As a blogger for NWjobs.com and a job search veteran myself, I realize so much of today’s career activity is focused on the end-game. Too often, job seekers obsess over writing the Impossible Perfect Resume and convincing hiring managers they’re the solitary person brought to Earth to fill a role. Wouldn’t it be refreshing to have hiring managers come to you?
It can happen. I call it the Reverse Job Search, or How to Look for Work Without Really Looking. The secret to this approach is to become so good at your profession and to manage your personal brand so well that the rest of the industry would be crazy to pass you up.
Here is a five-step plan that can start you on this journey and help you get off the endless job application merry-go-round.
- Act, don't react.
If you’re a hiker wandering aimlessly through the woods and want to find the trail, the first thing you should do is stop and get your bearings before moving forward. The same is true with a job search. Rather than blindly sending out resumes and reacting to job descriptions someone else wrote, figure out where you are and what kind of job you want first. In essence, write your own ideal job description.
Alexandra Levit, an expert on the workplace needs of the millennial generation, says the first step should be to contact people at the places where you actually want to work and establish a relationship with them. “Don’t ask them for a specific job, but see if you can talk with them for about 20 minutes about how they got the job and what it’s like to work there,” she advises.
- Assess your skills.
Self-assessment is one area where most job seekers have some difficulty, says Louise M. Kursmark, a trainer at the Resume Writing Academy. We have been so well trained to recite buzzwords – trustworthy, dedicated, responsible, creative, honest, etc. – that we forget to describe, or sometimes even consider, what we are actually good at.
To help you start your own skills assessment, ask yourself: “Have I ever saved money for an employer? If so, what skills did I use to accomplish the task? Am I good at brainstorming? Have I ever shown a capacity for leadership? Have I ever taken charge of a difficult project and delegated authority to other team members?” These are all questions related to qualities most hiring managers want to see in a job candidate.
Another good question to ask is, “Have I ever gone above and beyond my job description?” If so, how much satisfaction did you get out of it? Is it something you would consider doing more in the future?
- Become an expert.
Today’s job market is more fragmented than ever before. Hiring managers want people with very specific skills. The more you can specialize, the better your chances at getting hired.
Cal Newport, author of So Good They Can’t Ignore You, suggests focusing on output and adopting what he refers to as the craftsman mindset, which de-emphasizes following your passion and encourages doing the hard work of acquiring expert knowledge.
Become a member of an association that represents your chosen field and earn as many certifications in that area as you can afford. Look to local colleges, universities and continuing education classes to help you sharpen your skills and pick up new ones.
- Get your name out there.
Once you have decided on the skills and certifications you need, it’s time to broadcast your expertise to the world. One of the best ways to get your name out there is to develop a personal brand – to cultivate how people perceive you.
Boston-based branding consultant Dan Schawbel recommends creating a unified message about you and your abilities online, synching up your profiles on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites. Sites like WordPress can give you a decent website for your professional information and your own blog. Keep your online presence professional, while still letting some of your personality come through. If you share your opinions, you’ll likely develop a following, which may include hiring managers.
You must also keep up with the blogs, Twitter feeds and other social media posts of your peers. List the top five companies you want to work for and start following the tweets of their top executives. Join in their social media conversations multiple times a day and “re-tweet their messages as much as you can,” Schawbel says. “Show how you can help them, not the other way around.”
Video podcasting is another emerging personal branding trend. All you need is a computer, a hands-free USB headset, a Skype account and an interesting colleague to talk to. “If you set up an informal meeting over coffee with a hiring manager, you’re asking them for a favor,” says podcaster Michael Surkan, manager of the Linked:Seattle group on LinkedIn. “But by making that person the subject of your podcast, suddenly you’re the one doing a favor.”
With all of these online tools, though, the cardinal rule is: Thou Shalt Not Promote Thyself. Make sure that you volunteer helpful information to others with no expectation of reciprocation.
- Meet like-minded people.
You can do a lot of branding work from behind a computer screen, but there’s still no substitute for face-to-face interaction.
Join a professional society or LinkedIn group and hit the in-person meetings on a regular basis. Unlike job fairs, these networking events are not meant for you to actively look for work. Go out of your way to offer help to others in your network so your name sticks in their minds.
Taking part in continuing education programs is another great way to build your network. By taking classes, you immerse yourself in a collaborative environment with people searching for the same professional knowledge you are seeking.
Nick Corcodilos, author of the syndicated Ask the Headhunter column, sums it up: “Be worth knowing. This is what headhunters do, and it’s what they get paid for. It’s also the way to manage your own career – it’s what you’ll get paid for.”