This site is primarily a place that talks about marketing elements for the sale of products or services. However, many of the same elements that relate to such “sales” prospecting can be applied to prospecting for employment.
First, you need to understand:
- What you are selling – yourself.
- Who buys the kinds of products or services you sell – what types of employers hire a person like you?
- Where are those prospects located – address, email, online eployment services, etc.
- How those prospects buy – what are their preferred methods of contact and networking considerations?
- When will the prospect be considering a purchase – is a position open or will a position open in the future?
In my experience, the advice a person hears about job searching seems to go in every direction. Should you send a resume through the mail? Should you wait to look at posted positions instead of sending a resume “blind?” Is your experience a “perfect” match? Does the company hire directly? Etc. The consideration of all of these factors tends to lead to doubt and uncertainty that is followed by inaction.
I’m here to say-stop overthinking the situation! Instead, get your message together and get the word out! It is the same advice I give to salespeople who have call reluctance. The underlying fear is a worry about rejection, and it causes the salesperson to come up with an endless list of imagined excuses why not to make the call. The bottom line is, don’t worry about rejection! The primary objective is to settle on your message, and then get the word out.
- The “message” here is who you are and what you can do.
- What is your experience and what kind of value can you bring to a prospective employer?
- Focus on your strengths and the experience you already have.
- Even if an employer is not looking now, you can still try to build a bridge to that employer by letting him or her know that you are out there and know what you are capable of doing.
Frequently, there will be no match available. However, time goes by quickly and situations change. Current employees come and go for all kinds of unanticipated reasons. Therefore, a prospective employer who couldn’t use you last quarter, may really need you now.
Define your market!
What kind of employers can use a person like you? Create a well written resume and write some focused cover letters (get help from friends with writing and proofing, if you need it). Go to a library or the internet and research a list of 50 – 100 or more prospective employers. Set up a marketing “cycle” and plan to send resumes and cover letters to your list once every 90 to 1120 days. Turn the machine on and start sending resumes out!
- Be on constant lookout for good employer matches in your day-to-day activities.
- Add those names to your list when you find them.
- Keep building and improving your resume and your skill set. Work towards the education and experience that you need to be more valuable to prospective employers.
- Sometimes, all it may take is a course or two in a given subject (i.e. certain computer applications, marketing courses, sales training, languages, technical education, etc.). Such study can provide further opportunities for networking as well as add real power to your resume.
- Need more work experience? Churches and civic organizations are always in need of enthusiastic help and may provide you with the opportunity to gain some real-world experience in key areas.
Keep improving and keep reaching out. In time, you will have a very good chance of finding the opportunity that is right for you.
Originally posted 2009-05-23 04:36:30.
