Inc.
| Jeff Haden
A friend of mine can't find a job. "I've worked hard on my resume," he says. "I've written a killer cover letter. I've applied for dozens of jobs and I haven't even gotten an interview, so clearly no one must be hiring."
Maybe you've done the same. Maybe you've submitted plenty of
resumes. Maybe you've included catchy cover letters. Maybe you've even
asked someone to put in a good word for you.
And then you didn't even get a reply, much less the job.
Why? You did some work ... but not the right work.
There are many things you can't control about the job-seeking
process. Cumbersome application systems, automated filters that identify
keywords instead of talent, lazy hiring managers content to simply find
a square peg for a round hole, all of that is outside your control.
But there is one thing you can control: the amount of work you put in.
If you're struggling to land the job you want, don't complain.
Don't blame other people. Sure, the system often sucks — so accept it
sucks, and then figure out how to beat it. Commit to doing more. Commit
to doing what other candidates aren't willing to do.
That's how you stand out. That's how you get the job you really want.
So let's do it:
1. Find the company you want to work for.
Obvious, right? Not really. Many job seekers respond to as many
job postings as possible, hoping the numbers will be on their side.
But shotgun resume submissions result in hiring managers sifting
through dozens of candidates to find the right person. (Good luck
emerging from that particular pile.)
To show the hiring manager you are the right candidate, you have
to do the work. Instead of shot-gunning your resume, put in the time to
determine a company you definitely want to work for — both in terms of
the job and cultural fit.
2. Really know the company.
Pretend I'm the hiring manager. "I would love to work for you,"
you say. What I actually hear is, "I would love for you to pay me."
You can't possibly know if you want to work for my company
unless you know a lot about my company; that's the difference between
just wanting a job and wanting an actual role in a business.
Talk to friends, relatives, vendors, customers ... anyone you
can find. Check out management and employees on social media. When you
know the people, you know the company. Learn as much as you can, then
leverage that knowledge.
3. Determine how you will make an immediate impact in the role.
Many companies see training as a necessary evil. Training takes
time, money, effort, all of which are in short supply. An ideal new hire
can be productive immediately.
While you don't need to be able to do everything required in the
job, it helps if the company can see an immediate return on their
hiring investment. (Remember, hiring you is an investment that needs to
generate a return.)
Identify one or two important things you can contribute from day one.
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