Fixing your job search visibility
I have spent the past week with two different women, of two different ages. Their backgrounds could not be further apart. One is a young graduate, seeking entry-level employment, the other a woman in her 40s, with extensive supply chain and procurement experience, as well as an MBA. She has taken an eight year parenting break, relocated internationally with her husband and is now dealing with the inevitable challenge of explaining motherhood and her CV gap.
Both lack job search visibility and for all intents and purposes are missing in action.
Struggles
Both want to enter the workplace. Both are struggling. Both are drifting off the job search track and are M.I.A. Despite feeling they had nothing in common, even just idle chat reveals the numerous common elements. Not only were they simply failing to get the jobs they wanted ( when they could even find a job they were interested in) they were receiving no response to their CVs, sometimes not even a rejection letter.
Get back on track
All job search candidates regardless of age, gender or time in life need to have some basics in place, to enhance their job search visibility, so here are some easy tips to get back on track:
1. Identify and articulate transferable skills.
It doesn’t matter how you do this but this is a critical exercise, taking time and thought. I repeat my mantra – if you don’t know what you’re good at, how do you expect anyone else to know? Recruiters and hiring managers are not telepathic and don’t have the time to drag it out of you.
2. This basic but critical exercise leads to the creation of an effective mission statement and elevator sound bites. CVs should stop disappearing into cyber space and interview performance will be strengthened. If there is any hesitation in delivering your USPs – practise and practise again!
3. Establish and develop a professional online presence.
This is vital for anyone, male or female, young or old, entry-level or transitioning who wants any level of job search visibility. Failure to do this is tantamount to professional suicide. The entry-level woman had received no advice from her university careers advisor to create this type of profile, which in my view is a scandal in itself!
Careers advisors – read my open letter! The older candidate needs to resurrect and tap into her existing network from her days as a professional woman and connect with them virtually on platforms which simply did not exist when she was in the workplace ( LinkedIn, Twitter, Google +) This small step shows you care about your professional image and that you are current in your approach. Your LinkedIn profile url can also be used in an email signature or on other online profiles as a way of extending the reach of your CV.
4. Create a modern CV with targeted keyword usage. Their current versions are probably not getting past ATS ( Applicant Tracking Systems) or coming to the attention of recruitment sourcers. 97% of CVs, it is maintained, are not read by a human eye! Once again this could account for a failure to obtain an even a first interview.
5. Many jobs are not widely advertised. Creating a strong online presence and strengthening a personal brand will drive traffic to your professional profile. It’s no longer about looking for a job – it’s also about raising visibility to ensure you are found. Many jobs are also only advertised on LinkedIn or in specific narrow networks.
6. There is no substitute for strategic networking at any age and stage. No matter how young you are, or how long it’s been since you were in the workplace, we are all connected to someone! Have some simple, but good quality business cards printed – you never know when you need them! Connect and re-connect. Join networking groups and professional bodies especially if any membership has lapsed during a career break.
7. Be active.
Inactivity is not just a barrier to getting top jobs, it’s a barrier to getting any job! It’s also a great way to beat negative thinking, and maintaining your confidence, vital in job search. It also gives you data to monitor, from which you can make any changes to your job seeking strategy.
8. Tweak those strategies .
Don’t panic and especially don’t be afraid to change. Nothing is set in stone and what works in one set of circumstances may sink like a lead balloon in another! Be flexible
9. But most importantly never give up. The estimated time to get a job is reported to be on average a minimum of 7 months currently. If you carry on struggling – seek professional help. It will be worth it in the long-term!
Good luck!
If you need help making sure that your job search visibility is as good as it can be
Hi Dorothy – thanks for this. I think the hardest part of this is the need for patience and courage in the present environment. Getting up and pitching yet again to get a job requires inner strength and resource and it does become exhausted. This is where professional help really does make a difference!
Hi Wendy – thanks for your comment; There is a direct link between activity, results and motivation as per the sporting analogy that you can’t score the goal if you don’t take the shot! The more times you try, the more likely you are to succeed. Pratcise is part of the process!
Dorothy, very sage advice. Too many job seekers are fooled into thinking they can secure employment through the job boards. Your point about customizing the resume for key words is vital.
Thanks Alan – yes job seekers have to make themselves viisble and drive/ attract recruiters and hiring managers to them.
Dorothy, very good advice. Where can I find information about building a CV with keyword usage?
Victoria – thanks I have Career Clinic in the 3Plus eGazine and next’ weeks edition covers that topic!