Are You a Secret Job Seeker?

Ah, the challenge and art of finding a job! Getting where you want to go in the workforce often depends on how loud you are willing to scream.

Having met with thousands of job seekers over the years, I have found a number of red flags that will generally doom a job search, even before the jobseeker ever gets started. One flag that’s very high on the list is what I call “the secret job seeker” syndrome.

The secret job seeker syndrome represents those persons who don’t advertise that they’re currently in the market to find a new job, or that they want to change careers. Instead of pursuing employment opportunities aggressively, they do so passively. In many cases their family and friends don’t even know that they’re looking. Their resumes are usually not up to date, they haven’t established any system for tracking their job search progress, and unfortunately, they don’t have a network that can point them in the right direction of where job opportunities exist.

The most successful job seekers are those that are determined to take what I call the 3-C’s approach– that is being Consistent, Concise, and Convincing. These individuals develop their own marketing campaigns, ones that rival some of the best companies in the world; and they do so with far less resources. Simply put, these jobseekers go to the mountain top and scream at the top of their voices, “I’m available for hire!”

If you’re in the market for a new job, and/or thinking of changing careers, here are some tips on how to find your next opportunity.

First, determine what opportunity you’re in search of. Not having a target doesn’t allow you to track your progress and will make your search one big merry-go-round.

Second, put together your personal marketing campaign. Take time to update your resume using the standard practices recognized by hiring managers today. By documenting your strengths and skills properly, you make a great first impression without being physically present.

Third, get the word out. Build your network. Tell everyone that will listen that you’re in the market for a new job. That means family members, friends, former co-workers, and even associates that you interact with on a regular basis, such as your doctor, dentist, pharmacist, and members of your professional organizations. Be sure to utilize social media sites, too, such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook, or your personal favorite.

Research has shown that more people get jobs through referrals than they do by any other method.

Lastly, create a detailed job search log to keep track of what you do, when you do it, who you talk to, and how you plan to follow up. Remember if you’re Consistent, Concise, and Convincing, your next opportunity is just a few interviews away.

Darren Giles-Bey serves as the Front End Supervisor for the Workforce Solutions – Lake Jackson. With over two decades of combined experience in the retail, logistics, and workforce development industries, Darren helps businesses attract the best human capital through recruitment, training, and positive coaching. As a strong advocate for youth, he spends countless hours each month researching, writing, and educating youth on workforce issues in order to prepare them to enter the workforce successfully.