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• Know Your Toughest Job Search Challenges and How to Overcome Them

During the past ten years we have spent counseling executives and professionals in their job search we have observed that they face many difficult challenges. We have identified the most difficult hurdles and the best ways to overcome them. One major issue we address is the challenge to be focused. 

WHAT THE JOB MARKET PERCEIVES AS THE SERIOUS NEGATIVES 

         Lack of focus 

Recruiters universally agree that the number one mistake professional job seekers make is pursuing a search objective that is too broad. They talk about too many skills, areas of functional expertise and industry targets. Although recruiters fully understand the strong temptation for executives to widen their net so that no stone is left unturned, in this very difficult job market they advise that it detracts rather than enhances their search, and actually reduces the chances to land another position in a reasonable time. Why is this so? 

Individuals with job objectives that are too broad leave an impression that they are far less confident, decisive and pragmatic than those with sharply defined goals. Unfortunately, these are the very traits ascribed to leadership, the most important characteristic companies and recruiters seek in professional level new-hires. Decisive leaders make the difficult choices under uncertainty that determine future direction and the best course to get there for their companies. 

Recruiter and companies instinctively associate job search indecision with corporate indecision, and routinely reject those exhibiting this perceived weakness. Further, no one believes that an individual is equally skilled in a broad list of functional disciplines. The old adage, “jack of all trades, master of none” applies.

         Waste of time and money 

Networking meetings with colleagues, friends, or new contacts that either work in companies or may know executives in companies that are not a close fit with your skills and experience invariably leads to a dead end. Our experience is that most job seekers waste a minimum of four months pursuing companies and sectors where there is an extremely low probability of success, mostly through contacts they thought were a sure bet. We have heard from several that they believe they wasted nearly a year. The income loss can be substantial. Then, of course, there is the opportunity cost of missing out on a tight fit situation they failed to uncover because the lower probability distractions can be even greater.

        Not realizing that contacts don’t know how to help you 

One of our clients told us that his goal was to become a Vice President of Sales and/or Marketing for a small, mid-size, or large, domestic or international consumer products or services company requiring his skills in operations, sales, marketing, the Internet, retail distribution expansion, purchasing, and finance. How could any network contact or recruiter help this individual? Where would one begin? We began by convincing him to determine his top three skills that could add significant value to a more specific target. A good example: Vice President of Sales & Marketing for a small to mid-size consumer products company with global reach. Results: Much more focused and easier for contacts to assist. 

OUR THREE-STEP SOLUTION

1.      The most important question in job search. “Who truly wants and needs me at this point in my career?" You must be brutally honest with yourself as must your advisors. In order to answer the question sincerely, factors such as age, average job tenure during the past ten years, hiring status of industry concentration, and skill set should be considered. When you have reached a consensus, go with that focus, and only that focus, for 6 months. Stick with it, and do not move off of it until and unless a great off-target opportunity comes to you or the path uncovers little interest. Then review, go through the same process, and modify to the second alternative path. 

2.      Develop a job objective that answers the question you are so often asked: “So tell me, what do you want to do?” Your answer should be only one sentence long and include the title, type of company, key skills you offer, and need you can fulfill. Once developed, present it to your advisors for comment. Modify as necessary. This takes some time. Distilling your objective down to this tight focus takes courage and discipline. It is very difficult to resist the temptation to broaden the net in a challenging job market. Let go of secondary skills and potentially interested companies that are not in your primary target. However, you must do it or risk delaying your search by four to six months, or more. 

3.      With a focused job objective you will now research, network to, contact and interview with only those companies and recruiters that have the highest probability of being interested in you as a job candidate. You will not waste the time of friends, business colleagues, recruiters, and companies chasing opportunities that simply do not offer a good fit. More importantly, you will not waste your own time. This will free up more time for you to research those companies in your target in greater depth, providing you with an edge over competing professionals in transition who have a broader objective. You will land faster, and save time. Also, you just might get the job of your dreams!

About the Job Search Advisor 

M.L.Buckner e/mail: mlbuckner@taxlawinstitute.com M.L. Buckner is a seasoned executive search and professional placement specialist, with previous associations at Lockheed Martin, A.I.D., and Booz Allen. Direct telephone (321) 254-3912

Disclaimer 

Neither the Tax Law Institute nor M.L. Buckner intend for this notice to serve as a solicitation for guaranteed job placement or counseling services that will guarantee placement in the job market. The services offered herein are strictly of an advisory nature and are meant only to guide individuals who seek to redirect or reshape their job search and outplacement initiatives to accommodate changing dynamics in today's economic environments and global marketplace. The Tax Law Institute and M.L. Buckner make no assertions and take no responsibility regarding the various outcomes that may occur from the use of this service and can not be held liable for results that may prove contrary to a person's expectations.