If your job search consists of going online and applying for any and every project or program posting, you just may be wasting your time. Many job seekers forget that positions have very unique requirements. Recruiters want to understand how they can best help in positioning you for success in getting placement. Recruiters are looking to build solid relationships with job seekers to ensure that career goals are met and job matches offer satisfaction for all parties involved. While recruiters have always wanted to help others find jobs, placing job seekers has gotten “broadly’ specific over the last few years. Transferrable skills across various industries seem to be what hiring managers are demanding. Hiring managers are looking for unique candidates who offer cross-functional and cross-discipline skills and business acumen. These are requirements and expectations of knowledge areas not easily communicated to potential job seekers during the job interview. Strength in building relationships is the key soft skill that companies are looking for in their workforce.
Passe’ is the generic cover letter and resume submittal. Today, companies require resumes tailored to highlight specific key knowledge areas. Just like Google and Bing, hiring managers are doing word searches on resumes to filter through the hundreds of submittals. If the term “specialized” skills lead job seekers to planning and managing a career like an ongoing project, then leveraging project management training for other opportunities will open more doors. Realize that you are never going to stop learning and identify a career coach or mentor to help you succeed and elevate to the next level. Here are a few points that recruiters want all job seekers to keep in mind:
1. Cross Train. The hot industries are Healthcare IT, Insurance, Financial IT Services, and Mobility Applications. Add to that list the back office processes that support these businesses. Are you familiar with these various systems and are you willing to take the initiative to learn how all the dots connect outside of your current industry knowledge? Consider discovering the synergies between your knowledge area and other business functions.
2. Be Flexible. Be Open. Be Social. Many companies want to hire contractors to vet project and program feasibility. Hiring managers have very specific project needs. What unique perspective can you bring to the project to expedite completion and customer satisfaction?
3. Create a Playbook. Plan your job search strategy and start building solid relationships with hiring managers before you need them. Practice your skills through volunteer work. Identify mentors. Join special interest groups (SIG). Include people in your network who are not in your field so they can be objective with your background and communications.
4. Be Aware of your Social Footprint. If you google yourself, what would you find out about yourself? Today, part of the interview process includes a social media search. What are you saying and would you be a positive representative of an organization. Your Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter accounts reflect to your professional discernment and attitude. If you don’t want your views and connections misrepresented then privatize your account settings.
5. No we term in Interview. During interviews talk about what you did to make the project a success. Share your specific contributions and lessons learned. Too many times interviewees think that if you comment to questions related to contributions in the collaborative sense as in “we did” then the interviewer will see you as team player. When, in fact, the interviewer questions what it is you can do to impact the results or success of a project. Always discover the company business pain and speak to it during your interview. Reflect on the pain in your responses to the questions. This demonstrates your analytical, listening, assessment, and problem solving skills. As well, it will also highlight how you handle business concerns and present resolutions.
Job seekers who focus on job titles and salaries should rethink their search approach and positioning. Today’s job placement strategy needs to be tied to good record keeping of jobs applied for and through what sources. By being flexible, open to learning, and fine tuning your skills and knowledge areas across different industries, you will increase your chances of placement success. Dress your resume with key words. And talk about your results and specific deliverables based on problem at hand. Companies are looking beyond job roles. Companies are looking for smart people who just get them and their business pain. Do you own your career and have the right mindset and attitude to get involved? Recruiters want to see you grow and develop, so set your expectations and look beyond your past and venture to build solid relationships with people who can help you move in your career.