A spotlight post by Hannah Morgan
Bullseye by Tim Snell on Flickr
Originally posted on Jobmob.com August 1, 2011
Where to look beyond your resume for job search results.
It is my assumption, the reason so many people are still unemployed has very little to do with their resumes. Yet, more than any thing else, this document is being re-worked and critiqued.
STOP IT ALREADY!
Job search is about knowing the right people and having them know you. The resume is secondary. It is back-up documentation.
Top 10 things for an unemployed job seeker to obsess over
1) Explore options for work beyond a 60 mile radius
More than any other objection, I hear job seekers talk about the fact that they can’t relocate their families. Ludicrous. No one says you have to move your family. No one even said you had to relocate yourself. In today’s world, more and more jobs can be done virtually. You will never know what the options are unless you pursue them.
The one, most obvious solution, is to expand your search territory. See what happens!
2) Use a proactive approach
Don’t wait for a company to post a job, identify potential employers and pursue them.
Leave no stone unturned. Create a list of at least 50 employers that are likely to need someone who does what you do. Read Tim Tyrell-Smith’s post on Job-Hunt.org to see how this works. Now you can follow these employers on LinkedIn, Twitter, in the news and see what they are up to. You might even be able to connect with some of them (isn’t the whole idea to meet company insiders BEFORE a job is posted anyway?)
3) Convey laser focus
Be extremely clear on what problems you are great at solving (and enjoy).
You cannot, nor should not, be all things to all companies! Know what you are good at and flaunt it! (By the way, some people even call this Personal Branding!) Learn how to create yours by reading Meg Guiseppi’s post.
4) Sell yourself
No, not in a slimy way, but in a convincing way.
When you introduce yourself, use language that everyone can understand and make it interesting. Jason Alba recommends something similar plus takes it one step further in his post against cliché taglines.
5) Stop saying you are looking for a job
When you confess that you are looking for a job, you sound desperate. This makes most people want to run and hide. Even if they did have a job, they probably wouldn’t offer it to you. You are seeking information! Really, you NEED to learn about other companies and perhaps industries to see what they are doing and how they work.
6) Have more conversations
Because most external hiring comes through referrals (data from CareerXroads 9th Annual Sources of Hire that says 25+% of external hiring happens from referrals), spend more time meeting people and less time applying for jobs online. Your chances of landing a job because you know someone inside the hiring company are many times greater!
7) Really research your industry and occupation
You have to know what technology is being required, what the challenges are, and what the direction your occupation is headed in as well as your industry. Your goal is to be a walking encyclopedia on the topics facing your field. Miriam Salpeter’s (Keppie Careers) post supports this as well.
8 ) Understand and use LinkedIn
You don’t need to take a class for crying out loud. Read a book, watch a video, start a “new users” group so you fully understand the best practices. This tool will be around for awhile and you’ll want to use it once your employed too! Jobvite’s 2011 study reported 80.2% of recruiters and hiring professionals are using LinkedIn to find candidates. 94.5% said they did successfully hire someone using LinkedIn.
9) Be positive
Complaining, bad mouthing, lack of self esteem all work against a candidate. Fix this. I know how hard it is to be out of work, but you can and must control your attitude! Ronnie Anne at Work Coach Cafe explains why employers hire attitude over skills (believe it or not, it is true according to this study!)
10) Be a giver not a taker
An overriding principle of networking and strong interpersonal communication is to be a good listener. Are you developing your listening skills? Are you making sure conversations focus more on the other person? Are you volunteering? What else can you do to help others?
Yes, you do need a darn good resume, but…
Now, having said all this, I know that having a strong, accomplishment based resume is always a good thing. The resume must be customized for every job you apply to. It must convey your unique strengths in these terms- how will a company benefit from hiring your, what problems will you solve for them?! It should be error-proof and truthful. Yes, you have to have a good one, but do these other 10 things first!
About Hannah Morgan:Hannah Morgan is the Career Sherpa, (aka Hannah Morgan) and she writes and speaks on job search strategies. You can find her on Twitter and Google+ where she is sharing information to help new job seekers!
Tags:
Company, Employers, Hiring, Job, LinkedIn, People, Post, Read, Resume, Search, Work
Photo Credits:
bullseye by Tim Snell on Flickr
Hannah Morgan headshot on CareerSherpa
You may also like:
- Preparing for a Successful Job Search
- When Clouds Can Help Clear-up Your Career Search
- Five Career Secrets You Can Learn From Actors
- How to Not Be Unemployed
- Have an Action Plan in Place BEFORE You Get the Job
Hannah Morgan of CareerSherpa.com
