While coaching professionals across industries I notice that most of them are facing a challenge in terms of getting their desired job which is majorly due to one single reason – old habits. I believe that there is nothing like wrong or right, there are only outcomes. With experience if we find that something is not getting us the desired result, we need to discipline ourselves and form new habits to achieve our goal. Just like to achieve our fitness goals, if we do not change our habits of waking up late, avoiding gluten/ soft drinks, we wont be able to exercise or follow a healthy diet and we will continue to struggle.
How do I know about so much about job search success? With my over 35 years of experience in sales, recruitment and job search coaching, I have developed unique strategies and a structured approach which get job aspirants the desired job. Having coached thousands of professionals in using non-traditional approaches for finding new jobs, I see that they are able to successfully do so because they are motivated with the initial results they get with the new habits.
However we also know – no pain no gain, so it does require discipline. So, are you ready to be successful in your job search? If yes then read on.
Let me list down 10 new habits that will guarantee that you as a job seeker get your dream job.
Habit 1: Instead of depending solely upon online jobs, expand your search by tapping the hidden job market (jobs that are not advertised).
Action point: Make a list of 15 target employer companies.
Habit 2: Identify your transferable skills.
Action point: List down hard skills and soft skills which you can demonstrate with success stories. Transferable skills help you shift industry, get back after a career break and make you stand out. Rate your skills on a scale of 1 to 10 and include the ones with higher ratings in your resume with relevant achievements.
Habit 3: Optimise your LinkedIn profile.
Action point: Devise a headline reflecting what you can do for the target employers. Include keywords from your target industry and domain and include your core skills in the ABOUT section.
Habit 4: Devise your own resume of not more than 2 pages.
Action point: Having a clear headline with your area of expertise is a must. Instead of focusing on your responsibilities in your resume, focus on achievements. Elaborate only your last 10 years experience, not beyond.
Habit 5: Develop an elevator pitch for your candidature.
Action point: Write down what you can do for your target employer. Tell the recruiter’s what’s in it for him/her. That becomes your pitch to introduce yourself in 30 seconds whether it is during an assessment call or in the interview.
Habit 6: Start networking. Tap your network of not only known people working in the target employer companies but include those who would know people working there and can introduce you.
Action point: Make a list of all such individuals in your network who can introduce you.
Habit 7: Before you make a job application, do in-depth research and networking to find the business pain of the target employer. This will help you in landing up with informational interviews.
Action point: Study LinkedIn company pages of the target employers, talk to retailers, customers, vendors, distributors to identify the pain point.
Habit 8: Use LinkedIn to do value based networking with target employers.
Action point: Start conversations (informational interviews) directly with the decision makers and influencers in the target employer companies. Not conversing to ask for a job but having a discussion to understand and convey your ability to provide solutions to their pain points.
Habit 9: Customise a pitch letter which talks about the employer first and then why you are a good fit.
Action point: Work on finding a reason why you feel connected to the target employer company, their goals, mission, values and then devise your pitch letter.
Habit 10: Prepare for interviews like a business consultant does while pitching for new business.
Action point: Write down all your relevant success stories which demonstrate that you can handle the challenges offered by the specific job role. You need to rehearse. Additionally prepare a list of questions (include follow up questions) in advance that you will ask as a candidate in the interview.
Take each of these habits and commit yourself to making them a part of your job search activity and you are bound to get positive results. That is my guarantee.
In case you are interested in learning in detail about each of the above steps and much more, you can know more and enroll in my video course priced at only Rs.899/- by clicking this link : Complete Job Search & Interview Strategy Course
Happy job hunting!!
Sarabjeet Sachar
Seasoned Career Coach, Founder & CEO, Aspiration