Think of your job search as starting a new business
Q: I need help finding more companies matching my career experience. I have been job searching awhile and have run out of companies to pursue. It seems that only so many employers match my background, and they all have my resume. I would like to get back to work. What suggestions do you have for someone like me who has contacted all the potential employers?
A: Finding a company that can use your career experience is a good feeling and helps in subtle ways with your confidence. When you feel like you are at a dead-end in your job search and have exhausted your list of companies, think about taking a step back and regrouping.
Going around in circles with the same companies will often give you the same information, and this can be a sign that you need to reexamine all of your options in the marketplace. You could be surprised when you look at different areas that are related to your industry.
Consider that when you receive a minimum return on your efforts, it could have more to do with your jobsearch methods than the availability of potential employers.
For example, a job candidate recently spent a great deal of time writing a convincing email to a contact in a target company only to discover he sent it to the wrong person. He lost valuable time and energy waiting for a response.
Knowing job-search red flags, such as focusing on one company for job leads, is critical to achieving the desired results. When you get into a rut of using the same job-search methods that produce the same results, it is easy to lose sight of your career goals.
If you were to think of your job search as developing a new business by relying on the same customers to purchase your products, you would experience limited growth.
If you had a business, you would monitor it closely for results and be ready to adapt to changing situations. And this mindset is exactly what you need to do with your search efforts.
Having a plan B as a backup strategy is essential during your search. Putting all your efforts into companies that match your work experience should be part of your plan; however, creating different options allows you to adapt as needed in discovering job opportunities.
When you feel you are running out of potential employers matching your background, here are some options to move your job search plan forward.
• Regroup and develop a different strategy. Instead of returning to companies that only match your background, think in broader terms, such as companies that could benefit from your skills.
Broaden your search based on your value instead of your career history. It may appear you have exhausted your list of potential employers when you have been limiting yourself.
• Consider creating a different resume. There is no such thing as a onesize-fits-all resume.
The resume you have been using for employers in your career field could use a different format, and a new resume can easily be adjusted to other companies that interest you.
• Research new business trends. Stay ahead of the curve by looking for potential opportunities that could be forming. Consider how you address these emerging job needs when meeting new people.
• Contemplate going back to school or taking an updated training program where you could acquire new skills. Certifications help support credibility when looking at new companies.
• Attend groups, workshops ,or presentations where industry leaders speak, and like-minded people participate. Meeting others in your career field can help you expand connections and add to your knowledge of new companies.
If you feel you have exhausted your contact lists, you may find it harder to keep up the pace of your job search. You can prevent job search fatigue by exploring new industries and opportunities.