Job Seeking is a Numbers Game

HopscotchAt last, recent news informs us that the ‘Great Recession’ is almost over and in my opinion it’s well overdue! It’s been a difficult 5 or even 6 years with almost everyone I know being affected by the recession in some form or another; loss of income through redundancy; businesses generating less income; young adults completing their studies with no jobs presenting themselves at the end.

The ‘Great Recession’ is almost over, finally, employees will be able to move to new opportunities and for those who have been seeking new jobs over the past months or perhaps year (s) now they will find that perfect role. If only it were that simple. We have to recognise that competition is tougher than ever and in order to secure the right opportunity then we have to take ACTION in our job search.

So why is it that I’m no longer surprised by the number of people who treat their job search with very little thought and fail to recognise that when looking for a new job it’s actually a job itself? This is especially the case when unemployed. Too often I hear from people who feel disappointed by the fact that they haven’t got any interviews arranged from one week to the next. I remember a conversation that I once had with a client, it went something like this:

Client: Nikki, I’ve now been out of work for 6 weeks and I have yet to secure an interview.

Me: How many jobs have you applied for?

Client: I’ve sent my CV to 6 jobs.

Me: You’ve been out of work for 6 weeks and applied for 6 jobs?

Client: Yes, that’s correct.

Me: Essentially you have applied for just 1 job a week?

Client: Hmmm.

Me: On the basis that you are applying for 1 job a week are you now surprised that you haven’t received any invitations to interview?

Client: I guess I need to apply for more jobs.

Input Activity = Output Results

If you haven’t already then start to document your job search. Create an excel spreadsheet with all the companies you have contacted, jobs you have applied to and the number of 1st, 2nd, 3rd round of interviews. Take note of the feedback, you may start to see a pattern as to why you haven’t been successful. Look at your ratios, how many applications do you need to make before securing an interview? How many 1st interviews lead to a 2nd or 3rd meeting? The numbers are essential to your job search success.

I appreciate the fact that it’s difficult to look for new opportunities when working, it’s not always possible to search the internet and make phone calls when in the office. Searching for a job without making it look obvious to those that you work with can be challenging.

If however, you are out of work then you should be making it your job to find a new one. This means spending the whole day as you would otherwise, as if you were at work. You should be searching the internet, calling potential employers and networking with recruiters, ex colleagues and friends within your industry.

A great excuse I often hear “I have called my agency and there aren’t any suitable opportunities that fit my skill set right now.” The world of recruitment has changed and unless you can tick all the boxes to fit a specific role then you need to be creative with your job search and use your network.

Jobs won’t come knocking on your door YOU have to put the effort in to find them.

Everyday employers are making job offers to someone and by taking the appropriate ACTION that someone could be YOU.

“Everything you want is out there waiting for you to ask. Everything you want also wants you. But you have to take action to get it.” Jack Canfield

A Corporate Mentor for the internal job market who offers employees an edge over their internal and/or external competition. With over 15 years’ experience, Nikki educates professional people to build on their personal brand, to sell themselves in the content of their CV and interview technique and to overcome personal barriers to fully recognise their strengths and achievements.

About the author

Nikki Hutchison, founder of Chilli Pepper Global www.chillipepperglobal.com advising you on every aspect of the job seeking process guiding you step by step whether you are looking to move internally or externally.
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