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Warning! This Job Search Is Under Construction.
During my job search back in 2007 there were days when I felt I needed a man with a stop sign out in front of my house. He was there to direct trafc around my house but, more directly, around the constantly changing nature of my job search.
You see, I learned a lot in 2007. And just because I am writing about my experiences now does not mean I was an expert back then. I made mistakes. My expertise has grown as a result of my writing, my networking and the testing of ideas with people who are in the middle of their own job search.
You may know there are two different types of construction. Te kind that happens in most U.S. cities and the kind that happens in Chicago. If you have ever travelled to Chicago or surrounding areas, you will have heard the phrase: “Tere are two seasons in Chicago. Winter and Construction.” So what does the trafc look like around your house?
To kick of your effort, you need to spend signifcant time up front on your job search strategy. Whether you are doing a re-paving, adding a lane or building a bridge, those frst 2-4 weeks are critical. Not only do they set the urgency and importance of your effort, but they also establish your early credentials.
IMPORTANT LESSON #1
All those early e-mails and networking meetings will include your most trusted and reliable contacts. Don’t ruin the unique opportunity to re-establish yourself with poorly constructed marketing materials.
So there is the up-front effort that we can all agree is critical. What then? Well, you can’t just sit still with your materials in a changing market, can you? Isn’t that job search suicide? Actually I think you can.
Ten you can go out and take action with these tools. As a very astute person said on my LinkedIn group, you can go get some “Face Time!” All the preparation in the world won’t do anything for you without brilliant execution. Go out and meet the key people that need to see your skills and personality proven - in person.
You won’t get a job offer over the phone. I’ve heard stories of this happening, but I don’t believe it.
Interviews and job offers come when you make an impact on someone. Either the hiring manager directly or someone who knows him or her and says to them. “Wow, you have to meet this person”.
So…
IMPORTANT LESSON #2
Pick a point within the frst 2-4 weeks where you are done with the writing, tweaking and re-jiggering of your resume, cover letter and such. Tat point should become obvious as your changes get very insignifcant. You can always come back and adjust your materials as needed due to market changes or when target company opportunities require a special version.
But, for the most part, once you fgure out who you are, what you are good at and where you’d like to focus your talents, stop clowning around.
OK, sure, but what’s wrong with making a few changes each week? Honestly, no one will likely even notice that you made the changes. You have now left Bigpicture city and are traveling on the Wasteoftime Expressway. Your efforts will be about as effcient as four guys in orange vests standing around an open ditch. Oh, and if you are always under construction, you’ll probably sound like it in your interviews.
So… Build your strategy. Create materials to support it. Execute.
And stop re-digging the same holes for yourself. Get out there and get something new started.