The Career Catalyst Show – “How to Supercharge Your Job Search”

This week I had a chance to be on The Career Catalyst with Kenrick Chatman. He has had some great guests in the past, so it was quite an honor.  The topic Kenrick chose was “How to Supercharge Your Job Search.”  Listen in as we cover:

 

• The important keys to achieving job search success
• Turning rejection into opportunity during your job search
• Increasing your job search efficiency and minimize stress
• Finding the “open door” in the job market
• Positioning yourself as the most viable next hire

Plus, there was a Q&A session at the end.  As always, please share your feedback by leaving a comment below!

Listen to this episode

Finding the “Open Door” in the Job Market

Given the current economic climate, I thought discussing how the job market looks opportunity-wise might be timely.  My answer is likely going to surprise you.  I see a lot of opportunity out there.  There’s gold in them thar hills folks!

The reality is that there are a lot of examples of failure right now.  The ability to shine when the economy is rolling – to be the king or queen of “low hanging fruit” – is rather easy.  But challenging times require a different skill set – more leadership, more resourcefulness and more creativity.  As I work with clients, these are some of the areas we focus on to develop opportunities:

• Leadership, leadership, leadership –  Poor leadership is what got us into many of these messes and strong leadership is what is needed to correct the course.  In the Infantry we used to say, “There are no bad soldiers, only bad leaders.”
• Show Me the Money – If you have a track record of success and can quantify and qualify those accomplishments (saving money, making money, creating efficiencies), wayward companies who realize they are in bad shape need your expertise.
• Be MacGyver, not MacGruber – Along those same lines, experience with companies where you had to do more with less is key right now.  Every company is aiming to be as efficient as possible.  You can highlight your success (I refer to this as “Your Solution”) here with a small company and leverage it into a larger one where they need creative thinking.
• Free Agent Status - Consulting is a very viable option for many – companies and job seekers alike – right now(we discussed this last week).  Many companies need change agents for the interim which they transition.  This can be both a lucrative and rewarding avenue if you are unemployed and position “Your Solution” to address a key pain that a company is experiencing.  Keep your options open here.

No doubt, the economy has presented some unique challenges.  But, in keeping with economics, the terms of supply and demand come to mind. Most make reference here to the talent pool being high on the supply side.  But, look at it another way. For those with the skill sets outlined above, the demand is high but the supply (or your competition) is low.  “When one door closes, another one opens.”  I think that is very fitting here.

Want to use this article in your ezine, blog or website? You can, as long as you include this blurb with it: It’s not about resumes, job boards, recruiters or even networking. As Your Career Attraction Mentor, Kevin Kermes will show you how to stop chasing after jobs and start attracting opportunities. He believes you are at your best when you can be yourself. Sounds like a better approach, doesn’t it? You can get more free advice like this by visiting him at www.careerattraction.com

© 2008 – 2010 – Kevin Kermes Inc

Making You the Most Viable Next Hire

Being flexible, creative and adaptable in today’s economy is the cornerstone to survival.  The job search is no different and, with unemployment rising, requires just as much vigilance.  One way you can keep your options open and make yourself even more marketable is by considering Consulting in addition to your quest for full-time employment.  Often perceived as an “either-or” scenario, Consulting offers you just as many benefits as it does your “would be” employer:

·         Track record of Fixing Problems?  Career-wise, people typically fall into one of two categories: those who thrive on problem solving and the prospect of a new challenge –or- someone who is exceptionally good at steering the ship once it is on course.  If the thought of fixing something that is broken appeals to you (versus has you thinking about reaching for the Tylenol), then Consulting might be an avenue to explore.

·         A More Flexible Interview – Quite often, what a company needs is someone to tackle a specific problem, not a new full-time employee.  Identifying this in the interview and being able to present yourself as the solution to their problem (at a lower cost), can ultimately create a job tailor made for you and your skill set.  No one can compete against that.

·         Dating Before Marriage – A consulting engagement can give you the opportunity to see if this company is a nice place to visit or a great place to live.  The only thing worse than a prolonged job search, is ending up in a position that results in you being unemployed again in 6-12 months.  Consulting lets you do more due diligence than you could ever accomplish in an interview.

·         “Consulting” on Your Resume – To many recruiters, seeing “consulting” as your current role without any clients/engagements is just a way to dress up being out of work.  But, with a list of key accomplishments at those engagements, you show that you are in demand, have more control over your search and are broadening your experience.  The latter is extremely important if you are looking to transition industries.

·         Change Agent – For companies looking to make some sort of change internally (and you should like this if you have a track record of fixing problems), consulting is a more preferred approach versus hiring a permanent employee.  It is much easier to come in as a consultant, effect the course correction and then hand it off to the internal leadership.

·         Money – Besides the obvious benefit of having income during your search, it also gives you breathing room to be more objective in selecting your next job. 

·         It’s Easier to Find a Job When You Already Have One – So much of what makes this true is that fact that when you are employed, you tend to be a bit more objective because you have a “bird in hand.”  Consulting (in addition to easing that financial strain, which helps here) can provide the self-assurance that comes along with being employed, which can get whittled away while unemployed.