Jan
19

13 comments

Employment. Where Are You?

It makes you wonder some days. About Employment. How can something be so elusive?

You want to work, you have significant skill and experience. You’ve had a major impact in each of your prior companies. They’d be crazy not to hire you. And then they don’t.

But the frustration starts earlier than that, doesn’t it? It starts, some months, with a complete lack of relevant jobs. Nothing that properly fits your description. And so you start “phishing”. You start creating multiple versions of your self with the hopes that an employer might be persuaded to call based on a shiny attachment to your line.

As if you weren’t already good enough.

And this frustration is propelled forward by the sometimes inaccurate methodology used by the job search boards. You set up an alert for Vice President of Sales and your results look more like the job board at the local community college.

So no wonder we sometimes stretch and apply for jobs that are well below or above us. But we shouldn’t. Because we are just wasting time for the most part. In this economy.

And, really, with all the talk about adapting your resume or elevator pitch to different jobs, the right job for you just hasn’t rolled along yet. But it will. One day.

I have really good friends that are looking for work. I am also talking with job seekers in person, by phone, via e-mail, via the LinkedIn group, Facebook and Twitter. I hear the frustration and disbelief of those who are new to this market. And last experienced job search in better times. It’s different.

I do hear of more openings. And that is really great to hear. As you hear them, I am sure it sounds like good news to you as well.

But until “more openings” manifests itself into three new solid leads for you, any talk of things getting better is just that. Talk.

So what do I tell my friends. And the job seekers I meet.

If you want to make sure you have the best chance for running headlong into relevant jobs. Jobs that are a really good fit for you . . .

Keep networking like crazy. Get out of the house at least four hours a day. And be with other people (it doesn’t count if you sit at a coffee shop scanning Monster, listening to Mozart and never looking up).
Make sure you have specific and tangible job search objectives. And a way to communicate them. In a way that other people can remember.
Be memorable and likeable. So that when someone hears about a job and mentally links it to you (see #2 above). They will actually take the time to call you or at least e-mail the lead to you.
Set specific goals for each day of your job search. Widening your net (more connections). Building your influence (via blogging, tweeting, sharing on Facebook). Cementing your relationships (how many meetings does it take before someone really thinks of you as a true connection? I’ve heard three).
Maintain a positive frame of mind. People are less likely to actively network with someone who doesn’t believe in their own story. They may decide to help you, but you are less likely to get introduced to three other people in their network. So find that place in you that remembers your glory days. The days (relatively speaking) where you stood high above a big accomplishment in a prior job. And when you arrive at a networking event, find your dimmer switch.

In the end, employment (jobs) won’t find you without hard work on your part. But you can make yourself significantly more visible. And you can make that vision one that attracts others to your story.

So when those relevant jobs come up (hidden or not). Someone who knows and remembers you will let you know.

Who will that be for you?

Comments

Tweets that mention Tim's Strategy - Ideas for Job Search, Career and Life -- Topsy.com January 19, 2010 @ 6:39 am

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ryon Harms, Kevin Liebl. Kevin Liebl said: Employment. Where Are You?: It makes you wonder some days. About Employment. How can something be so elusive? Y… http://bit.ly/5hwLQI [...]
Eric Marshall January 19, 2010 @ 7:43 am

RT @TimsStrategy: New blog post for today: Employment. Where Are You? – http://shar.es/aBzUV
Ryon Harms January 19, 2010 @ 2:38 pm

Employment. Where Are You?: It makes you wonder some days. About Employment. How can something… http://bit.ly/5hwLQI via @TimsStrategy
Tim Tyrell-Smith January 19, 2010 @ 4:27 pm

New From The Blog: Employment. Where Are You? – It makes you wonder some days. About Employment. How can somethi… http://ow.ly/16nmCD
Jfavreau January 20, 2010 @ 1:38 am

RT @TimsStrategy: Employment. Where Are You? http://bit.ly/4yOGIK
JimR January 21, 2010 @ 10:48 am

Oh how I hate what is essentially the blame-the-victim mentality–it’s YOUR fault you aren’t finding a job because you aren’t out networking four hours a day. There are so many people unemployed and so few jobs that even master networkers aren’t getting jobs. I’m one of them and I’m sick of it. So are the hundreds of former executives I network with that have been out of work more than a year.

I’d like to see any definitive source that proves that as is so often quoted 80% of jobs are found through networking. Who did that study? Does it include internal promotions that were never open to the public? What kind of jobs are they? Day jobs? Laborers? What? I seriously doubt that 80% is for quality jobs open to anyone.

So we use the pablum of “networking” to give people hope. It’s like that SNL skit – Hillary didn’t get the nomination because she didn’t WANT it bad enough. If you don’t spend time glad-handing, you obviously don’t WANT it bad enough. But if you network, you at least have hope.

Companies aren’t stupid. Hiring the person who knows someone in the company doesn’t get you the best candidate. It just gets you the easiest candidate. Companies that actually have jobs and want quality people are either advertising or using recruiters to get the LARGEST candidate pool to pick from. Not the guy who happens to know Sally in A/R.

So stop blaming the victims. Networking like crazy has as little chance as networking casually and going ballistic with resumes. It’s a numbers and luck of the draw game. It is not highly qualified peoples fault they aren’t finding work. It’s an economy devastated by an idiotic government, and big business executives enriching themselves at everyone elses expense.
Tim January 21, 2010 @ 12:18 pm

Hi Jim – Thanks for your comment. I totally agree with you re: the lack of jobs. It is the primary problem. But I don’t see how you can’t buy into the value of networking.

Almost every job seeker I talk to who has arrived at a new job over the past six months mentioned networking as the way they either found out about or got an interview for a job.

In terms of the data, here it is:

“According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 70 percent of all jobs are found through networking.”

And I’ll bet you that this study result UNDERVALUES the result available through networking. For jobs and for long term business relationships.

You are right that companies don’t hire people that they like. If you aren’t qualified, you are likely to be passed over no matter how likeable or how well connected you are. But in this economy when so many people are qualified for the few jobs available, don’t you think having a connection gets you consideration beyond what you’d get if your resume fell out of the sky?

Who am I blaming? If you are staying at home and not out networking with other job seekers and (important) employed people, you will miss out on discussions where opportunities are mentioned. Ones that recruiters (10-15% of jobs) are not involved with . . .

Thanks for sharing that strong comment – I have a lot of good friends who have been out beyond a year. And I hear their frustration (like yours). But despite the odds, they are telling me this: “I am frustrated, sometimes down, but never out of my active networking effort. Because I know it will play some role in my successful effort.”

If you are open to it, give me a call. Maybe I can give you a few ideas.

(949) 280-7043
Ken Nicholas January 21, 2010 @ 7:20 pm

Amen, Tim…More Great Insight – RT @TimsStrategy: Employment. Where Are You? http://bit.ly/4yOGIK
Sophea Plata January 22, 2010 @ 10:49 am

RT @TimsStrategy: Employment. Where Are You? http://bit.ly/4yOGIK
I would say we're right here!- http://www.sanmar.com/careers.
Jon January 22, 2010 @ 9:59 am

This sounds good until you keep applying for 8 to 24 months, your house is foreclosed on, your unemployment insurance runs out, you can’t pay for medical insurance (Cobra) anymore, your wife leaves you, you can’t feed your kids, electricity is shut off – sell the cars, furniture …

It is easy to write down that you should wait and wait and keep trying. Actually paying the bills with no moeny coming in is a different story.
Tim January 22, 2010 @ 10:38 am

Jon – If that has been your experience in job search, I am sorry. Those are very difficult and very real issues.

Not sure where you read “wait and wait” in the article. The thrust of the article is to take action, to network and to be smart in how you perform your job search. I understand that a lack of success and little feedback can be frustrating. I get that and have been through it. I was out for five months in 2007. But to your point, I have never been out of work beyond six months. You do need to keep trying.

While I promote that job seekers should not settle with a job that is not right for them, I also say this: if you get to a point where you need money to pay the bills, then you can decide to take something. Even if it is not exactly right. Sometimes you have to think practical.
Tim Tyrell-Smith January 22, 2010 @ 3:23 pm

RT @sopheaplata: RT @TimsStrategy: Employment. Where Are You? http://bit.ly/4yOGIK
I would say we're right here!- http://www.sanmar.com/careers.
Daulton West, Jr. January 23, 2010 @ 3:13 am

RT @TimsStrategy: Employment. Where Are You? http://bit.ly/4yOGIK

Employment. Where Are You?

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