You may be secure in your current position, or you may be actively seeking employment somewhere. In either case, here are three areas you might make it your business to start considering if you are seriously interested in landing the type of position you want now.
LEVERAGE
If you understand people gain great wealth by having their money always working for them, you might consider how to apply this fact to your job search. The best way to make this happen is to keep your network informed of specifically what you are seeking.
Your network includes your family, your friends, your community, your contacts from former places of employment, your alumni organization, and new contacts and people you meet. The single biggest mistake job seekers make, aside from missing their interview appointment, is to say these words to one of their network members, “Yes, I am looking for a job, anything really, anywhere.”
Here is why this does not help them, help you. First of all they do not know who to speak with or pass your information on to or introduce you to? Everyone they know? Secondly, if they knew specifically what you are seeking, the industry or the function or the names of three or four companies, now they would be able to ask their network (this is important) who knows someone in these areas or in these exact companies. Now your job search is working for you without you doing anything. Third, they want to help you. The people in your network want to see you succeed. Help them to help you.
CREATIVITY
Use creativity by considering how to apply your skill sets and what you know and are good at – and then determine where to apply these possibly in other industries you might not typically have considered working in before. The possibilities are endless. For example, a number of functions from Human Resources to Accounting are now being outsourced from the corporate model to outside professional companies who perform these functions for the corporation.
If you are a Human Resource Professional, are you looking into these companies for opportunities? As you speak with your network in creating leverage ask them where they see you and your skill sets filling a need.
STAY CURRENT
You must, more than ever, be current not only in your field, but in world and local events and news. You must have the ability to be able to have a reasonable conversation about a variety of topics. This is especially important if you have been seeking employment for a lengthy period of time. It may seem to you that obtaining a job and getting a regular paycheck is all that matters. Everyone else, well, not so much.
No one wants to hear your tale of rejections and the rest of the sob stories. This is not meant to be cruel. People will listen. They will care. They won’t help. In fact, over time they will avoid you. Take a different approach. Always be in a great mood. Understand what the news is and the important facts and business hot button issues. You will attract people around you who will want to engage. These are the people who will be able to introduce you to your new boss.
Make it your business to follow these three concepts and you will find the job you want faster than if you keep doing what you have always been doing.
Mitch Tublin is a certified personal and executive coach who lives in Stamford, CT.
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