Hello everyone!
This month, I wanted to focus on something that “SHOULD” go without saying, but I see it enough that I am moved to make it my topic this time around.
Don’t be your own worst enemy
Author :
Thomas Patrick Chuna
Hello everyone!
This month, I wanted to focus on something that “SHOULD” go without saying, but I see it enough that I am moved to make it my topic this time around.
I don’t know what job seekers are thinking when they do this, but I see everyone from life science gurus to residential plumbers do this: they submit a resume for a position they are not fit and qualified for. Remember, a recruiter spends a whopping five, maybe ten seconds on your resume, looking for a reason to not call you. If you don’t even remotely match, you’ve given him all the justification he needs to say “next”.
Maybe I do know what job seekers are thinking when they do this. I can hear it now: “but I just wanted to make sure they have my information!”
That is good in theory, but if you aren’t a match, they aren’t looking at you any closer at that time, and you are placing a lot of faith in them remembering where they filed your submission, assuming you made it into the database.
There is a better way: research your way into a company, find out if they are hiring based on your background, then develop and nurture the relationship until the timing is right. It’s the only way.
Another reason I hear is “I want them to know I will take anything”. This is another incorrect strategy. They don’t hire just anybody for just anything. Do your homework, and have a plan. Flailing around has no place in job search. I don’t care how rough your search has been, it’s always important to be professional.
This brings up the importance of proper targeting. Targets, meaning, “appropriate companies for you to talk to”. We at the Five O’Clock club say, “If your targets are off, everything is off. And your targets are off for usually a couple of reasons:
1) You skipped the part where you were supposed to check your skill sets.
2) You skipped the part where you were supposed to organize this information.
3) You skipped the part where you were supposed to work on figuring out (based on the above) who could hire you.
Job hunting is not for the weak, the uncreative, the lazy, or the inefficient. A good target research session should yield over 100 possible positions you can work on. These companies don’t have to be hiring now, they just need to be able to hire people just like you. From there you can develop and work on your plan, calling the appropriate companies in a systematic way, and no flailing needed.
As always, make sure your voicemail works, and check those voice and email inboxes. Call people back when they call you. You’ll never know where the opportunities will come from.
Until next time, I wish you all the best.
Coach Tom
Thomas Patrick Chuna is a certified Five O’Clock Club job search coach, teaching their proven methodology to private clients in all fields and disciplines. – I will teach you to apply the methodology to YOUR specific situation. Find me at linkedin.com/in/patrickinternational
Want FREE access to helpful job search tools? – Check out the Five O’clock Club ad on the Bio Careers “Career Tools” page.
The Five O’Clock Club is a nationally recognized outplacement firm with a proven job search methodology that helps job seekers get better jobs faster.
The Five O’Clock Club also provides affordable, humane outplacement services to companies who care about the well being of their employees. Learn more: http://www.fiveoclockclub.com
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