What can you change in your job search?

The economy is in a mess. Wherever you look, the statistics are depressing. Six applicants for every job in the USA, and an expected 8% unemployment rate in the UK. Economists are divided over whether unemployment will rise or fall next year, but the fact still remains: contracting industries = fewer jobs and more applicants,

There comes a point where your enthusiasm for the job search begins to flag, when the ratio of applications to interviews makes you wonder if it’s worth your while to even bother. While each job seeker’s individual and professional circumstances may be different, there are some aspects of the job search you can change to shift the balance. If you’ve got to the stage where you seriously doubt you’re ever going to get a job again, think about changing one or more of the following “statements”:

1. “My CV is pretty good, actually.”
In a recent poll asking job seekers why they were not using a professional resume writer, 32% of respondents said “I feel my resume is good enough”. 28% said they didn’t want to pay for the services of a professional resume writer, and 17% said they knew people who could help for free.

The comments that followed offered compelling reasons why professional CV writers could make a difference. Along with success stories of people who hadn’t previously paid for a professionally-written CV, were these valid points:
“I don’t believe too many people have been hired solely because of a great resume BUT I am certain many people have NOT been hired because of a bad one.” (Ron McManmon)

Of the free resources already available, Miriam Salpeter from Keppie Careers says “Yes, there are free resources, but those resources cannot help a candidate overcome his or her own biases or tendency to sell him or herself short. Free resources do not help if a candidate does not write well.”

Kathy Sweeney, from www.awriteresume.com comments “A resume is not just a piece of paper with your “job history” placed into a pretty format. It is a strategic marketing document – a document, that if written correctly, will showcase your value to the next employer and garner you interviews.”

If your CV is not getting you anywhere, consider using the services of a professional CV writer to help you find the value you can bring an organisation and then present it in such a way that it makes you attractive to a potential employer. Unless you’re good at objective analysis, this is something you won’t be able to do well on your own. A good CV writer will help you identify your goals and strengths, then help you express this clearly and confidently at every stage of your job search, including at interview. Going through this sort of process means you gain a clearer picture of your capabilities and potential – you don’t just end up with a better-written CV.

2. “I’m applying for all the jobs I see.”
Applying for jobs online or through newspaper ads is not enough on its own. This isn’t to say you should be exhausting yourself even further, but that searching in one way alone isn’t the most effective strategy. For a start, many jobs aren’t advertised. Estimates on the extent of the “hidden job market” vary, but “hidden jobs” are those opportunities where you hear of a job through a friend / family member / ex-colleague etc. Perhaps it’s a vacancy that a company is thinking about, or doesn’t want to pay to advertise, or it’s for a couple of weeks / months for a one-off project that might lead on to something else…

You find these jobs through your “network of contacts” – either a professional network such as LinkedIn, or the more “ear to the ground” informal network of friends and acquaintances. You can also make your contacts by attending industry events, targeting companies that appeal to you and then asking if you can go in and meet someone for advice on how best to apply or break into the sector.

The second reason not to apply for all the jobs you see is that it’s too time-consuming. You’re more likely to get a higher proportion of applications to interviews if you choose the jobs you most want and then use your time to make your CV relevant to the job, than by firing off your CV indiscriminately. Being specific and focussed in your job search – only applying for jobs which you feel enthusiastic about – also means you’re less likely to project an air of desperation.

3. “There are no jobs.”
It is a spectacularly bad time to be looking for a job. The recession, plus hiring freezes in many companies mean that more people are chasing fewer jobs. But there are jobs out there, only many are never advertised (see 2 above) and for the others, your application needs to really stand out. You need greater experience, more skills, or better future potential than other candidates to be considered.

If you’re struggling to get the job you’ve always wanted, you can either stay put and defer any career change until your sector picks up; take what’s available to get your foot in the door; or work on making your application better than everyone else’s – through retraining if necessary, asking your company to be involved in different, experience-building projects, and so on.

4. “My approach worked well last time.”
Don’t always rely on the strategy you used last time you needed to get a job – especially if that was some time ago. Use a variety of approaches, both online and offline. Increase your contacts using LinkedIn and Twitter; use the internet and your local library to find out about potentially interesting companies; join professional associations and attend industry events. Volunteer locally, approach people directly, enhance your professional reputation with a blog – your aim is to get your face known and demonstrate your knowledge and skills – to become visible in other words. It doesn’t hurt to let people know you’re looking for work, either. The more people who know, the greater the chance that a lead will be passed your way.

5. “My recruiter’s working for me.”
Recruiters work on behalf of the person paying them – the company with the vacancy. If they think you’re a good fit for a vacancy, they’ll be in contact. Otherwise, they’re not going to act on your behalf.

Here’s some great advice from Gayle’s blog on the subject of the jobseeker / recruiter relationship:
The recruiter can be a jobseeker’s best friend. Particularly if you are a “hot candidate”. By “hot” it means you have consistent work record (preferably with well-known companies), your skills are in short supply and in great demand, you have a strong industry network, and you are a match for the position the recruiter has in mind. If you fit that bill, then things will be smooth sailing. The recruiter will brief you on the employer’s needs, give you inside information about what to mention to press their hot buttons, follow-up with you and the employer post-interview and take an active role in communicating the remuneration expectations and offers. If you are to be the recruiter’s friend, you will help them in passing along contacts of similarly qualified candidates so a relationship can be built. This is the perfect win/win jobseeker/recruiter relationship.

Chris Rawlins, Associate Director of Precisionexecutive.co.uk sums it up: “Recruiters are not responsible custodians for your career.” They are there to fill vacancies and make a commission – not to help you find your ideal job. His advice: “If you want to get a recruiter to work for you, get the format and content of your CV right. Concentrate on key facts about your employability: Relevant qualifications, experience in terms of technical knowledge (training courses and career development), number of years in a role and customers (name drop like crazy – household names and brands impress) and key commercial successes (remember to be quantitative – numbers impress).