Job Hunting in a Competitive Market: Do’s and Don’ts.

This season, the job market continues to grow more competitive as job-hunters sharpen their skills and become increasingly sophisticated and proactive in the way they conduct their searches. According to Five O’Clock Club Chief Operating Officer Richard Bayer, “People change jobs on an average of once every four years. Employees are learning that they can’t count on an employer for security. They must take care of themselves and remain marketable.” These tips, culled from coaches at the Five O’Clock Club, can help job hunters at every level succeed in a dynamic market and take control of their careers.

Do’s

Look for opportunities

In this economy, opportunities probably will not come knocking on your door. You have to look for them – both inside and outside of your present company. Chances are your company and your industry are going to change within the next five years. Take on new assignments to broaden your skills. Put out feelers to find out whether you are marketable outside your company. Carefully test the waters. When you are on an interview, try to negotiate a job that suits both you and the hiring manager. Don’t passively expect to be told where you could fit in. Actively think about your place in the organization. Create a job for yourself.

Become a skilled job hunter

Being good at your job does not make you good at getting jobs. Good job hunters know what they want, understand the swings in the market, and know how to present themselves. Stay competitive. Learn how to job-hunt like an expert. Your future depends on it.

Develop new skills

If you suspect your old skills are out of date, develop new ones. If you can’t get a job because you don’t have experience, get experience. While you are searching, take a course and learn a new skill. Join an association in an area related to your new skill. Do volunteer work to get practical experience you can add to your resume. And if you need to earn extra money, take a temporary job in an industry you would like to pursue.

Target what you want

Select specific geographic areas, specific industries, and organizations (large or small). Then, target specific positions within those industries. For example, you may want to be a writer in a publishing company or a corporate communications staffer at a financial services firm in Los Angeles or Chicago. Find the names of the people to contact in those cities and industries. If you target, you have a better chance of finding the job you want.

Expand your job-hunting targets

If you are searching only in Los Angeles or only in Detroit, for example, think of other geographic areas. If you are looking only in large public corporations, consider small or private companies. If you are looking for a certain kind of position, investigate what other kinds of work you could also do.

See people two levels higher than yourself

When you are in the initial stages of exploring a target area, do some research and contact people at your level to find out about the area and see how well your skills match up.
Then, contact people who are at a higher level than you are. They are the ones who are in a position to hire you or recommend that you be hired. Talk to lots of people. This will help you practice your pitch, and become more at ease and self-confident with the interview process.

Follow-up, follow-up and follow-up some more

Always follow-up with anyone who has taken the time to meet with you. After an interview, consider what they liked about you, what they didn’t and how you could influence the hiring decision. Even if they don’t have a job at the moment, you never know if something will open in a few months. Keep in touch by mail or email. Follow-up is the best way you can turn a job interview into a job offer.

Expect to be “in search mode” for the long haul

The average professional is taking longer to get a job. So though you may find something right away, it is sensible to develop financial back-up plans. What kind of side work could you do to earn money in the short run? How can you reduce your expenses? Join a job-hunting group like the Five O’Clock Club to get support, ideas and contacts.

When you meet someone who doesn’t “have” anything for you right now, plan to get in touch with that person again. The secret is to build relationships with lots of people, so you can contact them later.

Keep your spirits up

An alarming number of job hunters become discouraged and drop out of the job market. Don’t be one of them. Be aware that what you are going through is not easy and that you are not alone. Others are experiencing the same feelings of rejection. Hang in there, get a fresh start and eventually you will find something.

Don’ts

Don’t rely on just one technique to get a job

There are a lot of techniques for generating interviews. The basic ones are: answering ads, using search firms, contacting companies directly and networking. Only 10 percent of all jobs are filled through ads and search firms, so it is wise to learn how to contact companies directly and to network properly. Make sure you consider every technique for getting interviews in your target area. Don’t focus on getting a job: focus on getting interviews.

Don’t just hit the send button

Don’t limit your search to listings on Internet websites. This is the least effective way of conducting a job search. If you can hit the send button so easily, so can millions of others.

Don’t speak negatively about previous employers

Speaking negatively about your former boss or company can send a warning signal to potential employers about your character or discretion. It tells people that you are negative, disgruntled and unconcerned about protecting a company’s image.

Don’t forget to be upbeat and positive

Remember to have fun while you’re looking for a job. Go to the movies, the theater, sporting events or art galleries. Have something interesting to say on an interview that’s not job-related. No one wants to be around someone who’s depressed or stressed out. When you’re being interviewed, people think about what it would be like to work with you. A pleasant personality and enthusiastic outlook always helps.