By Shanna Kemp, CPRW, JCTC
It wasn’t that long ago that the job market was a playground for the unemployed or those seeking new opportunity. Companies were expanding at such a tremendous rate that they needed people and it often seemed that anyone even remotely qualified would do. Salaries were up, training was abundant, and a job seeker with good skills could practically write their own ticket. My, how times have changed!
Competition is the keyword for today’s job seeker and even the most qualified and experienced applicants are having a hard time getting their foot in the door when it comes to making an impression and getting interviews. How can you possibly compete and get the attention of employer’s inundated with strong and qualified candidates?
Focus, focus, focus. Just like any other game in life, the job search game is best played with a specific goal in mind. The more specific your goal and the more strategic your plan of attack, the better your chances of winning the game and getting the job of your dreams.
The first step in developing your game plan is to determine what you want. For some people this is easy; they have been working in a certain career, love it, and want to keep on doing it. For others, the job search is about making a life change and they are still unsure of what path to take for career happiness. If you fall into the latter category, I suggest you find a qualified career coach to guide you in making that decision and helping you assess your strengths, talents and passions. Susan Britton Whitcomb of Phoenix Career Group says, “Career coaches are a safe harbor for their clients during a time that is often fraught with fear and stress… coaches provide a firm foundation of support… for people who are developing, transitioning, or managing their careers.”
When you have set your goal and worked with your coach to determine what the future holds for you, it is time to move forward to the second step. Market your skills effectively on paper. You will need a strong, focused résumé that directs your work history, skills, and areas of expertise toward your new job search goal combined with appropriate cover letters to introduce personal attributes and highlight skills that need more emphasis than the résumé can offer. Many career coaches offer résumé and cover letter design and development as an added benefit or separate service. If yours does not, they can refer you to an experienced, professional résumé writer. A good resume writer will work in conjunction with you and (with your permission) your coach to determine the goals, skills and abilities that should be marketed to achieve your job search objective.
Now it is time for step three. Develop a strategic plan of action and begin the attack! Identify your target market and potential employers. Your career coach or a qualified job search expert can help you determine the best avenues of approach for infiltrating the “hidden” job market and finding out which companies would best suit your career goals. There are many avenues of approach in the job search game including networking, direct mail distribution, targeted individual approach, and Internet posting. While not every method is effective for every candidate, a job search expert can help you analyze your best avenues of approach and develop an appropriate plan of action to methodically and successfully approach your job search.
That’s it. You are on your way! You have identified your goal, armed yourself with the appropriate tools and developed a plan of action. Now it is up to you to implement your plan and stay focused on the goal of a great new career. Don’t get discouraged if you meet rejection or worse, indifference, along the way. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and can give you positive, motivating feedback. Ask friends and colleagues to help you stay on track and maintain a relationship with your career coach or job search consultant as you move forward. Most of all remain positive about yourself and work at your job search as though your career depends on it – because after all, it does.