There is something about receiving support/ guidance from someone who has gone through the same life-changing event that you have. Career transition is the same. The career transition candidates are the ones who are doing the work, networking, researching organizations, self-analyzing, etc., etc., which also means they are a really great additional resource for other candidates.
So, we wanted to ask those folks who are living through career transition right now what their best job search tips are to potentially help another individual who is just starting out looking for their next opportunity. In no particular order, here they are:
Even if you think your skills are not transferable to other jobs or industries – they are. Don’t box your thinking in – you have many skills that others need.
1. Job Postings are painful. When you first jump on an electronic job board, it is pretty exciting. Once time passes, you come to recognize that there are a lot of superfluous job postings out there creating a lot of distractions. Limit your time on this technique.
2. Assumptions can prevent you from moving forward. Be sure to get all the facts and don’t assume opportunities away (e.g., they are probably looking for someone with more experience).
3. The job search is lonely so try to take advantage of every support network you have available to you. If you don’t have one, build or create!
4. You need a clear sense of where you can best add value and be able to articulate that to everyone you come across. Simply stating you want a “job” means no one will really listen.
5. Remember your big three offerings: Skills, Experience and Knowledge.
6. Job Search is inherently negative – there are a lot of “no’s” before getting to the one “yes”. (see point #4 about a support group above).
7. Use all the job search techniques available to you (job ads, networking letters, recruiters & headhunters, networking, and cold calls) but spend your time on those that have the greatest likelihood of helping you land a role (e.g., networking).
8. Resumes and cover letters are nice but the real action seems to come from talking to people – get out there and network! If a day passes and you haven’t initiated conversations with key contacts, you need to rethink your strategy.
9. Never stop trying, especially in the summer when business is slower. When everyone else in the marketplace (i.e., other job seekers) takes the summer off, it means less competition!