Learn Job Search Skills Like Any Other Skill

Learn Job Search Skills Like Any Other Skill Candidates,  Accept  Help Like  a  Pro   A fellow career coach and I were  recently  comparing notes.    Most of our conversation was about the joy and gratitude we feel with every conversation and  every time we can  assist  someone.   However, we also  have  some common  challenges: Why do the most capable and process-driven professionals  forget â€" or ignore  â€"  those great skills when they are orchestrating their own job search?   From planning, time-management,  multi-tasking, follow-up,  and attention-to-detail  â€" those are skills they use every day. Job search is a system, a step-by-step, rigorous process  and so  many candidates  just  don’t want to do the hard work  needed  to earn the job they aspire to. Networking and follow-up on job applications is woefully lacking. Just clicking “connect” on LinkedIn is not networking! And blaming  hiring  companies that  don’t  respond  to applications  is  way  easier than admitting,  â€œMan, I need to learn how to do this!” Here are three real situations I experienced. (The names have been changed  for privacy.) Situation  One: On LinkedIn,  I saw that a recent connection noted in his summary that  he  was  looking for a role in sales.  I  also  noticed  he was a Veteran.  Since his LinkedIn profile  was very weak, I wanted to help him out. So  I wrote,  â€œHello,  Roger, and thank you for connecting.?If you are job-seeking,  I am a sales leader and Veteran job search coach.?  Can I  help?? Regards, Dana.” His response,  â€œI am always looking for new opportunities if the money’s right.” Situation Two:   At a job fair,  where I  was a  volunteer, I met Joe, a 55+ year old who had  been unemployed for  more than a  year. He learned I used to work for Microsoft, so he sought out my help. He said, “I want to get a job at Microsoft.” Okay, Joe, tell me more. “I worked for Microsoft 15 years ago, but my boss sucked.” To hide my concern about his negativity, I changed gears and  asked,  â€œWhat kind of job are you looking for, Joe?” “Something in credit and collections.” Great!  Have you been to Microsoft’s career website to see if there are any  open positions  that you want? “No, I want to send you my  résumé,  so you can send it in for me.” I said that it doesn’t work like that and  that he needed to apply  to specific positions. Again, I changed gears and  asked if he had other companies he is targeting, too. He reached his hand out to shake my hand and  said,  â€œThank you, but this is not  the kind of help I am looking for.” Situation Three:   At a  recent  hiring event, I set up a table  offering  to review résumés for free.  Not only did I review their  résumés, but I gave them new templates  and a link to download the digital version  of the template  in Word. At the end of every  résumé  review, I invited them to send me their new  résumés  for more feedback. Out of 49 men and women I talked to that night,  two  connected with me on LinkedIn,  and  six  downloaded the new template. The event was 30 days ago.  No  résumés  yet… Here are my wishes (and advice) for these candidates and anyone else starting or in the middle of their own job search: 1 Be a learner:   Consider this  â€"  in  high school, college,  and as an employee, the majority of us never learned the proper steps of a job search. And if  we  did, everything has changed. If you want to learn a new sport  or skill, what would you do?   Read a book, watch videos, take lessons,  and practice, right?  Take those same steps  for  a successful  job search. 2 Be a “poster child.”  When offered help, take it and  follow through with excellence.  Nine out of 10 people who receive offers of help do nothing with it. Why? Is it too much work? Isn’t  the follow through worth it to achieve your goal?   Or is your goal really just not that important to you? 3 Take accountability. Catch yourself when you say,“Companies are not getting back to me,” or “I’m waiting to hear back,” or “I’m doing all I can do,  and nothing is happening.”   How about  saying instead,  â€œMaybe  I need to change my game,” or “I need to learn how to find people to connect with at the companies I’m applying to,” or “I need to learn how to conduct a job search much better”? Then  refer back to Rule #1. Join Dana  Manciagli’s  Job Search Master Class ®  now  and get the most comprehensive job search system available! #JSMC #careeradvice  #jobsearch  #helpishere  #hiringprocess  @DanaManciagli