Job Seekers: Can You Be Your Own Recruiter?

There are many benefits to having someone help you with your job search, such as assisting you in finding the right opportunities, connecting you with thought leaders, and pointing you the right direction. However, with the advent of advanced technology, the power has now been put in the job seeker’s hands. Today, the real question comes is this: can you be your own recruiter?

It may seem like a daunting endeavor. After all, in recent years recruiters have helped both the job seeker and the employer with their end goal—filling an open position. However, there’s one thing a recruiter can’t do for you, no matter how hard they try – they can’t fully know your background, goals, aspirations or five-year plan as well as you do. Sure, they may skim the surface, but when it comes down to it, you are essentially your own recruiter. That is, no one knows you better than yourself.

How can you be your own recruiter and set yourself up for success, particularly if you have hit a job search brick wall? Here a couple suggestions:

Imitate what good recruiters do. Good recruiters have the right contacts, the right background, and sometimes even the right jobs. How can you get on their level? Imitating what they do well. Network directly with employers, search by company and occupational categories, set up Google Alerts to your favorite jobs, and even interact with top employers through social networking.

If you are going to be your own recruiter, it’s a good idea to map out what you want to do and where you want to be professionally. Resources like My Next Move can assist you to not only become your own recruiter, but also in directing your job search.

Use job search resources. Twitter, EmploymentPipeline.com, LinkedIn, Bureau of Labor Statistics, etc. are all fantastic resources for any job seeker. You get to promote your job search and connect with top companies, bridging the gap between candidates and employers. By closing the space between the recruiter (a.k.a you) and the company or occupation of your dreams, you simplify the job search, avoid getting lost in a stack of resumes, and steer clear of the headache the job hunt can bring.

Bottom line: these job search resources are there to help you find the right opportunities in the easiest possible way. Use them as much as you can.

Stay active. No matter how many hurdles you have to cross, it’s important for any job seeker, as well as any recruiter, to stay as active as possible. This means constantly using your social networks, keeping your resume and LinkedIn profile updated, following up your prospects, and just keeping your head above water. When it comes down to it, the more active you are, the better the recruiting process will be, which is the whole point when you take control of your own job search.

Are you your own recruiter? How do you achieve job search success?

3 Reasons Why You’re Going About the Job Search the Wrong Way

The job search can be a long, arduous process for many -- from the recent graduate to the seasoned professional. When you’ve sent out countless resumes, networked your heart out, and followed up as much as possible, and still aren’t landing the perfect position, it may be time to change your strategy. That is, you may be going about the job search the wrong way.

If you’ve hit a job search brick wall and you don’t know which direction to take, check out these three reasons why you may want to switch up your plan of action:

You don’t know what you’re looking for. Many job seekers go to college, do a few internships, land a job, and think that’s all there is. However, even more job seekers don’t actually know what they are looking for -- or how to look for it.

For example, say you graduated with a degree in advertising. You may believe you want to work at a big agency, but who’s to say you aren’t a better fit at a start-up or non-profit? Further, what if advertising isn’t your thing after all?

How can job seekers really find the right fit without wasting their time (or the time of a future employer)?

•   Take the time to find out exactly what you want to do by attending industry meetings, following thought leaders on your social networks, or even connecting with old employers to help give you some sort of direction.

•   Take advantage of online resources like the My Next Move to help you figure out your calling.

•   Go old school by making a pros and cons list.

•   Connect with those who already work in your desired profession or industry and ask for feedback.

You’re not taking advantage of job search resources. There are tons of resources out there for job seekers, from social networking sites to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These resources can do more for you than just tell you what jobs are out there. They can tell you how to look for job, negotiate salary options, the best places to relocate to for your profession, projected earnings, etc. By doing your research and continuing to learn, you not only gain more information, you set yourself on a better job search path since you’re more knowledgeable about the process.

For example, if you’re looking for a job in Georgia, when most of the jobs in your industry are in California, you delay positive results. Likewise, if you look for jobs under occupational categories instead of just job titles, you will probably find more opportunities.

The change to your job search strategy wouldn’t have happened had you not taken advantage of the resources out there, so use all of the materials at your disposal. After all, they are there for a reason!

You’re stuck in the past. Over the past few years, the job search process has changed dramatically. No longer are paper resumes the only way to seek out opportunities. Now, online profiles and resumes, social networking, and connecting with employers directly are the way to go. However, if you’re stuck in the job search past, you’ll likely make your search more difficult.

So, it order to get yourself up to speed, take the time to bring your job hunt to the 21st century by putting your resume online, connecting with employers directly through sites like Employment Pipeline, and creating an online presence so employers can actually research and find you. You’ll be in much better shape than you were before and will find (and hopefully land) more opportunities.

What other things are job seekers doing to go about their search the wrong way?

Tip - Enjoy the Hunt!

A new career search, by its very nature, requires us to be flexible, honest with ourselves, and willing to live outside our comfort zone.

Be flexible. There will be times when you'll have to change your tactics, your thinking, and even your goal. You'll have to evolve in response to the circumstances you encounter. You must be willing to shift your ideas, plans, and strategies along the way.

Be honest with yourself. There's always the possibility that you're getting in your own way, and you'll have to be willing to admit it. Maybe it's an ingrained attitude that's self-defeating, or a basic limitation that needs to be acknowledged: "Am I really a great multitasker?" "Do I truly prefer to run things? Or am I better at doing the job itself?"
It's better to know the difficult truths about yourself, your likes and dislikes, before signing on for more of the same misery at a different job. Have the courage to look within so that you can head toward what you want, not run from what your can't face.

Be willing to live outside your comfort zone. Whenever there's change, there's going to be a certain level of discomfort. This is fundamental... The more you practice tolerating change, the easier it gets.
You know this intuitively, but there's actually a scientific basis for it. When new information floods in - as it will during your career search - it is stored in the the brain's home for working memory. This is the brain's "holding area," where it stores new input to be compared with other information. This part of the brain is an energy hog; it can hold only so much data before it begins to get overwhelmed. The trick is to make these "new" things familiar - to get comfortable outside your comfort zone - so that they move from the prefrontal cortex to the basal ganglia, a less energy-intensive part of the brain where the neural circuits of long-standing habits and routines are stored.

Give yourself permission to Want it, Have it, and Be it!

http://www.employmentpipeline.com/

adapted from "The 10 Laws of Career Reinvention" by Pamela Mitchell