Employees Only?
Job candidates need to find new ways to get a foot in the door
After listening for years to people bemoan the changes in the job search process compared with a few decades ago, along comes AI and the job search process has been turned inside out once again.
The Harvard Business Review reported on research from the 1970s which found that most jobs, at the time, were secured through “personal contacts.” It’s hard to establish “personal contacts” with AI and ATS systems – not to mention Zoom, but personal contact (note no “s”) is still an important element in the equation.
Your best foot forward… in the door
The hard part is establishing personal contact in a world of AI, ATS and Zoom and working remotely. In the 2020s, how do you get your foot in the door?
Before you start, a little introspection will help. Do you really know all your skills and talents – the things at which you excel that can differentiate you from the competing talent, regardless of age? Arming yourself with this knowledge will help you target industries, companies and openings where you can shine.
Oddly enough, another step in the process is to establish a list of your personal contacts. No matter how long you’ve been looking, you still must know colleagues, former co-workers and bosses, vendors, etc. Make a list; check it twice (or three times); and set some priorities. Here’s a tip: don’t start at the top of the list. Pick someone around number 10 and contact them for a trial run to get comfortable with the experience.
After you’ve done your prep work and once you’re in the game, have a resume that will pass the AI and the automated systems, create a strong and effective LinkedIn profile, don’t read too much into job titles and get ready for the eventual remote interview. And network. In addition to the mix and mingle at happy hours, you can start by working the phone, monitor social media and let everyone you know that you are looking.
Once the race has begun, don’t take your foot off the gas until you have a sound, definite commitment to a job, a salary and a start date. And, one last word of encouragement, you only have to find one.
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