What Successful Job Seekers Have in Common
By Louise Kursmark
If only there were a formula for getting a job. Follow steps “A,” “B,” and “C” and end up with the job of your dreams. While it’s not that simple, there are some strategies that have proven to be effective. Based on interviews I conducted with job seekers who had recently landed a new position, I found some common themes that can help you speed up your transition.
#1 The Easy Stuff is Ineffective.
Sorry, but posting your resume on resume databases and zapping off hundreds of resumes in response to online job postings is not enough. In fact, very few people (less than 1% of my interviewees) found jobs this way.
The real danger in these ineffective methods is that you will have the false illusion of being industrious in your job search – working hard every day – and then wonder why the heck you’re not getting interviews. Instead, you should be spending that valuable resource – your time – on more productive people-to-people contact.
SOLUTION: Prescribe a specific amount of time (say 60 or 90 minutes per day) that you will spend on Internet job searching. Set a timer and stop when it goes off. (The Internet is seductive and time will pass quickly.) And don’t allow yourself to spend any time in idle searching and resume zapping until you’ve completed your daily quota of phone calls, live discussions, genuine company research, and other more productive avenues of job search.
#2 Networking Opportunities are Everywhere
Many people equate “job search networking” with cold-calling strangers to ask for a favor. In fact, networking simply means building relationships, calling on your network for specific assistance, and communicating your job-search story whenever and wherever you can. Recently, while I was waiting for my number to be called at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, I overheard a conversation in which a woman mentioned she was looking for a new job, and a man (obviously a casual acquaintance) immediately offered a lead and contact that were directly related to her search!
SOLUTION: Look for opportunities everywhere you go. You don’t have to be polished or rehearsed. You do have to be able to communicate clearly what you’re looking for and how your contacts can help, and you do have to be willing to be just a bit vulnerable in sharing your story. Open yourself up to opportunities, be eager to give as well as receive, and you might be very surprised at how much you’ll gain.
#3 Research and Interview Prep are All-Important
Interviews are golden opportunities that you have worked hard to dig up. Don’t sabotage your chances by lack of preparation! If you attempt to “wing it” during interviews, you might be able to slide by on charm for a little while, but when it comes to the nitty-gritty of the interview – determining if you’re the right person to help the company solve its real challenges – charm means very little and advance preparation a great deal.
SOLUTION: Find out as much as you can about the company before your interview. Do Internet research, talk to networking contacts, read up on the industry and challenges it’s facing. Google the names of the people you’ll be interviewing with to see where they crop up. Jot down your ideas for how you can help the organization win its challenges and achieve its goals. During the interview, ask intelligent questions and position yourself as a solutions provider and problem solver. You’ll give yourself a huge competitive edge over less-prepared candidates.
In summary, be sure you’re spending time on activities that are important; look for opportunities to network wherever you go; and do your homework before interviews. There are no instant answers or A-B-C processes, but you CAN win at the job search game.
