The Principle-Based Job Search

The Principle-Based Job Search Warning: this turned out to be a harshly-worded rant.  I would tone it down, but Im passionate about the message. In my speaking and my writing Ive been known to refer to a principle-based job search. Every once in a while someone asks what the heck Im talking about.  Ill tell you When I was in my job search I did what I thought was right.  I spent time on my resume (doing it wrong), I spent tons of time applying to jobs online, I spent time avoiding networking events, because I was too good for that (I was convinced my resume would show how amazing I was). My job search was NOT principle-based.  It was based on assumptions, and whims, and outdated information. Eventually, I went to a two-day job search workshop, and I learned about the principles involved in a job search. And my entire job search, and my efforts, changed.  It was a much-needed change.  It was principle-based, goal-oriented (not get a job, but daily and weekly goals that moved me in the right direction). I think one of the biggest reasons job seekers are not finding jobs (or, alternative income streams) is because they are doing the EASY stuff: I applied to 20 jobs this week and heard nothing! Dude, seriously, isnt everyone telling you to NOT use the job boards? I dont have time to go to a networking meeting. Of course you dont  You are focusing 90% of your time on what works for 5% of people (like I did.  Look how that turned out for me.). I dont need help I know what Im doing. Yep.  Just like I did.  For weeks I was spinning wheels. To get unemployment insurance I only need to meet two new companies a week.  The state says thats a job search, so Im doing alright. No, you are just playing the game to get the crappy little pittance the state gives out to those who apply.  You are telling me you will blame the state, and their standard, for your prolonged job search? Im reminded of Staples Easy Button campaign. I see too many job seekers who I want it easy. They dont want to spend too much time. They dont want to get out of their comfort zone.  They dont want to do something hard or unusual (book recommendation: Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters).  They dont want to accept much responsibility for their actions or reactions (instead focusing blame on things outside their control, like THE ECONOMY!). Let me put it this way. JOB SEARCH IS NOT EASY. CAREER MANAGEMENT IS NOT EASY. Get over the easy button idea. Get to work!  Roll up your sleeves!  Brush your teeth and put on nice clothes and get out of the freaking house, and go to networking events!  Pick up the phone!  You are not allergic to making phone calls!  Get informational interviews! DO THE RIGHT, PRINCIPLE-BASED STUFF! And then, get better at it. Get better at networking. Get better at communicating. Get better at informational interviews. Get better at picking up the phone. I got news for you: This is the new normal.  Even after you land your dream job, you need to continue most of the job search stuff you are doing now, because your next transition could be right around the corner. So get good at it, and get serious about it. This, my friends, is called career management. Youll know you have arrived when you actually enjoy doing it. /rant The Principle-based Job Search Yesterday I posted 21 Surprising Ways To Waste Time In Your Job Search. Its easy to see a list like that and then wonder okay, what should I be doing then??  That post is incomplete it needs a complementary post which says heres what you should do. The problem is that the should do could vary based on your location, industry, level, background, experience, etc.  But the bottom line is that there are certain principles you can apply to the successful job search.  Many of them tie into networking, relationships, follow-up, persistence, having a good attitude, having correct branding, etc. Ive said many times that if I were to start a job search today, 90% of my time would be spent on informational interviews (you can watch my Informational Interview course free on Pluralsight).  Doing informational interviews correctly involves networking, branding, persistence, follow-up, etc. Using JibberJobber to track, know where you are at, follow-up, etc. would also be a part of a principle-based job search. Having a schedule, and daily grooming, could be part of a principle-based job search. Spending a lot of time on job boards, applying like everyone else is, is not part of a principle-based job search. The problem with listing things that are part of a principle-based job search is that they all look very cliche.  You would look at them and think its more of the same but many things that are principle-based look cliche.  They trick is putting them into practice, consistently over time. Create a system and then work the system.  A professional speaker (Kathy Loveless) once said create the system and honor the system.  Same idea. Folks, my job search system was anything but principled. I invite you to list the things you do in your job search, eliminate the stuff from yesterdays post, and then figure out if the rest are like comfort foods there to just make you feel better, or if they are really things that will help you get an interview.  Dont hide from the real job search by doing the comfort-food activities they might make you feel better, but if they dont get you closer to employed, ditch them (or do them after hours). The Principle-based Job Search Yesterday I posted 21 Surprising Ways To Waste Time In Your Job Search. Its easy to see a list like that and then wonder okay, what should I be doing then??  That post is incomplete it needs a complementary post which says heres what you should do. The problem is that the should do could vary based on your location, industry, level, background, experience, etc.  But the bottom line is that there are certain principles you can apply to the successful job search.  Many of them tie into networking, relationships, follow-up, persistence, having a good attitude, having correct branding, etc. Ive said many times that if I were to start a job search today, 90% of my time would be spent on informational interviews (you can watch my Informational Interview course free on Pluralsight).  Doing informational interviews correctly involves networking, branding, persistence, follow-up, etc. Using JibberJobber to track, know where you are at, follow-up, etc. would also be a part of a principle-based job search. Having a schedule, and daily grooming, could be part of a principle-based job search. Spending a lot of time on job boards, applying like everyone else is, is not part of a principle-based job search. The problem with listing things that are part of a principle-based job search is that they all look very cliche.  You would look at them and think its more of the same but many things that are principle-based look cliche.  They trick is putting them into practice, consistently over time. Create a system and then work the system.  A professional speaker (Kathy Loveless) once said create the system and honor the system.  Same idea. Folks, my job search system was anything but principled. I invite you to list the things you do in your job search, eliminate the stuff from yesterdays post, and then figure out if the rest are like comfort foods there to just make you feel better, or if they are really things that will help you get an interview.  Dont hide from the real job search by doing the comfort-food activities they might make you feel better, but if they dont get you closer to employed, ditch them (or do them after hours). The Principle-Based Job Search Warning: this turned out to be a harshly-worded rant.  I would tone it down, but Im passionate about the message. In my speaking and my writing Ive been known to refer to a principle-based job search. Every once in a while someone asks what the heck Im talking about.  Ill tell you When I was in my job search I did what I thought was right.  I spent time on my resume (doing it wrong), I spent tons of time applying to jobs online, I spent time avoiding networking events, because I was too good for that (I was convinced my resume would show how amazing I was). My job search was NOT principle-based.  It was based on assumptions, and whims, and outdated information. Eventually, I went to a two-day job search workshop, and I learned about the principles involved in a job search. And my entire job search, and my efforts, changed.  It was a much-needed change.  It was principle-based, goal-oriented (not get a job, but daily and weekly goals that moved me in the right direction). I think one of the biggest reasons job seekers are not finding jobs (or, alternative income streams) is because they are doing the EASY stuff: I applied to 20 jobs this week and heard nothing! Dude, seriously, isnt everyone telling you to NOT use the job boards? I dont have time to go to a networking meeting. Of course you dont  You are focusing 90% of your time on what works for 5% of people (like I did.  Look how that turned out for me.). I dont need help I know what Im doing. Yep.  Just like I did.  For weeks I was spinning wheels. To get unemployment insurance I only need to meet two new companies a week.  The state says thats a job search, so Im doing alright. No, you are just playing the game to get the crappy little pittance the state gives out to those who apply.  You are telling me you will blame the state, and their standard, for your prolonged job search? Im reminded of Staples Easy Button campaign. I see too many job seekers who I want it easy. They dont want to spend too much time. They dont want to get out of their comfort zone.  They dont want to do something hard or unusual (book recommendation: Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters).  They dont want to accept much responsibility for their actions or reactions (instead focusing blame on things outside their control, like THE ECONOMY!). Let me put it this way. JOB SEARCH IS NOT EASY. CAREER MANAGEMENT IS NOT EASY. Get over the easy button idea. Get to work!  Roll up your sleeves!  Brush your teeth and put on nice clothes and get out of the freaking house, and go to networking events!  Pick up the phone!  You are not allergic to making phone calls!  Get informational interviews! DO THE RIGHT, PRINCIPLE-BASED STUFF! And then, get better at it. Get better at networking. Get better at communicating. Get better at informational interviews. Get better at picking up the phone. I got news for you: This is the new normal.  Even after you land your dream job, you need to continue most of the job search stuff you are doing now, because your next transition could be right around the corner. So get good at it, and get serious about it. This, my friends, is called career management. Youll know you have arrived when you actually enjoy doing it. /rant The Principle-based Job Search Yesterday I posted 21 Surprising Ways To Waste Time In Your Job Search. Its easy to see a list like that and then wonder okay, what should I be doing then??  That post is incomplete it needs a complementary post which says heres what you should do. The problem is that the should do could vary based on your location, industry, level, background, experience, etc.  But the bottom line is that there are certain principles you can apply to the successful job search.  Many of them tie into networking, relationships, follow-up, persistence, having a good attitude, having correct branding, etc. Ive said many times that if I were to start a job search today, 90% of my time would be spent on informational interviews (you can watch my Informational Interview course free on Pluralsight).  Doing informational interviews correctly involves networking, branding, persistence, follow-up, etc. Using JibberJobber to track, know where you are at, follow-up, etc. would also be a part of a principle-based job search. Having a schedule, and daily grooming, could be part of a principle-based job search. Spending a lot of time on job boards, applying like everyone else is, is not part of a principle-based job search. The problem with listing things that are part of a principle-based job search is that they all look very cliche.  You would look at them and think its more of the same but many things that are principle-based look cliche.  They trick is putting them into practice, consistently over time. Create a system and then work the system.  A professional speaker (Kathy Loveless) once said create the system and honor the system.  Same idea. Folks, my job search system was anything but principled. I invite you to list the things you do in your job search, eliminate the stuff from yesterdays post, and then figure out if the rest are like comfort foods there to just make you feel better, or if they are really things that will help you get an interview.  Dont hide from the real job search by doing the comfort-food activities they might make you feel better, but if they dont get you closer to employed, ditch them (or do them after hours).