If your job search is taking a long time, check out these tips…
Recently I had someone email me asking what advice I would give someone who has been in a long-term job search.
Her specific question was, “I know you have helped a great number of people. What advice do you give to those in a long-term search? I recall your email about the person who came in second multiple times over two years before landing a job. I don’t want that to happen to me.”
This is tough. I sympathize.
I have had plenty of clients who have been laid off multiple times or spent more than their fair share of time in a job search.
There is so much going on in their heads. After a job seeker is out of work for more months than they think is reasonable, they begin thinking there is something wrong with them. They take it personally.
We know that the situation is not personal, but without information to the contrary, the human brain fills in blanks. The only possible solutions are personal. It sounds like this: “I’m too…old, young, black, white…”
This is a self-defeating mindset that undermines your confidence.
We must deal with the mindset first to put the long-term job seeker in a more positive state. Then we can tackle technique.
In my experience, the problem with long-term searches is usually the search technique. The first question I ask is, “What techniques have you been using to find your next job?”
Long-term job seekers usually talk about responding to job postings. They can often show me a 3-ring binder stuffed with responses to ads.
This technique simply does not work for job seekers. There is a 4% to 8% chance of getting a job from a job posting. Someone is getting that job, but the odds are not good that it will be you.
When you spend your job search time using ineffective methods, you will get ineffective results. Guaranteed.
Networking is the best way to get a new job. Long-term job seekers must change their technique to network.
Often, they do not know how to network. They do not know what to say to people they know, not to mention people they don’t know yet.
Long term job seekers often have these issues in common:
- Focusing more attention on job postings
- Think resumes are important
- Have sub-standard LinkedIn profiles with insufficient connections
- Don’t know how to network
- Don’t know what to say to people
- They talk about their job search which stops conversation and does not allow building relationships
- Don’t know how to target companies so don’t have any other tools at their disposal.
?
Their best solution?
They need a different method of job search.
Not only will this be more effective, it gives the job seeker something to do, short-term goals for a sense of accomplishment, something to celebrate each week rather than waiting to celebrate when they get a job offer.
Most people do not know how to do this. Most job search groups touch on the concept of networking, but I still don’t think that most people, particularly process-oriented, quiet people, know what that means or what to do with it.
That is why I developed the Job Search Marketing Plan Bootcamp, which is going to be open for registration in a few weeks. This Bootcamp will walk participants through an effective job search to help them find their ideal job faster. Stay tuned for more details on this!
In the meantime, I invite you to join me for a free training on Wednesday, September 16th at 1pm Eastern time, “Busting 7 Myths that Undermine Your Job Search“.
?Book your spot now for this LIVE session with me; learn some new tricks to finding a job!
I’ll be sharing some of the common myths about job searches that stop people from moving forward in their job search. And you will learn ways to see progress so you are not stuck in a long-term job search and instead, find that job you are seeking.
This training offers solutions to help you avoid falling into the myth trap and instead change your approach to searching for a new or another job. Be sure to join me!
Here are a few tips if you find yourself with a big old failure face: