Reactive Job Search Syndrome – Are you a VICTIM?

Don’t suffer from Reactive Job Search

Syndrome!

It’s easy to believe that your lack of success in finding a new career has nothing to do with you. After all, this is a tough economy and everyone is struggling, right? Actually, there are many people who don’t have a hard time finding a new job. Some people get calls for interviews and job offers within just a few weeks of starting their job search. If you’re not one of them, lets face the facts…..you’re probably making some fundamental mistakes. Don’t worry – you’re not alone. Most people get the job search process wrong, after all its not like you have been doing this everyday for years.

I’m Karen Rehn, President of HH Staffing Services. I’ve been involved in the recruitment process in one way or another for over 25 years. During that time I’ve watched people make the same mistakes time and time again. Actually, that’s one of the reasons I started my company and it’s the main reason I love my work. Once we teach people what they’re doing wrong and show them how to fix it, we change lives.   Unfortunately, there are quite a few ways to go wrong in your job search, but for this blog I’ve chosen a few I come across regularly. I’ve also suggested some fixes that I hope you’ll try. 

Mistake #1: Applying for jobs

  Isn’t that what a job search is all about? Well let me ask you this … did you know that some surveys show that up to 80% of vacant jobs are filled without ever being advertised? These jobs are filled by:

• Professional recruiters
• An employee/customer referral
• The company’s existing database of candidates
• An internal employee
• A complete stranger whose resume simply arrived at the perfect time

Hiring via professional advertising is a costly not to mention a time-consuming process that most companies prefer to avoid if at all possible. So if the perfect candidate is available without the hassle of going through a lengthy search, that person is often hired right away – without anyone else ever hearing about that job. Think about it, while you are spending time reading through job postings on Monster.com people are getting hired all around you, many of them in jobs you would have been able to do just as well.   It would be a much more effective use of time to step away from the online job boards throughout the week and do some research yourself on the types of companies who might hire someone with your skills. Make a list of companies you would like to work for and start targeting them. Check out their websites, social media and current employees. Networking is the best way to get hired which brings me to the next biggest mistake.

 

Mistake #2: Missing Out on the Benefits of LinkedIn

 

If I had a dollar for every time someone without a LinkedIn profile told me that they’re getting nowhere with their job search despite doing everything possible, I’d be rich. But the truth is that if you’re not on LinkedIn, not only are you not doing “everything possible,” you’re not even doing the bare minimum.   LinkedIn is the #1 business-networking site in the world and it’s a primary source of candidates for recruiters. They are scouring the site looking for people just like you. If you’re not there, they’ll find someone else. And the benefits of LinkedIn go far beyond having your profile discovered by a recruiter.    LinkedIn Benefits Include:

• Tracking down old colleagues and reconnecting
• Joining groups to meet people in your career industry
• Making connections with industry thought leaders
• Checking out recruiting groups and professional recruiters
• Get the latest updates in news trending around your search
• Research potential employers to prepare for interviews

AND the list goes on! All of these things give you better access to lots more potential job opportunities. You owe it to yourself to set up the best possible LinkedIn profile you can (fully optimized for search), to make as many good connections as possible, and to fully utilize all the available job search tools. 

Mistake #3: Using the Web Reactively rather than Proactively

 

LinkedIn is wonderful, but if you want the most positive results, it’s only a part of your online story. We’ve already discussed why Internet job boards can be a waste of time. But that doesn’t mean time spent on the web is a waste of time. There are an increased number of people who secured their jobs via new media. People who built a professional reputation for their abilities by writing a blog. People who made lots of connections using tools like Twitter. And people who showcased their work using free sites like VisualCV or Flickr.   If you’re already familiar with blogging and social media, this may already be making a lot of sense to you. But if you’re not involved in any of those sites right now, trust me you should be. One of the most powerful strategies I know for building a successful career is what I call the ‘expert strategy.’ This strategy can be used by anyone – from entry-level to senior executive – to showcase your professional skills and knowledge. The idea is simple: Use free and easy web tools to share your knowledge with others. Over time you will make good professional connections and build a following.   Your well-read blog, or popular Twitter page will result in people approaching you with opportunities rather than the other way around. And on those occasions when you are pursuing a position, you will be able to point the hiring manager or recruiter to your blog so that he can see your knowledge, passion and commitment.

Reactive Job Search Syndrome

Each of these 3 mistakes falls under what I call “Reactive Job Search Syndrome.” Perhaps out of lack of knowledge, perhaps out of laziness, or perhaps because you have become dispirited, the average job seeker reacts to circumstances when looking for a job, rather than proactively taking control and making things happen.   But realizing that you don’t have to follow the same rules as everyone else can be incredibly freeing. All of a sudden you have new options and can take positive steps to change the results you’ve been getting.   That’s why I said at the start of this blog that finding out you’ve been doing things the wrong way is a GOOD thing. Because now you can start doing them the right way.   Want to learn more about HH Staffing Services or Karen Rehn? Check out our company website www.hhstaffingservices.com or my LinkedIn Profile https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=45510292&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile.  Please join us on social media we are very social at HH Staffing.  We have placed many many talents who have engaged us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Remember HH Staffing has Sarasota jobs, Orlando jobs and Tampa jobs available.