The Blueprint for the Way a Job is Really Found

We recently conducted a survey, What are the Biggest Challenges You Face Now or Will Face in a Job Search?  It was very interesting to review the results.  As an overview:

• 41% felt their job search techniques were ineffective
• 41% felt their job search techniques were effective

At the same time:

• Over 70% felt they were not in control of their job search
• Over 75% felt they were not getting results from the create a resume, send a resume, wait for a response process
• 46% felt very confident with the effectiveness of their resume

We found that very interesting and contradictory.  It points out what most people believe, that the resume is the all powerful tool in a job search and at least 46% feel they have the best one for them even though an additional 29% were not getting results. 

It points out that most people feel that the create a resume, send a resume, wait for a response is the process that has to be followed regardless of how flawed and ineffective it is.  We understand that.  This process is decades old and not only do job seekers think this is how a job is found, but employers also believe it.  If they did not they would not post jobs. 

Or, maybe employers don't quite believe it.  Over two-thirds of open positions are not advertised.  That said, in talking with employers daily, they don't know how to make contact with potential employees either.

This makes for a very messy process of how employers and potential employees can get together doesn't it? 

The great hockey player, Wayne Gretzky said, "Good hockey players skate to the puck.  Great hockey players skate to where the puck is going."  Since Wayne Gretzky holds or shares 61 NHL records, it is probably safe to assume that is good advice.  How does this have anything to do with getting a job?

Picture what is said.  You can see if you skate to the puck there is a good chance given how fast the puck travels that when you get there the puck is already somewhere else so you are continually chasing the puck.  If you are skating to where the puck is going, sure you have to anticipate, but when you get there the chances are the puck will be there too.

Now picture yourself searching for a job.  If you send your resume to a number of companies or respond to a number of job postings, your resume gets there with everyone else' resume and you are just one in the "bunch".  The job may be filled or you may not get noticed.  In today's hiring environment, even if you are qualified there are so many other resumes that yours may not be reviewed in any manner at all.  That is in effect, skating to the puck.

Suppose instead, you conducted some serious research on companies you thought might be a fit for you and your experiences, skills, etc.  You actually call into the company, engage in conversation with someone who is willing to speak with you and you find out a great deal about the companies you researched.  In that effort you found several that were seeking someone with your background.  You found out their culture is one that you would do well in.  You eventually spoke to a hiring manager for your area of expertise (wouldn't it be great to speak to someone who is not trying to find a reason to not hire you?).  You spoke with them and gained an interview.  You prepared specifically for what that hiring manager was looking for in that position and they liked you so well they made you an offer you found very acceptable.  Wouldn't that be more skating to where the puck is going?

In a very proactive manner you have not only found where the positions are you want but you have found out exactly what the hiring manager needs, not just what is in a job description or job posting.  Those two documents possess less than 30 percent of what the job is really all about.

That is actually what a successful job search is all about:

• Being in charge of the search
• Knowing what to do
• Know who to contact
• Know who to speak to
• What to say
• How to present your credentials when appropriate
• How to get an interview
• How to interview successfully
• How to manage the process after the interview
• How to gain an offer
• What to do once an offer is extended  

Notice the above list does not mention sending a resume or being passive.  It is a proactive process that allows the job seeker to be in charge and impact the outcome of each step.

Not many people are doing that and that is one reason why there are still so many unemployed today.  It is why many fear changing companies and why some do not advance within their current company because they do not know how to manage their career within a company.

Many individuals are returning to community colleges to gain more or different skills in hopes to become more employable.  That is great, but if once the skills are gained there is a lack of knowing how to find the company and position where they can do the most good for the employer and the individual, how valuable are they?

The ironic thing about all this is that companies are in the most difficult situation they have faced in decades to find the talent they need in almost every level of their organization yet neither employers nor job seekers are able to find each other.

You may say to yourself that you cannot do what is listed above.  Maybe not.  The reason would be that you have not acquired the skills of how to conduct a proactive job search.  Not many people know how.  No one has been taught at the secondary level, collegiate level or post graduate.  Most have been taught to write a resume and a cover letter and some basic research to find companies.  Like many activities though, the skills can be learned.  And, with a little practice you can become good at them. 

Stop skating to where the puck is and start skating to where the puck is going.  Go to www.CareerTalkGuys.com to learn more about the hiring environment and how to "skate to where the puck is going".  For almost 50 years we have successfully helped those seeking a job to learn how.

Is Free Job Information Going to Get You a Job?

I am very curious about something. Am I wrong, or is trying a job when you do not have one, a very stressful time? From everyone I talk to on a daily basis, they are stressed to varying degrees. They may have little stress as they have plenty of resources to carry them over until they find the position they want. The other end of the spectrum is those that are extremely stressed due to the lack of resources to carry them over. One of the unfortunate occurrences that has always happened but is more prevalent now, is that those that start out with low stress become highly stressed. One reason is they assume they will get the next position. The reasons why they feel that way are long and varied.

The stress manifests itself in a myriad of ways. It can be depression, anger, lack of self-confidence, and many other emotions. All of them are unfortunate. All make everyone that knows a person with the issues very concerned.

With all those serious issues from a personal standpoint of individuals seeking a new job, I come back to the question. If this is such a difficult time, why does everyone want free information and many reluctant to pay for a solution?

The reason I ask is that most if not all the free information I have ever read on finding a job is useless. It is almost always in bits and pieces of parts of other useless information. Why is it useless, because it does not work for the job seeker. Yet people flock to that information and try to apply it to one of the most critical acts they will perform. I think most would agree that finding a job that will support themselves, their family, and provide for their future is extremely important to most people.

If I can put this in perspective, if you had a disease or medical condition that required the attention of a doctor, would you go to the internet and take the advice given there? Would you take it if the advice giver was not really qualified to give the advice, but it was free?

I think that is a fair comparison. I think you would agree these are two serious situations that require a remedy.

Most of the time the advice on seeking a job, writing a resume, taking an interview, or negotiating an offer is given by those not qualified.

I think I will leave it like this, is your ability to find your next job in the highest unemployment, by numbers in history, worth nothing, or is that critical life situation (having the job you want with the company you want) worth something?

Job Search Success Stories

It may come to you as a shock, but I am always amazed with the success people have when we train them to conduct their own successful job search.

My amazement is not that they were successful. I always expect success. My amazement is even the most skeptical people who are adamant about the traditional process of send a resume and wait, will eventually come to the conclusion there is a better way.

Here is a difficult situation with a great ending that illustrates what I mean. I recently met with an individual who wanted me to help him individually. I usually recommend either the live webinar or the streaming webinar due to the great price difference of $250 per man hour versus $299 for the live webinar (five hours) or $69 for the streaming webinar (also 5 hours). They all teach exactly the same skills the same way.

Anyway, he was adamant about private help. I was happy to provide the training to him. His background was a bit different, but most people have something that makes them unique. Tim, had only three jobs in his life. They were all in the same industry and he had had success with each company. He did construction supervision (an hourly position) and was very good at it.

Unfortunately, during work hours on company business, almost a year ago he was in a bad car accident. He suffered severe injuries to his back. Fortunately, he did not have any paralysis. He had surgery twice to correct his injuries and had the usual fights with Workers' Compensation and his company. His company fired him due to his injury (I won't pretend to understand that). Keep in mind he was not at fault for the accident. Now he had to find work while wrestling legally with the company for a settlement.

He came to me after reading some of the articles and reviewing the website outline of the course. He was very concerned that while he was now physically able to do what he had always done, companies would not want to hire him because of his injuries, surgeries and year off work.

I spent the entire five hours teaching the skills we teach to him and showing him how to apply them to his particular situation since that was his major concern. He also opted to have me teach him how to create powerful credential presentation materials that we teach in our webinar, The Secrets of Powerful Resume Creation.

From the training he set off to find a new position with a new company. It only took three weeks and he was made an offer with a company he wanted to work for in the position he wanted.

What amazed me about this particular individual was he was so skeptical at the beginning, yet willing to invest in individual training versus an equally effective, less expensive option. Every step of the way his favorite comment was, this can't work. His only positive comments were, this certainly is different than anything I have ever seen. My concern was he was spending a considerable amount of money and with his negative comments he would not follow through.

When he started talking with prospective employers he started to change his comments. By the time he had interviewed with a couple of companies that were a fit for him he was now saying, I see why following your process brings results.

He admitted the only reason he came to me for the training was he concluded that if my partner, Doug Beabout and I have been using the same skills we teach for years with success, there had to be something to it. Now he tells everyone he meets about his skill at finding a job. We are thrilled for him.

By the way, the fact that he was out of work for an entire year did not have a negative effect with any of the companies he interviewed with. He did not have to relocate which was a goal of his even though I cautioned him he might have to consider it.

I love happy endings, don't you?