Marketers can offer job seekers a valuable lesson about reaching goals: Constant trial and error is the key to success. If you repeatedly hit a brick wall in your job search, keep changing your methods and taking proactive steps to meet professionals who can give you an advantage. Stop relying on your resume to do all the work, and learn to market yourself effectively to re-energize your job search.
Make Online Profiles Work for You
Mailing resumes is a passive strategy, and overdependence on them can lengthen your job search. Instead, use your online profiles, personal website and social media presence to create a dynamic personal brand showcasing your work history and passions, especially during a career change. Mixed media can provide an in-depth portrayal of your skills and personality, and you're limited only by your own creativity. For example, feature a short video introduction on your personal website and LinkedIn profile, promote your creative portfolio on Instagram, or write a series of blog posts and case studies addressing problems that likely affect your target employers. Think of new ways to demonstrate your value proposition so hiring managers see you as able to relieve their business pain.
Request Informational Interviews
A job search can stall when you aren't conveying a strong selling point, even though you may think you're doing everything right. Avoid boxing yourself in, and try to arrange informational interviews with professionals who know exactly what it takes to stand out in your target career or industry. Informational interviews can give you useful insight into the needs of hiring managers and help you build relationships with people who can offer advice and referrals.
Gather Testimonials
Hiring managers are drawn to job seekers who have track records of solving problems for other businesses, so you must promote your accomplishments during your job search. Inform your network about your job search, and offer to swap testimonials or LinkedIn endorsements with a few contacts for mutual gain. To make sure testimonials include the most relevant details, ask your contacts to answer two to three specific questions, such as the business problem, your diagnosis and the outcome of your solution.
Strengthen Your Narrative
Whether you have a diverse career history or scattered information on your online profiles, simplify your personal brand to market yourself as an authority. Create profile headlines that sum up your expertise, and create a cohesive narrative across different media. Refining your brand story is essential when changing careers, allowing you to reframe your skills and interests to fit a new industry. Highlighting personal experiences that relate to your desired career, such as volunteering, hobbies or freelance work, can also show employers you're authentic and engaged inside and outside work.
Join a Professional Association
Trade organizations and chambers of commerce are great places to meet business influencers and show your professional skills in action. Beyond networking at events, working on committees, speaking at seminars and writing in newsletters can help you connect with leaders one on one. These organizations are also beneficial for landing consulting or contract work, which can lead to a permanent position at a company you admire.
Use creative job-search techniques to get on a recruiter's radar. Think like a marketer to create an attractive brand story that gets hiring managers excited about your potential.
Photo courtesy of Sira Anamwong at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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