Nobody owes you a job. If you desire a good one, you need to get up and go after the job you desire. Invest your time, energy and money (even the little you have- can you estimate how much you spend small, inconsequential things monthly?). Let me add further, most job seekers expect the search to be easy, simple and quick; and when things are not going that way, they give up, often too soon.
The moral here is that though you may be unemployed, you still have an occupation: to get yourself a job. You will need to put in all you have . To get a good one takes imagination, initiative and focus. It means that you must be committed to implementing the skills you will acquired, attending seminars, reading relevant books. You know what you want, and must be ready to work for it. Are you?
Job Search Fundamentals
The message in the first paragraph is the first of three fundamentals of job search. The No. 2: job-hunting success is directly proportional to the amount of intelligent job-hunting effort. The more you try, the more likely you will find the position you want, and quickly too.
Even if you are a career/job changer, you need to schedule and make time out consistently to pursue your search. No. 3: successful job-hunting requires a willingness to change tactics. If something is not working, move to another strategy. But do you have a search strategy? These apply to everybody in the job market.
The first point in your search is to assess your job search skills. You need to acquire skills in the following areas: skill analysis, job search strategies formulation, career and job goal setting, identifying career achievement, writing winning Resume/C.V and application letter, conducting informational interview, job interview and follow up, job aptitude test etc.
If you don't have good enough job search skills, then do all you can to acquire them: read books, attend relevant seminars, get help- from friends, family members, mentors, career and job search counselors, professional Resume/C.V writers etc.
Where are the jobs?
I am sure the question floating in your mind is "where are the jobs? You are already on your way to uncovering the job market. The next step is to analyze the job and business environment. There are opportunities in Education/Training, Agriculture, Accounting/Banking/Finance, Insurance, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Service, Government, Civil-society/Social/Professional organizations, oil/gas, media/publishing sectors of the economy. All you need to do is to develop special interest in specific job market/segment that holds promise and potential of a good job for you. (We will discuss a more thorough method of choosing your career in future).
Organize for Job Campaign
Now, get organized for job search. The starting point is skill analysis. Skills are the fundamental basis of job search. Employers are looking for certain skills, and the best jobs are those ones where your skills match the needs of the employer. There are 3 types of skills job specific, self-management and transferable skills. You also need to put together an arsenal of accomplishments. This is for those with fairly long working history, highlighting their career achievements. You need to understand your strength(s), weakness (es), interests, aptitude and potentials. What would you like to do with your life, all your life?
You will now generate a list of potential employers in respect of your chosen job objective. Necessary information may be obtained from friends, relations, consultants, vendors, newspapers, trade journals etc. Once you've made your choice, go after them- using conventional and unconventional means.
Craft a Grand Strategy
How do you intend to pursue these job opportunities? What is your job hunting strategy? Let me tell you what is working. Or let us start with what have the least chance of working.
The 5 most ineffective job search strategies are these:
1. Internet- posting your C.V/Resume on the Internet, and expect potential employer to visit the board/site and make a choice, depending on the match between your skills and their requirements. It has 4-10% success rate
2. Mailing out Resume CV to employers at random (Resume blasting). 7% success rate.
3. Answering ads in professional/trade journals. 7% success rate.
4. Responding to Newspaper ads. 5-24% success rate. The higher the salary/position, the lower the success rate
5. Using employment agencies, 5-28% success rate. Again, the higher the salary/position, the lower the success rate
Now, the best 5 ways to search for a job:
i. Ask for job leads from family, friends, people you know, etc - "Do you know of any job at the place where you work, or elsewhere?" 33% success rate
ii. Knocking on the door of any employer, factory, office etc, whether they are known to have vacancy or not. 47% success rate
iii. Identifying subject/field of interest, identifying employers on that field and calling on them to ask if you they are hiring for the position you desire and that you know you can do well. 69% success rate.
iv. Do the above in a group with other job hunters. 76% success rate
v. Doing a life- changing job search (identifying your skills, proffered places, interest and acceptable working environment and going after the job you desire) 86% success rate.
You got me there. There is still a better method: combining the strategies (experts suggest it should not more than 4!).
A fact never to be forgotten: the major difference between successful and unsuccessful job seekers is not some factors out there, or the 'barrier' listed earlier. It is the way they go about their job hunt. A successful job search requires organization and effort. Don't think of yourself as unemployed. You have a job, full time job. If you are employed think of your job search as a part-time job. If you are unemployed, the working hours of 8-5 are available for your job search. If you are employed but seeking new opportunities, you need to make time for your job search, and be consistent.
Job search requires that you develop a new set of priorities and schedules. Be aware that there will be distractions. Just about anything will sound better than looking for work. Don't be fooled, your number one priority is finding that new job. Don't let anything get in your way. Here are some tips:
1. Establish measurable goals.
2. Make yourself accountable.
3. Keep accurate records.
Your destiny is in your hands. Now you know.
Olu Oyeniran is the Lead Consultant, EkiniConsult and Associates, a Job Search and Career Management Consultants. He writes, consult and consel for more than 8 years in Nigeria on job search skills and strategy. He invites you to visit http://www.jobsearchhow.com which he publishes.
JobSearchHow is focused on empowering people achieve their dreams of great jobs and greater careers.
