A prolonged job search often leads to uncertainty, confusion and even despair. I get asked at the beginning of almost every career coaching assignment I engage in; “how long will it take me to secure a new job.” There are so many individual variables it’s very hard to predict how long it will take. You can look at national unemployment statistics to get an idea, but the demographics behind the numbers may not relate well with you and your situation. I tell all of my professional and management level clients that as a general rule if you can devote full time to your search and land a new job inside of 90 days you’re ahead of the curve, if you land a new job between 4 to 6 months you’re on the curve, and if it takes you 6 to 9 months or more you are likely behind the curve. You probably have heard the old adage it takes one month for every $10,000 you want to earn in salary to land a job. I do not prescribe to that view especially if you employ the right job search tactics. My experience is that you can reduce your search time 1 to 3 months or more by simply employing the right strategies and tactics. Reducing your landing time to that degree can have tremendously positive financial implications on your personal situation.
Most often logistics outside of your control have as much to do with how long it takes to land a new position as it does the actual availability of opportunities. You control your attitude, effort and decisions but not much else. You can at times influence how fast others respond to your outreach but generally you are at the mercy of the priorities, agenda and sense of urgency of others.
Surveys have suggested that as much 70% of working Americans are either unemployed, underemployed or basically unhappy with their current employment situation.That means in one way or another most employment eligible people are currently looking for a new job or could be enticed to change jobs if they felt they could easily obtain one that is suitable to meeting their goals, abilities and interests. The challenge is that the job climate changes so fast it requires candidates to pivot equally as fast in order to keep up with the volatility. This is very difficult to do without a clear perspective of the market, knowing where you fit in that market, and understanding what it takes to make a successful transition in today’s slow growth economy.
So with all of this in mind and all of the multifaceted variables involved, how can you be more effective when conducting a job search?
Here are my top ten ways to be more effective and achieve better job search results:
- Be clear about your direction and craft a brand and branding statement (elevator speech) that is in alignment with that direction. Validate your direction through application of a formal assessment process.
- Focus your search on four interdependent areas:
- Your skills and experience
- Your interests and competencies
- Your knowledge and education
- What the marketplace wants and demands
- Synchronize the content of your branding statement, resume, LinkedIn profile, marketing materials, website, blog or landing page, and marketing plan; then network aggressively and take your message to the market.
- Develop an effective process to implement and track your marketing plan, then work the plan relentlessly until the market suggests your plan needs alterations. Both expected and unexpected positive results will occur.
- Devote at least 6 hours a day to your search and avoid spending more than 10-12 hours. You need to be active, clear thinking and well balanced throughout your search. A balanced healthy life and getting good rest is essential showing up well.
- Spend 70-80% of your time networking and pursuing companies on your target list. Focus the remaining time engaging job boards and search firms etc. You need to establish and hit clear metrics about the number of quality touches you are making to get the results you need.
- Strategically grow your network and remain engaged with them throughout your job search. Like tending to the soil after you sow your seeds, continuously reconnect with your network as you expand it. LinkedIn is a strategic imperative in expanding your network.
- During interviews, ask & solve more and tell & sell less. Use solution selling interviewing techniques to identify the underlying explicit needs. Identify the interviewers’ pain and explore how to alleviate it through the solutions or experiences you offer. Tell STAR Stores (Situation/Task/Action/Results) that relate directly to the interviewer’s challenges. This approach helps you to demonstrate versus merely declaring your capabilities.
- Know where your stand at the end of each interview. Determine if your qualifications and presentation enable you to be considered as a leading candidate for the position. Further identify if there is anything which causes the interviewer to pause to consider you as a leading candidate.
- Engage a career coach, join network groups and identify accountability partners to accelerate your search.
Follow these 10 items, stay positive and seek the help of others. Diligently do these things and you will most certainly get better job search results.
To post a question or discuss this or other topics further you can email me at rex.rolf@go4cornerstone2.dev.cc or book 15 to 30 minute call by selecting this link: Book a call with Rex
Written by
Rex Rolf
Career, Leadership and Performance Coach
Cornerstone Performance Group, LLC
