The Average Job Seeker. Are You Average?

Are you average? Are you living in the middle of the pack? If so, let’s make a change. Let’s decide that this job search is going to be the one where you move from average to “better”. Better educated. With a larger network and a more confident psychology. Interested?

The average job seeker (and those living below average) will spend more time looking for their next role. And it will be harder. But being average is not about your IQ, your college education, your last job income or even your leadership skills.

So can we get everyone above average? No. But perhaps we can raise the average to a point where everyone is at least using the tools available. And each has the opportunity to climb the job search and networking ladder. To a better place.

So, what defines the average job seeker? Below are four indicators from my experience that suggest that you are like most others out there looking.

Now everyone’s first reaction to these are different. Some will feel instantly attached to all four saying “Yes, I have work to do”. Some will feel intimidated saying “Yes, I heard that I need to do better with all this, but how?”. And others will look past them all saying “Not me”.

So, let’s talk about each of these categories . . .

A Limited And Local Network

If you have established specific and tangible job search objectives, what kind of a network have you built to support them? Most job seekers know far too few people. And those that they do know are often missing from their LinkedIn 1st level connections. Why? They haven’t asked.

Is your network limited? Who do you know? And who have you taken the time to meet? To get to know. If you have fewer than 100 first level connections on LinkedIn. Fewer than 50. You have some work to do. If you are networking via computer instead of in person. If you are not out there exposing your candidacy to the world.

Is your networking local? Well, for some of you, this might make sense. You have decided that your career will remain in Billings, Tampa Bay or Richmond. And no force of nature will move you. Even an extended job search. But for those of you looking beyond your current city or those of you who have decided that a relocation would be OK. What are you doing to extend your network beyond your home town? Of course it is not easy to network with people in a far away city. But there are ways . . .

Not Social Media Savvy

Now I’m not here to berate you about your lack of social media skills. I’m really not. I’m just sayin’. That social media skills can be the difference maker. The difference in the way you are found, perceived and the way your candidacy is re-distributed to the larger job search community. And if you are one of those still falling back on the “not for me” crutch, I’ll keep asking you to give it a try. At least get yourself established on Linkedin, Twitter and Facebook. The people that know you, care about you and are ready to help you are out there waiting. They just haven’t met you yet.

For a great article on using LinkedIn, visit Neal Schaffer’s Windmill Networking blog for an article on how to find and connect with people on LinkedIn.

No Established Personal Brand

Who are you? What about your method to get things done gets you noticed? And what experiences define the impact you’ll have on a future company? I’ve shared a few ways here before to begin establishing some knowledge about yourself:

How To Write Your Positioning Statement

Do You Know Your Career History? Introducing CareerBack™

Building Your Personal Brand (by Kevin Liebl)

Now ideally you’ve been working to establish your brand with a focused effort. Throughout your career. But if you are like most people, you are building it out of necessity. Everyone keeps asking: what are your strengths? So, if you haven’t established a personal brand, it is not too late.

Initially Confident

A lot of job seekers begin their job search effort with confidence. While they’ve heard it is a tough market, they are different. After all, finding a job has never been difficult before, right? And, really, everyone has at least two hot leads right away. One of those two will likely pan out you say. But if it doesn’t, where have you left yourself? This is where we learn about two enemies of success in job search. Ones that the average job seeker runs into at full speed. I’ve shared the danger of optimism and the problems that come with procrastination. Avoid them and you will steer clear of complacency. And a stalled job search.

So let’s raise the average together. By all being a bit smarter. A bit more efficient. By being a proactive supporter of each other.

Being average in job search is a choice. Choose to be better.