Job Hunting? Try Relationship Building!
Looking for a job?
Too many applicants with too few jobs makes for a maelstrom of heartache for anyone who is trying to break into a new career or recently earned a degree. Rejection letters, relentless interviews and filling out application after application can make any job-seeker downright crazy.
The good news is: It's not you, it's the job market. Faced with a flood of qualified applicants, recruiters do not have the necessary tools to sort, pre-screen, and interview applicants without disqualifying all but a few leads.
Rather than being one of many, you can differentiate yourself through building a relationship prior to submitting that job application; it will make you sound like a seasoned pro that has the company's best interests at heart when do you do land that interview, and put you in the pilot's seat when it comes to landing the job.
Research Companies, not Jobs
"I AM researching companies!" you lament, and you probably are putting in a few minutes in front of the monitor prior to attending the interview. However, there is more to a company than what is on their webpage. A company's web site is like your resume, and no one looks bad on a resume.
Instead, find out who is doing the hiring for that position, and reach out to them. LinkedIn offers in-messaging, and when it doubt, guess. Nearly all organizations use a universal profile when assigning email addresses: firstname.lastname@company.com. Google, too, can help when looking for email addresses and contact information. Ask questions around the company's pain points, what their hiring profile looks like, and why are they hiring for this position. Look elsewhere on the web for good reviews (and bad) in order to get a behind the scenes glimpse of company values. For most people, a job is a multi-year commitment, but most people don't give a second thought about the company they're about to marry and fail to do a background check.
In other words, consider the company you want to work for prior to applying, and only apply to those organizations that you would want to work for. Just like any other relationship, you deserve to get to know each other first.
Your Job Opportunities Mirror Your Social Network
"Fake it 'til you make it" is the old adage, which should be "Fake it until you own it" when it comes to breaking into a job market. Your success is as good as your social group, so if you don't have anyone "in your corner" when it comes to your job choice (yes, I use the word choice because you decide what kind of career you want) it is time you went out and found them. Social media will only get you so far, so to go all the way you'll have to get out of your house and seek out industry events that mirror your chosen profession.
Get to know who the industry movers and shakers are and associate yourself with them, in person and online. Make sure they know your name, and make sure you learn from them. If you need mentorship, ask. Most everyone will be flattered by your interest, and be more than willing to help.
It's your job, your life, and your income, and the more you have ownership, the closer you are to getting the job of your dreams.
Educate Yourself
I know the last thing that you want to hear after earning a degree is that you need more education. However, keep in mind that most college-level degrees only give you a 30,000 foot level view of your chosen industry, and from there, you have experience and continuing education to drive you toward a specialization. Not sure of what courses or certifications to get? Ask your mentor, or ask the person you are communicating with at the company for which you want to work. Again, they'll be flattered by your interest and keep closer tabs on you when an opportunity opens.
Most colleges offer online classes to help you get to the next level, and there are many free certification classes to be had over the internet. Conventional classes can help and will allow you to network with other like-minded persons.
If nothing else, read a book. Books on sales and communications will help you develop skills that are almost universal on the job market, and the information in those books is available for immediate use.
