By
Kelly Stone
Job seekers write to us every day at myjobsearch.com. The comments we receive are generally ones of frustration. And job seekers have every reason to be frustrated.
The job search is literally an obstacle course. Job seekers not only compete with each other for open positions but they have to endure a series of demeaning processes. Whether it is throwing resumes down the black hole of the Internet job boards or experiencing rejection after an interview, job seekers must possess thick skin and the patience of a saint.
These frustrations, real though they may be, are completely avoidable. They stem from simple job search misconceptions and misinformation. Such misconceptions and misinformation fuels an inefficient pursuit of the process. Many people really know of only one way to look for a job, and typically it is the least effective approach. It is no wonder there are frustrations.
The Miracle Cure
What the job seeker needs is the less-than-obvious information about the job search that could alleviate these frustrations. This information is anything but conventional. In fact, these ideas are so powerful that many job seekers may feel they have been held secret. But once mastered and employed, they can make the job search interesting, fulfilling and - dare we say it? - actually productive.
Listed below are "The Laws of the Job Search". Each of these laws is accompanied by some real quotes from job seekers. Chances are they will ring true in the ears of anyone that has had to look for a job.
Law #1: You don't have to do what you're told.
A job seeker wrote: "I frankly don't know what I'd do differently, but I know what I'm doing is not working." This is the comment we hear most frequently.
According to hrlive.com, a web site serving human resource professionals, their survey of job seekers indicates that nearly all of them will use Internet job postings and newspapers as their sole resource to find a job.
Who says this is the right way to find a job? Why would a job seeker want to follow the herd? Wouldn't it just be more frustrating to stand in the same lines for a job with everyone else? And if you do find a job posting worth pursuing, should you really just submit a resume and salary history like you are told? As the Apple Computer slogan says, "Think different."
Opportunities come to those that make them. 20% of jobs go to those that follow the herd and allow themselves to be held back by things like a Human Resource department. Many people will tell you that this is just the way it is.
The truth is, you simply do not have to do what you are told when it comes to looking for a job. If 80% of all jobs are obtained some other way, it seems to be smarter to find out what other ways exist.
Law #2: Always keep your goal in mind.
Everything you do in the job search should be with a purpose.
Don't do anything by rote.
Decide what you hope to accomplish before every action you take. Then focus everything in that action to accomplish your stated goal.
Keep your goal in mind and act accordingly. Many people send a resume and cover letter to an employer and follow it up with a phone call "just to see if you got my resume or need any more information."
Is that really why they called?
Of course not, what they really want is an interview. If so, they should keep that goal in mind and pursue it directly. If you call an employer to follow up an interview, ask yourself why you are doing it. You probably want them to make you an offer, right? If so, keep that in mind and structure the phone call accordingly.
A job seeker recently admitted: "I've applied to almost 1000 computer-positions and have never received an interview!" Talk about persistent. Or is it really just being hard-headed?
Nothing makes more sense than seeking a job that you love. But the perfect job may not be available off-the-rack. If you love it, chances are someone else loves it too. If you want it, it does no good applying for it everywhere you see it if you have not done the proper research in knowing what it takes to get the job.
Super Bowls are not won because a team knows how to play football. They are won because they are played better than the competition. The search for the job you love requires strategy, information and superior execution over the competition.
According to a survey of recruiting managers by Development Dimensions International, 62% state that there are fewer qualified candidates applying for jobs. In addition, these same professionals overwhelmingly- nearly 90%- say those positions are best filled either internally or through referrals.
If a job you love can be had, it's going to take a little more than a point and a click of the mouse to obtain it.
Law #3: If you don't ask, you won't get it.
If you want something ask for it. Be direct, it's okay. Employers will respect your forthrightness.
Be specific, not vague. Don't beat around the bush, hoping that some helpful soul will pick up on your subtle hints and volunteer what you want. I play this game with my wife when she does this. When she points out that the baby has a dirty diaper, I cheerfully agree with her, "He sure does! Pretty stinky isn't it?" I know perfectly well that she wants me to change it, but I prefer people to be direct.
When hiring, I much prefer job seekers that ask for what they want. If nothing else, it tells me that they are focused and know what they want. These focused individuals make much better employees.
The job search is a sales process, and no sales person makes the sale without asking for the close. So if you want an interview, ask for one. "I'd like to meet with you for a few minutes to talk about your marketing goals and how I can help you meet them."
If you want an employer to make you an offer, ask for it. "I'd love for you to offer me this position, how do you feel about that?"
If you want to expand your network, ask for help: "I'm trying to get to know more people in advertising in the area. Who do you know that works in advertising?"
Here is another very common job seeker observation: "Age discrimination may be illegal but it is so blatant."
Yes, it is. But- so what?
Many job seekers can sense when an interview in heading in the wrong direction. An interviewer may not outright admit to making a decision based upon the age of a candidate but many job seekers apparently know when this is the case. If this is true, why not just ask the interviewer if age has a bearing on ability to do the job?
There is nothing wrong with being direct in choosing where you will work next. Every question you ask should be answered- just so long as you ask it.
Law #4: Everything is Negotiable.
Job seekers often tell me that they turned down a job offer because it didn't pay enough or because it wasn't exactly what they were looking for. My first response is always "Did you ask for more?" or "Did you try to restructure the position so it was a better fit?"
The only absolute rule is that there is no absolute rule. There is always room for negotiation. You can even negotiate the job itself. In fact, the job description is often the most important item to negotiate in terms of long-term satisfaction. You can negotiate salary, title, responsibilities (employers love it when you ask for more), reporting structure, length of probationary period, start date, performance/salary review dates, stock options, begin date for benefits, a computer for home, etc. Anything you can think of you can negotiate.
Negotiating can be especially easy if you can show how what you ask for will help you do your job better.
The first and most important lesson job seekers learn about negotiating is that they can. Negotiating is not only okay, but also expected. Keep in mind the 3rd law, if you want something ask for it. If you keep your tone positive and don't walk in with a list of terrorist demands, then you won't endanger the offer you have received. And if they do rescind the offer, then you're likely better off anyway. Can you imagine working for a boss that gets ticked off if you make requests at work?
Law #5: The ball is always in your court.
Always keep the initiative. Never leave follow-up in someone else's hands.
Don't ask if you can call to follow up with someone. Instead, tell them you will call them and ask when would be best.
Don't wait for your ship to come in, swim out to your ship. Take control of your life and your career and don't ever give that control away to someone else.
One savvy job seeker recently observed: "I like to get in contact directly with the company, because knowing who I will be working for is very important and agencies don't give that information in the ad."
Assuming responsibility for what happens is huge in the job search. But taking charge in the job search means finding a way of getting around the roadblocks that prevent you from getting a job. Some of the roadblocks are external. But some can include an internal obstacle such as the fear of meeting new people.
One of our career trainers here at myjobsearch.com was teaching a class of job seekers about making the right connections to get a job. Part of the course included an exercise where the job seekers had to contact a hiring manager on the phone to set up a connecting meeting. One participant in the course was especially uptight at the prospect of making such a call.
He got on the phone, told the hiring manage who he was and that his career counselor was twisting his arm to make the call. Then he hung up in an embarrassed fit.
But, after thinking about it for a minute, he decided to call back- at a minimum just to apologize. He got the hiring manager back on the phone who was still laughing hysterically. After the job seeker made his apology, the hiring manager invited him to meet. It never would have happened if the job seeker did not pick up the phone the second time. (And yes, he got the job).
Law #6: Trust No One.
Have you noticed yet that since you started your job search, all of a sudden no one calls you back, no one passes your resume along to that friend of theirs, and in short nobody does anything that they say they will?
I don't know why it happens, but the laws of physics seem to change when you enter the job search. It's like you've entered a twisted version of the "Twilight Zone" where no one will do what he or she says.
My point is this: Don't get upset, don't be surprised, and don't complain about it-plan on it. There is no reason why it happens; it just does, so you need to be prepared to deal with it. If you plan on only being able to depend on yourself, you will go a long way toward taking the right actions in the job search.
You'll do what's most effective, not what you're told. You'll keep your goals in mind. You'll ask for what you want clearly and explicitly. And you'll always keep the ball in your court by making plans to follow up everything you do. In short, do the right things and stay in control.
Another job seeker wrote to say: "I am just bored and hope that there is someone out there that sees my enormous energy, willingness to work hard, and potential through my resume and cover letter."
Don't we all. But it is a mistake to think that hiring managers can do that. We would like to think that this is what we would do if we were the hiring manager. But it just isn't realistic.
The truth is that hiring managers are usually swamped with operational concerns. Hiring is not all that they do. In fact, it is frequently such a small part of their function that they fall into the same trap as the job seeker: they often don't consider their hiring needs until there is a crisis.
The job seeker can never assume what a hiring manager or human resource professional is going to do. The job seeker must take the initiative. The job seeker must be professional but be persistent.
The job seeker can do things to make the hiring process easier for the hiring manager. They can place the burden returning of phone calls on themselves. They should follow-up after interviews with letters. They should do everything professionally possible to make it easy for the hiring manager to say "yes".
The job search does not have to be drudgery. But it must be planned and executed the same kind of way that as an important project for an employer. In fact, there may be no better way to demonstrate actual job related skills to an employer than by conducting your job search at a level they do not commonly see.
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Kelly Stone is the Content Engineer for
myjobsearch.com, publishers of the largest career resource directory on the Internet.
Kelly has served job seekers for years as a career counselor and has facilitated many job search and hiring seminars for the careers industry.
