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I'm the owner of a recruiting agency in Portland, and also a national blogger on job search (www.jobjenny.com). The frustrations of some of the callers, and a few people commenting here are those that I hear every single day from people looking for a new job, or a job period. And it breaks my heart, because a lot of people just run themselves into the ground using search methods that simply don't work very well anymore.

The three biggest ones? Job boards (Monster.com, CareerBuilder, etc.), blind applications through company websites, and calling up a recruiter and expecting that they're going to "get on the case, stat."

The game of job search (yes, you must treat it as one today) is one that now requires bold, strategic moves. Moves that the thousands of other people competing with you aren't all using. Moves that grab the attention of the decision makers within the organizations that you want to work for.

Moves that don't waste your time.

It's not about being a fake, or a sales slime. It's about promoting your best asset, and that is YOU. No one's better qualified to promote the brand of you than you are, and no one cares as much about your career and livelihood than you.

So what does that mean for a job seeker? For those spinning their wheels, spending hours a day launching resumes into the proverbial black hole? I strongly suggest STOPPING that, like right now. Stop that, take a few deep breathes, and then think through a better game plan. Create an actual plan of attack, one that uses social media (it's a must, I insist it's a must -- and start with LinkedIn.com if you start with just one tool), and one that you follow like you would a regular work schedule each day and week.

I often tell clients this: "Everyone's trying to cram their way through the front door to find a job... let's figure out how to get you around to the side door, pop open a step ladder, and hoist you in while everyone else is stuck."

You can hate the game and the reality of today's job market all you want. But does the hate and panic and frustration get you a job? It does not.

I'm launching an ebook on this topic next week. It's called "To Whom It May Concern: Or, How to Stop Sucking at Your Job Search." Sounds lippy, but it's actually a genuine effort to help frustrated people cook up a better plan, learn how to use social media, and think about how they can survive in the meantime.

Cheers, Jenny Foss - JobJenny.com

posted 2 years, 1 month ago
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