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.
Having trouble finding opportunities in this difficult job market? Want to learn how to uncover the “hidden” job market? Join me for a free webinar hosted by MedCareerVillage on Thursday, February 25 at 12:00pmEST – 5 Secrets to the Perfect Job Search. Not sure you can make it? No worries…I will send you a recording. But, you must register for the call.
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Kevin is the Founder of Build the Career You Deserve, a company devoted to empowering professionals with the vital tools and information necessary to find the job they want and build the successful career they deserve. Sign up for his free e-zine – Build the Career You Deserve – for insider tips on how to do just that!