas and banging your head against the same roadblocks, it might be time to adjust your mindset.
