Don’t Do It Alone (Your Job Search)

Your job search can be lonely, but it doesn’t have to be. As Career Switch Expert Dr. Dawn Graham said in a recent video, we have to look at the job search “as a social activity.” There is a good reason why you need to make it a social activity, as up to 70% of jobs are secured through networking and referrals. Once you understand that going it alone is less effective and less fun, you need to decide who you will engage – get social – with to help in your job search.

In my recent interview with WNEP-TV’s Ryan Leckey, I outlined a few sources of support to which job seekers can turn. If you missed that interview or prefer text to video, below are the groups or individuals I spoke about (and some others) who I believe you should consider “getting social with” for a more effective and enjoyable job search:

1.      Network – Your network is your strong ties, your weak ties, and your dormant ties. It is your family, friends, co-workers, former co-workers, classmates, former classmates, community members, etc. In other words, people you have (and had) relationships with. Why get social with them? Your network can connect you to people and opportunities, offer support and feedback, and provide information and insight. Your network is your Career GPS. It will work for you – IF you engage with it.

2.      Job club – A job club is a group of job seekers who come together to share information, offer support, review each other’s resumes, and conduct mock interviews, among other things. Why get social with them? With a job club, you can harness the collective energy, information, connections, knowledge, and wisdom of your group. Members of a job club can empathize with you because they are going through similar circumstances. This empathy and understanding can make possible the effective support you need to be successful in your job search. More on Job Clubs here.

3.      Career Board of Advisors – You career board of advisors are those handful of people in your network that you turn to for accountability, unique insight, mentorship, and overall career guidance. Why get social with them? This diverse group of people play a number of important roles in helping you navigate your career – from providing general support, to connecting you to opportunities and decision-makers, to being a truth teller, to providing industry or job specific insight based on experience. While the composition of your board of advisors will change based on your needs and current/future career goals, they will always be the people in your network you turn to for career mentorship, guidance, and advice.

4.      Career Coach – These professionals have their pulse on everything careers – from which skills employers are prioritizing, to which occupations are positioned for growth, to how to make a successful career switch, to how to create a resume that beats the ATS and catches the attention of a hiring manger, to how to ace an interview, to developing a targeted job search strategy, and so much more. Why get social with them? Career coaches provide comprehensive, person-centered guidance encompassing everything from assessments, visioning, experimenting, matching, and targeted action – all with one goal in mind: positioning you for success in your career and job search.

5.      Independent Recruiters – Independent recruiters source, recruit, and screen candidates on behalf of employers (their clients). Why get social with them? Independent recruiters are laser focused on filling their clients’ open positions, and therefore, WANT TO CONNECT WITH JOB SEEKERS. Furthermore, because of their close relationship with a wide range of employers, independent recruiters understand what employers are really looking for that may not be evident in a stale job description. And they’re often made aware of current or future job openings that aren’t publicly advertised and which you don’t know about (the hidden job market). When you connect with an independent recruiter, you have the opportunity to gain access to this information AND stay at the top of their mind for current or future job opportunities.

6.      Staffing Agencies – Staffing agencies fill job orders at companies for whom they recruit. Some staffing agencies specialize in one type of role or industry, while others recruit on behalf of a wide range of employers. Why get social with them? Staffing agencies’ value comes, in part, from their wide range of industry contacts, as well as their specialization in screening and matching job seekers with good fits (person-job, person-organization, person-group etc.). This allows for relatively quick interviews and ideal job placements. It doesn’t hurt having access to more job opportunities and someone advocating on your behalf.

You will be more effective in achieving your job search goals if you have the support of a strong, diverse network to help guide you. You may not need the support or guidance of every person or group listed above TODAY, but you may SOMEDAY. 

Don’t wait until you need help in your career or job search to start building or strengthening relationships. Start. Right. Now. Your goal – TODAY – is to find ways to invest in the above-mentioned people and groups so they are willing to invest in you and your career – especially when you need it.

[Originally published on LinkedIn on 1/24/21: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dont-do-alone-bill-leonard-mhrm/?trackingId=O30ph0W5xrCSjRitskcCnw%3D%3D]