Yahoo Finance 4 Things to Do to Revive a Stalled Job Search
Hoping Santa will bring you a new career for Christmas? Wishing for a professional change is easy -- but taking action to land a new job is grueling work. Often, job seekers start off with a bang, but what can you do when your efforts fail to get results? Here are four things you can do today to revive a stalled search.
First, do you have a thesis (and is it realistic)? Most job seekers stagnate because they don't have a clear idea about how their background makes them an ideal employee. In high school and college, the papers that get an A are the ones with a clear thesis and ample evidence that supports the point of view. The same is true in job searching. If you cannot communicate (through your resume, profile and interview) why you are a good hire -- trust me, employers won't be able to figure it out either. Clarity of purpose and value are key to a successful search.
Also, your goal or goals should be realistic. For example, if you are returning to work and your skills require some updating, targeting a role at the most in-demand, cutting-edge tech firm is not highly probable. It might happen, but you have many more barriers than you might with more reasonable expectations. A great way to test your expectations is to look at job descriptions online for desired roles. If your background is a 70 to 80 percent match, the role is on target. If you are less than 60 percent qualified, convincing a manager that you are a fit will require savvy networking and ample preparation. If you aren't up for that challenge or are finding the results lacking, time to adjust your targets.
[See: 10 Things New Grads Can Do Right Now to Get a Job.]
Next, are you using the best tools? Your resume and your LinkedIn profile are the first things almost every potential employer reviews before deciding to request an interview. If you aren't getting any requests for interviews, there is a strong possibility that your resume and online presence are lacking. A common pitfall is displaying a lack of attention to detail, with typos, misspellings, not capitalizing proper nouns, inconsistent formatting, poor word choices and an overall disorganized layout. Using a variety of font types or point sizes and having no strategy regarding spacing can be very distracting to the reader.
Online, the same care and proofreading is also essential. Often, people throw together a LinkedIn profile quickly. With over 467 million users on LinkedIn, a carelessly created profile can scare off hiring managers even if you have a well-crafted resume. Having an outdated or nonexistent presence online can deter recruiters who are looking for more savvy job seekers. Avoiding or dismissing online job searching is a mistake no job seeker should make. Take the time to make sure you have an impressive presence on the web.
[See: 8 Things That Are More Productive Than Staring at a Job Board.]
Third, do you have ample prospects? Looking for a job should mirror being in a sales role. In the technology industry, for example, sales reps are expected to reach out to 50 or more prospects every day to create a productive funnel of business. While it is unlikely that you may have 250 positions to apply to every week, the average job seeker feels disappointed after applying to three to five positions without getting hired. That is only 1 percent of the activity expected of many sales professionals.
To increase your prospects, make a list of people who think highly of you and would be willing to help you. You should have at least 20 people (and ideally many more). Contact your network and describe your career goal, such as, "I am looking for an accounting assistant role near San Jose, California." Ask if they have any advice regarding companies that are hiring or additional people with whom you should network. Write down everything they suggest. Resist the urge to argue about the validity of the advice or to tell them a sad story of all the things you have tried. Be positive, attentive and thankful. Conduct these meeting in person or over the phone if you can. This is not a mass email. Now, add all of their suggestions to your list of contacts.
[See: How to Follow Up on a Job Application Without Being Annoying.]
Fourth, and most importantly, take action. Every day, great prospective employees stall because they won't act. Apply to jobs, follow up on your applications, ask for advice, take the advice, proactively reach out to companies that align with your goals. Do more. Relying on only the most obvious job-search path means you must compete with the greatest amount of applicants. Less than 50 percent of positions are ever posted on a job board or company website. Proactively networking for your next role makes a significant difference and can help you stand out from other applicants. Furthermore, your willingness to act tells an employer that you are a problem-solver. Managers want someone who will get things done on their team.
Looking for a new position can take a toll on even the most confident person's self-esteem. Instead of letting the lack of success get to you, think of your search just like a sales professional builds his pipeline. Know how to articulate your value, have the best marketing materials ready to go (your resume, online profile), build a diverse prospect list and then take action. In summary, polite persistence pays off. Having an action-oriented plan in place can renew your confidence and reignite a stalled search.
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