August 6, 2010

How to get a job in today's market

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In my last two posts, I've discussed some of the reasons why it's so hard to find a job today and the top mistakes job seekers make that are keeping them from finding employment. Here are some tips you can use today to shorten your job search.

Be strategic. There are only so many hours in the day. You can't meet everyone, apply to every opening or attend all networking events. Ask yourself "what is my goal?" Be specific. Make sure the goal is realistic and has a deadline. (Example: "By Oct. I5, I will be working as an HR Manager at one of my top 10 targeted companies.")

Create a one-page marketing plan. Now that you've set your goal, target at least 10 companies for whom you'd like to work. Use sources such as Glassdoor.com to research the culture of your prospective companies to make sure they share the same values you do. Use tools such as LinkedIn to create a target list of contacts who work at these companies and see if you know anyone who might serve as a referral to the hiring manager. (In a future post, I'll cover more specifics of how to create your marketing plan.)

Start with your own network. Make a list of your top 10 to 25 contacts who would be most influential in helping you with your search. These can be friends, old bosses, colleagues, mentors or successful executives. "Unless you've been living in a deserted area, you have a network," says Dan Schawbel, author of "Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success." It might not be as a fruitful as you've hoped, but it's something to get started with.

Engage your connections. Once you've created a list of contacts, reach out to them to set up breakfast and coffee meetings. Show them your marketing plan and ask them if they know anyone who can help you get closer to your goal.

Maximize your meetings. Prior to setting up meetings with your connection's referrals, research the company and the individual you're meeting with so you have a good understanding of how to tailor your value proposition. Be careful, however, not to "elevator pitch" -- the 30-second commercial that talks all about YOU. Treat these referrals with special care and remember to think about the long term; these people can refer you to additional people inside their companies.

Work on your personal brand. Dan Schawbel also suggests working on your "product" -- what you offer to the marketplace. Do you need more education? Is there a book you have to read or do you need to get a certification? Can you gain certain experience quickly by strategically volunteering on a project? You then have to show your expertise and communicate your achievements to the world, or no one will know about them. Blogs, Twitter, Facebook, whitepapers and speaking engagements are good places to start to build your online and offline reputation.

To make a dramatic shift in the length of your unemployment, you need a good brand, a good support network and a focused plan. If you have good tips on what's worked for you lately, I'd love to hear them in the comments below.

Paul Anderson of ProLango helps professionals in transition find their desired employment.

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elevator pitch, job hunt, networking

1 Comments

Nola Coston on August 7, 2010 9:38 AM | Reply

Thank you, Paul, for another excellent, practical article with useful information for career development, as well as business development for any company.

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