Jobsearch
Strategies for changing your job or career

Jobsearch - here you will find the "how to" of what you actually do to find a new job. This "action" can be applied either to a situation where you want a job in your new career direction, or you simply want to change jobs but stay in the same career.

Most people will quite understandably begin their jobsearch by looking at job ads - either in newspapers or in the many job search websites that have job listings.

This approach is fine, but.....you are seriously limiting your options if this is the only strategy you have to find a suitable job.

Here is a very important fact that you almost certainly find mentioned in all the best job search sites - Only 20-40% of the work that is available at any one time is advertised.

That of course means that a whopping 60-80% of jobs are never advertised. This is supported in an article which appears in CNN Money.com - read the article here.

Further to this, an article in a discussion thread on the professional networking site LinkedIn.com suggests that up to 90% of executive jobs paying in excess of $200K are not advertised.

What does this mean for your jobsearch?

Well.....it means that you need to do more than simply look at job ads if you want to expand your awareness of the opportunities that might exist for you.

No prizes for guessing which jobsearch strategy you'll need to implement to access the 60-80% of work that isn't advertised - it's called networking.

All the best job search sites will make reference to the importance of doing this. Networking can be a particularly effective local job search strategy, but not exclusively so. Today, people have networks which are global. People who move globally in their careers regularly find work by networking.

While social networking media like Facebook and Twitter are a part of this, there are other extremely effective networking strategies and skills you will want to acquire, if you don't know how to do this effectively.

Jobsearch and employment ads

Why don't employers use employment ads to recruit staff?

One of the main reasons is the sheer amount of work a job ad can generate for the employer.

For any given job ad there may be hundreds, even thousands of applications received for the advertised position. And....many of the applicants are unlikely to be sufficiently qualified or suitable for the position.

What this means for the employer is a lot of work in sorting and screening applicants - and this takes time.

Not all organisations have the luxury, or are big enough to have a HR department to deal with this work - usually small to medium sized organisations.

So.....the workload generated from a job ad is a deterrent to the organisation advertising vacant positions. How do they recruit? - they prefer to hire candidates based on word of mouth recommendations - via networks!

The volume of unsuitable candidates arising from employment ads only gets worse in times of high unemployment. In times like these people will apply for virtually anything in the hope that they will land a job. Unfortunately this lack of targeting in their job search almost certainly guarantees a high rejection rate.

Jobsearch - the hiring process explained

The process often works this way:

• A staffing need identified by the line manager - someone has resigned, or a new position has been created to meet operational demand.
• Line manager secures, or ensures that there is a budget for a new staff member.
• Line manager formally approaches own networks - peers, members of the work group, professional associates - even family and friends (because people talk about their work, outside their work).
• If this activity doesn't produce a candidate, and/or it is the organisation's policy to advertise, then assistance of the Human Resources might be obtained.
• HR either arranges employment ads, either or both in newspaper and online......and/or engages a professional recruitment firm. In small/medium sized organisations the line manager might make these arrangements instead of HR.

The position is then actually advertised and appears in the public domain:

• Formal and informal applications are received, and short list of potential candidates to be interviewed is prepared.
• Candidates are interviewed.
• The references are checked of candidates who are being closely considered for the position.
• A job offer is made to the successful candidate.
• The position is filled.

Jobsearch strategy - working the "visible" market

Here's a few things to keep in mind about working the visible market.

• Most people engaged in jobsearch will only ever look at employment ads, and literally do nothing else to find work.
• These same people will look in the obvious places like everyone else does - they'll never network.
• This type of jobsearch strategy means lots of competition, and.....less chance that you might get the job.

Looking for work only in this way is a reactive strategy. This means that you can only take action to find work when employment ads appear. In other words.....you are reacting to the marketplace.

If there are no employment ads it means your job seeking activity stops.

Jobsearch - information sources and resources

Go to the job listing page for lots of new ideas about where employment ads can be found - you will be surprised at how many places employment ads appear that you never knew about!

There are some excellent website which will give you really useful "how to" information to assist you in your jobsearch - one of my favourites is Jobsearchcafe, especially for local job search in the U.S.A.

Jobsearch and employment agencies

Seriously consider using employment or recruitment agencies to assist you with your career or job change.

How?

Start by doing some research into which professional employment or recruitment agencies are located in your local job search area. Then, check them out and see what they have to offer.

The advantage to you in using these types of organisations is that they know the local job search market place. They'll also have both advertised and non-advertised vacancies on their books.....AND.....client who are ready to hire.....maybe you!

Never used an employment agency before? Their services are free to job seekers, but you need to know how to manage the relationship with them. Go to this link for tips on how to work with a professional recruiter or employment agency.

Jobsearch - how to work the hidden market

As you're aware by now, this is where the jobs action is most likely to be. Working in the hidden market means you have to network.

When you are networking you are being highly proactive in your search for a new job or in making your desired career change.

Most people never get started on networking, either because they don't know how.....OR......they lack the confidence to do it. Simply put - they're scared.

There is a lot of misinformation about networking. Many job search sites suggest that people get involved in networking, but fail to give a detailed explanation of networking strategies that work.

It's important to realise that networking is a skill - in fact a set of skills, all of which can be learned.

So.....what IS involved in networking - go here to find out.

The hidden market and cold calling

Cold calling, or prospecting is a term used in sales where a salesperson makes unsolicited, or uninvited approaches to clients to determine if the client has a need for the product or service being sold.

Cold calling is also a valid jobsearch strategy. It involves approaching prospective employers, uninvited, either by phone, cover letter, or literally calling in off the street to ask about employment opportunities.

Lots of people have found employment this way - simply because they have asked. This approach however is not for everyone.

Why? Because you will certainly experience at lot of "NO's". This constant rejection can take its toll on confidence and self esteem. So, plan your approach carefully before implementing such a strategy.

Jobsearch - tying it all together

How you go about looking for a new job, or a job associated with your planned career change, and where you should look, will ideally involve a combination of activities which include:

• Looking in places where the job or career you are seeking is likely to be advertised - this is a reactive jobsearch strategy.
• Pursuing information and opportunities about your job or career direction through people - called networking - this is a very proactive strategy.
• Using the services of employment agencies and professional recruiters, and doing this in a targeted way.
• Implementing a cold call strategy, either by phone, letter, email, or by visiting.