Now that she has a full week of modules, resume developing, and updates to her professional social media sites under her belt, Candidate A spent time starting her job search and really putting herself out there in terms of networking.
Like most young professionals, Candidate A fancies herself computer and online savvy, so she starts her job search online. She, like most candidates, starts to get frustrated when she realizes that she spends hours and hours online searching on all the different websites only to find the same few jobs posted, and none of which she is very enthusiastic about.
After sitting in Module Three, “Search Strategies and Cover Letters,” however, Candidate A realizes that while online searching is effective and a powerful tool, it is widely over-utilized by job seekers. Online, or “bathrobe,” searching is a great springboard for job searching. But it should be just that, a springboard. Use the information you find regarding a company or specific job posting to then reach out to connections you may have with that company, or create opportunities to meet someone who could help you get inside knowledge on the job.
Candidate A learned that if you treat your job search like a regular 40 hour work week, that she should be spending 75% of her time networking, 15% online searching, and 10% with recruiters and agencies. That translates to only spending 6 hours a week on Craigslist, Indeed, LinkedIn, MintGlobal, etc. She realized that she spent 6 hours in one day alone last week!
Another candidate asked during the Module why networking, and not the actual online job searching, was where they should spend most of their time and efforts, and Diane, another CPIBN Career Transition Consultant, explained that most jobs will not be posted online. Diane went on to further explain about the “hidden job market,” and how many jobs are created for particular candidates, or are never posted because strong networks have led to a company’s perfect match before needing to ever post anything online.
After realizing the importance of networking, not just online, Candidate A noticed that her network is all around her wherever she goes. CPIBN explained to Candidate A that it is critical to have her personal marketing statement, or elevator speech, prepared and ready to use in any situation. During their Modules, Dottie and Todd stress upon the importance of the elevator speech and give Candidate A tips on how to develop her own statement:
- She has to understand, “get,” what is unique about herself
- It has to roll off her tongue
- Short and sweet is key
- She has to believe it
- She needs to give it attitude
- Smile!
- Be quiet and prompt questions
- Have more than one speech prepared to adjust for each audience
Candidate A does have a job right now, job seeker. She is making an effort to branch out her job search to include networking, in all situations. Social events and situations are great opportunities to network because they bring together a wide range of people.
Creating her elevator speech allowed Candidate A to really decide what she wants to do, what she can do, rather than simply what her past job titles were. After just one weekend of giving her statement to people, even those closest to her, she has noticed that the hidden job market is where she will likely find her new position and career path. Everyone knows someone who works at a company looking for the next great candidate to fill a position.
While patience is not her strongest virtue, Candidate A has learned through CPIBN that the job search is a process, and that it will be worth working hard for, and waiting for, the perfect fit. As her search begins to gain momentum and Candidate A gets more and more leads, she is excited for the lengths that #CPIBNgoesto in order to allow her to create balance during this transition!