Being Proactive Is the Only Way To Find a Job in the Current Market

“The Celtic Tiger” is gone, fact. Move on. Stories of graduates managing many jobs offers are now in the past. Get on and get over it. So if you graduated in 2008, 2009 or even those of you who will graduate in 2010 will not be presented with career options that have been on offer in recent years. If you have been made redundant or looking to move jobs to enhance your career the same issues apply to you.

Proactive is the key word to being successful in finding a job. As the marketing guru, Jack Trout, put it rightly, we need to “differentiate or die”.

So what’s the best way to create your unique selling proposition and stay ahead of other candidates competing for the jobs? The first thing is that you need to prepare well for all interviews.

What you present on a CV is historical information. Therefore you should have no issues in explaining any piece of information you have provided. This is information that should just flow out of your mouth. People who cannot outline reasons for taking educational or career choices will find it harder to find jobs. Remember the CV will get you the interview, but it is the interview that will get you the job. Build your personal brand in a consistent way and get the basics right: work on an impact, concise but informative CV.

Finding a job is a full time job itself so be systematic and regular: apply for roles advertised in newspapers and job boards, submit your details directly to employers and register with selected agencies. There is no use registering with all the agencies in the city – target those who are experts in your area and can genuinely support your efforts. Approach recruiters even if they are not advertising jobs of interest – new opportunities may arise sooner than you expect. Establish and maintain proactive and positive relationships with them. Do not get on their bad side by complaining they are not presenting you with job opening. Remember they do not have the roles in any number so when they do have a position that will be of interest make sure they have a positive image of you.

Use the art of networking – not all the jobs are advertised in the traditional way and some of them will never hit the job boards. Talk to your friends, ex-colleagues, parents of friends, and whoever might know of companies hiring staff with your skill set, attend meetings or industry events and socialize with potential employers. Get online and make good use of professional networking websites: a profile on LinkedIn is a must nowadays! Position yourself as a motivated and competent professional and market your personal brand proactively. Websites like LinkedIn, Facebook, Xing, YouTube, Twitter, Worky are the modern agorae (marketplaces) and excellent tools not only for a passive presence but also active participation in the world of numerous and very often lucrative opportunities. Benefit from them and join industry groups, share your views and opinions on discussion forums, present your expertise and increase your profile. This could draw the attention of potential employers and may result in interesting job offers. One major side effect can however be what your post. Be warned that improper comments or photographs can come back to haunt you.

Get your name out there on Twitter and let people know that you are looking. However, it is important that the internet world does not overshadow the reality. Remember – nothing will replace “old fashioned” phone calls and face-to-face meetings. Human side of things in the recruitment game will always be vital. Learn about managing your emotions and coping with rejections. Don’t treat them personally; make good use of the feedback provided, always ask what could have been improved to be successful next time. Stay positive, enthusiastic and persistent. Remain focused. Remember that each “no” is a great opportunity to learn something new and turn it into a “yes” sooner than you think. So don’t give up, reinvent yourself and differentiate from other candidates by being proactive in the best way possible.

Be prepared to consider positions below your expectations in this current market. The minimum wage is higher than the dole and many people that worked in the 80’s are key hirers today and many of them would have started jobs that gave them skills that are of high value in their current work place. Here I am talking about communication and interpersonal skills etc.

Finding a job nowadays is not impossible – good luck!