Is Your Job Search Passive Or Active?

Reality check: the cold, hard truth is the average time to find a job is more than 26 weeks. That’s what the US Bureau of Labor Statistics says is the seasonally-adjusted average duration of unemployment as of January 2016. One strategy that’s essential for you to put into place in order to not fall victim to that statistic is to change the mindset and approach driving your executive job search: don’t just search. That’s passive. Get active and proactive!

This approach is transformational. Additionally, it offers a layer to augment your existing efforts, a layer that most of your competition will not bother to deal with. However, by you demonstrating a bit of extra effort, you’ll soar higher and land faster than the rest! Here’s what to do:

Beat 95% of your competition on the job boards – Nearly all jobseekers on the major job boards are practically blindly applying for every position that even remotely seems similar to what they do. This is why the minute job listings are posted, hundreds and thousands of responses pour in.

Instead, use the job boards, but use them strategically: when you come across an opening that interests you, find the relevant decision maker in social media. Use LinkedIn, Google+, Twitter and Facebook. LinkedIn is the undeniably the #1 site for job search. Google+ can provide a treasure trove of information, not only about the company, but about relevant decision makers in the organization. Twitter offers a glimpse into who the person is and what their style and personality is like. Facebook can reveal nuggets of information to you as well. Post on the company’s official page – HR may respond. 

Find the names of senior decision makers – The difference between a long job search and a short one is this: relationships. Don’t tighten up immediately upon reading the prior statement by saying to yourself, “Well, I don’t have a real network,” or “My network is not working,” or some other bit of negativity. Start new relationships. These people need not become your best friends. All you’re doing is identifying a relevant person, then reaching out directly to that person.

Let’s not overlook the obvious: Google. Play with the search terms. Try combinations such as, “VP, Marketing, Johnson & Johnson” + “Florida.” Another revealing source is the company’s web site. Don’t rely on the “company history” or “about us” pages. Instead, look for the page that talks about the leadership team. You can find names, pictures and emails within seconds.

Break into the hidden job market – Your path to a new job needs to be multi-faceted. There is no one magic job search strategy. Rather, it’s a combination of strategies executed simultaneously. Searching advertised openings is just one such approach. The hidden job market is another. Do both.

Augment your “job search” to a “company search.” Here’s why: looking for positions can be a finite activity, in that you may find an ad, apply, and move forward in the process or not. If not, then it’s over. On the other hand, a company search can be an infinite activity. Approach companies that are growing, releasing something new, or doing something innovative, and offer up your particular brand of skills and expertise. There may be an “opening” there that they simply haven’t gotten around to advertising – and they won’t, if you present yourself as a person who can provide something the organization needs right now.

When you get active and proactive in your job search, you’re less likely to experience the burnout associated with submitting hundreds of applications while waiting in the victim / begging position to see if you hear anything back. Instead of sitting there wondering why you’re not getting calls back, stir the pot yourself. Most of your competition won’t do it. So when you do, that’s how you win!