You may have seen a recent Job Market Minute I wrote where I discussed what it takes to conduct a successful job search; things like a Rock Star Resume, a great online profile, a strategy to connect with decision makers, etc.
Well, today, I’d like to take a step back and talk to you about three key things I see in the most successful job seekers – those people that find their perfect job quickly and get the compensation they deserve, vs. those job seekers that take forever to find something, and then settle for the first place that accepts them (I call that the square peg/round hole syndrome).
It’s been my privilege over the last 11 years to work with some of the best and brightest talent in the U.S. and internationally; people making anywhere from a $25,000 salary to nearly two million in total compensation. In my experience, there are three things that allow people to really take effective action in their search. What I find is that there are a lot of people that “learn” how to search for a position, from me or other sources, but they don’t really implement the different strategies or techniques, and they fall back on the old ineffective method of trolling the job boards and applying to jobs that are beneath their capabilities.
So how is it that you can become a really “make it happen” expert in career searching? Well, here are the things that I see in my most successful clients – those that find that great job in a matter of weeks:
Burning Desire
First, I see that the job seekers that find something quickly, and get their choice of job offers are people who have a burning desire to find their next job quickly. There are three types of situations I generally find these people in.
1) They just got laid off and they’ve never been unemployed before, and they’ll do whatever it takes NOT to get into the habit of not working. So they truly make job seeking their full time job until they find something.
2) They’ve been unemployed for so long they have absolutely NO CHOICE but to get a job quickly. Depression has taken its toll on them, but at this point, they MUST put forth the effort it takes to get something fast.
3) They’re employed, but they are one of the 20 million people (according to Gallup) who are miserable in their jobs, and the pain of their current situation is so great that it catapults their activity consistently, week after week, until they find something new.
In each of these cases, there is an absolute burning desire to find a new job, and job searching remains their #1 priority until they land their next position. What do you really, really, really want to do? Do you have the burning desire to tackle all of the obstacles out there to get the job you love and deserve?
Resources
A lot of people think that making their job search their first priority is all they need. But that’s not the case. You also need the right resources. You can’t just have a huge burning desire – it’s one thing to WANT to take successful action… it’s another thing to be ABLE to. So do you have all the things – the skills, the knowledge, the systems and the people you need to be able to get what you truly desire.
For example, if you want to expand your network, do you know how to conduct an informational interview, and with whom? Do you know how (with the help of books, speakers, the internet or a resume writer like myself) to get the attention of decision makers with an effective resume? Do you know what to say on your LinkedIn profile? Do you have a step by step system to get you into the door of a hiring manager and then know what to say to win the job? These are all resources. If you don’t have these, all the burning desire in the world won’t get you the right job. Sadly, there are a lot of people who don’t have the resources or don’t know where to get them, and it completely shuts down their search. But identifying what resources you need is the first step to getting things done.
Willingness to Change
You would think that having the right resources a burning desire would get you the perfect job in a short amount of time, but there’s still one thing that I see in successful job seekers that isn’t present in those people that stall in their search, and that’s a willingness to change. You need to be willing to look at yourself and say, “What do I have to change in order to take that next step in my career?”
Remember, Pogo said, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.” Sometimes there’s just something in us that is holding us back from taking that next step. In my years of coaching people at all levels, I can tell you that with everyone it’s something different. Maybe you’re afraid to put yourself out there, to promote yourself. Maybe it’s just habits and ways of thinking that are outdated in today’s job market, and you don’t even realize it.
What I’ve found is that the people who find their next career quickly, those that really SOAR in this job market, are those people who can put all three of these things together. So when you think about those things, what triggers come up for you? Where are you falling short? What support do you need? I’d love to start a dialogue on this blog – and I would love for you to reply with where you stand with these three key factors, and what you think might be holding you back. Has your desire cooled in your search? Are you lacking the resources, or maybe there’s something in your mindset that keeps you from wanting to “toot your own horn.” I’d love to hear from you!
If you’re local and you’d like some free resources on interviewing at an executive level, join my Advanced Interviewing workshop coming up this Thursday. Click here to register.
