Think Like a Fish
I've been watching old episodes of Northern Exposure, and recently one of the characters explained his approach to fishing this way: "If you want to catch a fish, you must think like a fish."
If you're looking for a job, you should frame this quote or stick it on your computer monitor. Then, before you take any action in your search, ask yourself whether you're thinking like the person who makes the hiring decisions.
This morning, I received a resume in my email from a designer. The headline reads "Graphic Designer" and there's no introductory note, just a resume pasted into the email. I wondered if he was looking for a proposal for a resume rewrite, but when I asked, he wrote back: 'No, I just wanted to let you know I'm available if you're hiring a designer.'
Well I'm not. But even if I was, why would I consider someone who hasn't personalized his contact with me in any way?
If my designer friend was smart, he'd be researching companies who are advertising for designers, finding out as much as he can about their business, their competitors, and their challenges, and then craft an email showing how he can be of service. By thinking like the hiring authority, he could put himself ahead of all the other candidates. By mass emailing strangers, he just annoys a lot of people.
Companies advertise vacancies because they have either a problem or an opportunity - your job is to figure out what it is and then show that you are the solution. Think like a fish!
Source: Louise Fletcher writes for the Career Hub blog. The Career hub blog connects job seekers with experts in career counseling, resume writing, personal branding and recruiting.
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