Can you be found by the “Magic” Sourcers?

If you are a job seeker, do you know about “Magic” Sourcers? Well, really known as “Sourcers,” they are the people who are constantly mining candidates who might fit a company need at some point in the future. Recruiters often do sourcing as part of their job, but “Sourcers” focus exclusively on finding potential candidates. If they can find you, then lots of job search “magic” can occur!

Sourcers can be internal HR people or external recruiters. Their task is to build a database of ideal candidates to tap into when the company is ready to fill a job. This saves a lot of time trying to find the right candidate when the company has an urgent need. By doing your homework, you can position yourself in places to be found and “whal-lah!” you will exponentially shorten your job search…MAGIC!

So where do Sourcers look for candidates? They SLEUTH for information about a specific field of interest. They will research everything from what the position entails, what skill sets are required, what publications those professionals read, what associations do they belong to, what conferences do they attend, and more.

Here are some places they look:

 

>>> Social Media – your posts, profile, comments, demos, slides, and more!

– LinkedIn – including Groups

– Facebook – including deep searches for unique user groups

– Quora – a Q & A website

– YouTube – video presentations

– SlideShare – slide presentations

– About.me – a more personal website

– Twitter – what content are you sharing

 

>>> Blogs – they are evaluating topic and content

>>> Industry Publications – have you written articles? Are you esteemed in your industry?

>>> Conference Speaker – are you sought after as a speaker? Are you an expert in a specific niche?

So how can you increase the odds that they will find you? Most important, know where Sourcers are sleuthing for you. Then build a strong digital presence with profiles that provide highlights (not tons of detail) of who you are and what you can do. “Be seen” by creating intelligent content on blogs, comments, and posts. Elevate your digital footprint and you WILL be found!

Stop, Breathe, Take a Fresh Look!

Job search is not static. All of the parts move and change ALL of the time. The question is, are you static? Maybe it’s time to stop, breathe, and take a fresh look at what you are doing and what your career documents are projecting about you. Are they interacting effectively in the job search market?

Here are some ideas to consider:

  1. Is your résumé projecting the right target?

Can the reader quickly see what type of position you are targeting? Do you have a summary section? Sounds obvious but many job seekers miss this opportunity to market themselves here. Your summary should include words that match job titles and the level of the position you seek. It must be a snapshot of what makes you a great candidate and showcase the value you bring to the table.

  1. Do you have a presence on LinkedIn?

This is a critical vehicle for your online presence and for business credibility. Recruiters are incredulous when a job seeker does not have a LinkedIn profile. It’s as if the person is antiquated because they are not using business social media. So, create a profile! Make it powerful, truthful, and concise. Showcase your highlights…not your résumé. Use your page to learn and share info on “Groups.” And build relationships – not just numbers – by connecting and engaging others.

  1. Are you live networking?

Are you face-to-face networking at professional association meetings? These groups are filled with colleagues who are in your profession! Go to meetings. Develop relationships with others in your field. Volunteer in the organization. Pay it forward. Listen to speakers to learn new things. Good things will happen from this. Remember to keep this up even AFTER you get your new job. It is part of a life-long career management strategy, not just when you are in need of a new job.

Hope these ideas will help you take a fresh look at what you can do to jump start your search in 2016. Happy New Year!

How to Stay Positive in a Tough Market

It can be hard to stay motivated in a job search when we all know what the current job market is like. Plus, so many others we know are worried about their job security or maybe even recently downsized…which makes us feel worried, too! There are industries with no jobs, companies shutting down, and bills piling up. So, how can you stay positive and keep on searching during a difficult economy?

Sometimes it helps to vent, to complain, and yes, to whine……to “let it out” and get it out of the way. So – go ahead and commiserate with your friends…..and then MOVE ON! Sitting around brooding is not going to get you a new job. In fact, continuing to focus on the negative will affect your mood, your efforts, and the way you come across to others. I recommend you consider the following steps to help you feel more POSITIVE which will help with your search in the long run:

  • Be sure you are realistic in your search – Are you targeting positions that you are qualified for? If not, explore your options.
  • Enjoy a hobby or fitness activities – It may help to have a release for any negative energy and will probably put you in a happier, healthier frame of mind when you meet others.
  • Enlist the support of friends and family – Let them know how they can help you. Be frank if they are pressuring you unreasonably. Include them in what steps you are taking to reach your goals.
  • Learn something new – Learning new things can motivate you to feel excited about yourself, and could potentially help you in some way.
  • Be interested in others – Listen to what is going on for them and see how you can help in any way.
  • Consider a part-time position – Perhaps there is something part-time or flexible that would bring in some money to help with the bills in the meantime.
  • Check out job transition groups – These can be a wonderful support to you during these times, and most likely can help with effective, productive strategies for your search.

 

I hope these tips help you in some way! Best of success in your search!

Are you thinking of making a Career Change?

Many job seekers are exploring new careers right now because they need a change or the economy is forcing that change. This is a scary thought for most people. What are your options? What else are you good at? Where do you start?

Why is change so scary? Well, change means going into the unknown. You know your job, your expertise, your contacts, processes, and more. Now you will have to be the “newbie” and that’s always stressful. It also means rocking the boat – staying where you are is much more comfortable than delving into new waters. On the other hand, change can be exhilarating and can lift you out of a stagnant situation. When we have many years left in the workplace, there’s no reason to remain stuck in a job or industry that is personally unrewarding.

So, take a deep breath! Before undertaking any ambitious goal, it’s a good idea to do some research, some exploration, and some reflection to help fine-tune a goal that you will be comfortable going after. Be realistic about whether the goal is attainable for you and what the financial impact of any change might be.

Assessment – If you have absolutely no idea, you might want to start with a skills / career assessment. Some are available online but I recommend working with a trusted career counselor to guide you in the use and interpretation of these tools. Assessments should be viewed only as a starting point to do further research on the careers suggested. Another idea is to be creative about turning a hobby or other passion into a possible career.

Research – Look up information on sites such as www.online.onetcenter.org, www.careeroverview.com, or www.careers.org. Look at current job boards such as monster, careerbuilder, indeed, and linkedin to see if there is hiring going on in those careers. Use www.salary.com to help you ballpark compensation ranges. Find people who do these careers to see what they think of their chosen field – do they like it? What is a typical day / week like for them? What is the potential for growth? What type of training or education do you need to succeed in this field?

Action – Now it’s time to make a decision about direction. Be realistic about your choice. Would enjoy doing this job? Is it attainable? Do you have the appropriate credentials? If needed, check out programs that offer these. Perhaps you can work a part-time or in a temporary position while you earn these credentials. Maybe you can find a position that will give you some entry level experience in your new field of interest. Perhaps you can volunteer somewhere to gain insight and experience. Once you are prepared, the final step will be to begin an active job search in your new field.

Success – Network with people in your new chosen field to develop relationships and to learn everything you can about your new area. Create a resume that repositions you for the new career. You must highlight the skills, experience, and any credentials that relate to the new career. Write a cover letter that gives a compelling reason for employers to consider you as a great candidate. Above all, be sure that everything you state is honest. Then be sure to be persistent and positive. I’ve seen enough successful career transitions to know that it can be done. Wishing you the best of success in your search!

Why You Should Be Networking with Strangers

Sometimes, it is more effective to network with people that you do NOT know, in order to get results. Sounds confusing because we think of networking as approaching people that we already know. And, if you have read my blog, you already know that I constantly encourage job seekers to grow their network and focus on the relationships. However, this story is about another level of networking and relationships. Read on to see what I mean.

Jessica (fictitious name but true story) was getting depressed about her job search. As a high level Marketing Manager, she had created award-winning marketing communications that elevated the visibility of her company. Not only did she manage project teams in executing creative solutions, but she also enjoyed hands-on graphic design work and had growing experience in social media messaging. When she found herself out of work, everything changed.

After looking for many months, she updated her résumé and adjusted her search with a willingness to take on junior level positions if needed.  But she was not getting results either. We spent time creating different versions of her résumé to more effectively target various positions. After quite some time, things were remaining quiet on the job front and Jessica was understandably worried. So, we brainstormed on how to deal with this.

In addition to working on relationships, Jessica pursued a powerful strategy of targeting specific key people (via LinkedIn, professional associations, and suggestions from friends) in organizations she wanted to work for and engaged them in assisting her with information. She would ask anything from info about what is happening in the department right now or soliciting their input about a current opening and what type of candidate they were seeking. 

It took a while, but finally her phone started ringing off the hook. Jessica told me she eventually received many calls, interviews, and a couple offers…all from people developed in her network. One company – the lucky winner who hired Jessica – reached out to her already knowing she had a job offer and offered her more money.

Job searching is exhausting and sometimes gets depressing. If you are feeling discouraged or as if you have tried everything, I hope Jessica’s story will inspire you to keep persisting. Follow her example and begin networking in a targeted way and you will also start to make things happen.

So think about it — who do you NOT know that you could be engaging?