It is sink or swim out in the job market today. Whether you’ve been laid-off or are gainfully employed.
I ask my clients their key motivation during a job search – the top four answers are:
1. A new career path
2. Better/Fair compensation
3. Reached a career plateau
4. Feel unappreciated
For professional recruiters, the answers they receive from questions like these, will give them an idea of where they will place you in their “talent pool”.
As a candidate, you want to be in the shallow end, floating on a comfy inflatable lounger. The deep end is very saturated with other candidates, you will need a life jacket and you could easily sink. In the staffing business, professional recruiters/headhunters use a specialized ATS system (Applicant Tracking Software) clients pay a “finders fee” for top shelf candidates – the ones who have strong leadership traits and innate industry talent, otherwise known as the shallow end of the talent pool.
A candidate once told me that they felt as though recruiters treated him as a commodity, that could be true with some recruiters but, with the help of a good “head hunter” your skill-set can be leveraged all around the world.
Here are my three top tips on how to float above the rest in my pool, this is key for getting the career you want:
1- Get a second opinion; request an opinion from someone currently working in the industry or field you are hoping to break into, ask them to scan your résumé and see what special details can be added. (sometimes industry jargon can put you in the lead)
2- Stay assertive and tenacious. Never give up. The gatekeepers will always be there – but if you have the will, there is always a way to get around them.
3- In this tough economy sometimes it is about WHO you know – not what you know! Use your connections.
Don’t forget, make a plan to overcome your weaknesses and express this strategy to your potential employer, because you can’t be perfect at everything – but it shows a willingness to learn!
These tips will help you to swim circles around the rest of the job applicants and get you closer to the opportunity you want?
What is the biggest misconception your peers have about you?
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very sound advise even for those, who have been enjoying the shallow waters. No matter how many times I hear this, it strikes a note of fact and truth. At the same time job seekers need to remember that it is what the employer wants to know that is the important thing when writing the resume. Just ask yourself when reading your resume what stands out about me and is it what the employer is looking for.