Stop your job search from going in circles
Q: I have been job hunting for several months and have run out of companies. Only so many employers match my background, and they all have my resume. What suggestions do you have for someone who has contacted all potential employers?
A: It sounds like you could be going in circles. While targeting employers that match your background is an effective way to job search, waiting for them to respond limits your opportunities to go to another industry.
It may feel like you have exhausted your list of potential employers, but if you take the time to examine all your options in the marketplace, you might be surprised by how broad your skills can be. Getting little return on your efforts may have more to do with your job-search methods than the availability of potential employers. For example, a job candidate recently spent hours writing a persuasive cover letter, then sent it to the wrong person in the target company.
Recognizing job-search red flags is critical to getting results. One such red flag is using the same job-search methods that yield the same results. Ask most job candidates and they know when they are going in circles.
The way to develop a new list of potential employers is to step up your activity level. Think about your job search as creating a new business. If you rely on the same customers to purchase your products, you will experience limited growth. If your job search were a business, you would monitor it closely for results and be ready to adapt to changing situations. And this is what you need to do in your search.
Here are some ways to expand your list of potential employers and stop the spin:
• Regroup and develop a different plan of action. Instead of going back to companies that match your background, think about companies or industries that could use someone with your experience.
• Broaden your search based on your value instead of the background, which will expand your target companies list substantially. It may appear you have exhausted your potential employers when in reality you have been limiting yourself.
• Consider creating a different resume. In addition to the resume you use for companies in the industry you have worked, develop one that can easily be adjusted to the industries of interest. A combination resume that includes functional and chronological aspects of your experience might be more beneficial.
• Research new business trends. Stay ahead of the curve where potential opportunities might be developed so you can take advantage of emerging job opportunities.
• Go back to school. Add to your skill sets by acquiring new ones. Classes provide an excellent way to meet other professionals and expand your network of contacts.
If you feel you have exhausted your contact lists, you may find it harder to keep up the pace of your job search. That is why it is important to keep exploring new industries and opportunities.