Being a research & search consultancy, you would expect the team at Briscoe Search & Consulting to come across from pretty interesting articles in the world of talent acquisition. This is one of our recent favourites, put together by Katharine Hansen, creative director and associate publisher of Quintessential Careers in the U.S. It gives some great tips for candidates to improve their chances of landing the next career role, even in the toughest of times. Bear in mind that some of the network sites recommended (such as TugLink) are more relevant to the American market, however so much of the advise is very similar to what we are pressing upon candidates.
Attacking the Job Market and Workplace Proactively in Tough Times: A Roundup of Expert Advice
We asked job and career experts for tips on how workers and job-seekers can take a proactive stance to improve their jobs and careers , even in a tough economic climate — and we got an earful. We asked experts to complete this sentence: “If you could offer one piece o
f advice for how workers and job-seekers can be proactive regarding their jobs and careers at this difficult time, it would be ________________________.”
Here’s what they said:
- Network
- Excel in Your Job
- Update and Optimize Your Resume
- Polish Your Interviewing Skills
- Make a Plan
- Know and Leverage Your Strengths and Accomplishments
- Update Your Skills
- Remain Flexible
- Be Persistent
- Market and Differentiate Yourself
- Consider Becoming a Free Agent
- Adjust your Mindset, Fight Fear, and Take Action
Network
You need to be an active networker. In today’s economy, it is imperative to have an active network in place. Most employers prefer to hire people who are referred to them via their own networks, so it is essential to focus on expanding your online and traditional networks of contacts. By networking, you can potentially set yourself apart from the scores of other applicants who apply for every job vacancy. In today’s economy, employers are inundated with job applications. The best way to have your resume considered is by networking actively and trying to find people who can possibly recommend you for a job opportunity.
— Sharon Reed Abboud, career strategist and author of the forthcoming book, All Moms Work: Short-term Career Strategies to Long-Range Success, Capital Books
Nurture and grow personal and professional networks. Ask not what others can do for you, but what you can do for them. Then — if appropriate — demonstrate how you can meet needs. This spirit of reciprocity can help you be “top of mind” when your skills are needed.
— E. Chandlee Bryan, Quintessential Careers contributor and Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Counselor,Careers in Context
Expand thy network of friends now! Take a class at a community college, or continuing-education program, or join Meetup.com to meet people with similar interests, so if you unfortunately do lose your job, you already have relationships with people who might be in a position to help you get your next one. Who knows, you may be able to help them and feel like a million bucks!
— Melanie Szlucha, career coach/resume writer/job interview coach/networking coach, Red Inc.
Networking is by far the best job-search method and a way to stand out in the job market. Fresh college grads as well as seasoned professionals can effectively use employee referrals to get their foot in the door. The proverbial inside track is especially critical in tough times of mass layoffs and hiring freezes when competition for open jobs gets even tighter. There are many general-purpose social-networking Websites, such as Facebook and LinkedIn. Here job-seekers can leverage their current network of friends and colleagues to get introductions to other people. Alternatively, they might consider joining specialized peer-to-peer job-search networks such as TugLink.com where they would be able to introduce themselves directly to insiders (employees) at companies of their interest.
— Alex Carp, Job Search Networking Specialist
Build your network on LinkedIn. While many professionals have LinkedIn profiles, not many know how to leverage the profile as a job-search/career-management tool:
- For “passive” networking: Increasingly, hiring managers are bypassing recruiters (to save recruiting fees) and passing along job postings to their online networks. The more connections you have, the more you will be in the flow of these opportunities when they come up. Your connections will have your resume and contact info right at their fingertips, making it easy to get in touch with you
- For “active” networking: You can search for companies you are interested in working for and see which of your contacts works there or knows someone who does. Perhaps they can set up an informational interview. Candidates coming in through this channel are being “referred in” by a trusted party and therefore will get a closer look and probably a faster response than if they had been one of the thousands coming through an open job board .
- For interview prep: Before interviews, you can read the profiles of the people you’ll be meeting. Not that you’d want to start rattling off their vital stats during the interview, but understanding their background and work experience might help you tailor your answers to their hot buttons.
- For lead generation : You can keep tabs on your connections in an unobtrusive way, and see when they change jobs. Depending on the position, they might want to bring in people they know or have worked with before to build out their new team. Send a note of congratulations and an offer to be of service if they need any help. You don’t want to sell, but just to get on their radar screen by offering your genuine support.
For the article in full, visit http://www.quintcareers.com/attacking_job_market.html.
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