Is this the one?

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The economy is changing. Folks are actually starting to get hired. And, I know two folks who are in that predicament. One is a lovely young woman (let’s call her Deb) about to garner her first professional job (after college)- while she toils away at my coffee spot- St. Elmo’s. The other is a lawyer (we’ll call her Edna) who relocated to DC for a family emergency and is seeking a healthcare related post.

They both have solved the first step in finding their “perfect post”. They have defined what they want. If you don’t fully delineate what you are seeking, the odds are you won’t find that perfect slot.

Of course, they need to be flexible in those requirements. For example, looking for her first job, Deb knows she is not going to get the best spot in that non-profit she is eyeing. She even knows her non-profit shot may not be the best way to change the world the way she hopes. But, she knows it will get her the experience she needs to get her on her (career) way.

And, I reminded Deb that she needs to be on LinkedIn. (Edna was already active there.) Both to meet professional folks- and because a slew of recruiters use this medium to find their candidates. (It is claimed to be used by 90% of them, but I have been unable to verify that “fact”.) I also reminded Deb she needs to get some work published, so she will be noticed. (A blog post will do. Maybe she will be posting a guest blog here soon?)

When we are in high school and college, we knew that we had to participate in a slew of activities. Like my service as editor of the newspaper, service on the student council, and as the non-faculty member of the curriculum standards committee. They all proved that I had leadership and management capabilities- and that I could work well with professors. (Remember- I was going to be a full-time academic. No one knew about entrepreneurship back then.) These emotional quotient (EQ), management, and leadership qualities are critical to getting past the gatekeepers that protect their enterprises from hiring the wrong recruits.

Or, as is true with many a new employee, there is a dire need to learn new skills, ones that are critical for the growth and success of the enterprise they joined. Showing you will garner the skills and knowledge that will propel the firm (and, therefore, your boss) forward will help you progress up the ladder, too. (Yes, Daniel, that’s you.)

Find that perfect job
Your social media presence (that’s more than LinkedIn) is also a critical consideration. Because it is the essence of “Brand You”. Not to see how notorious you can be, but to develop the persona in others’ minds of who you are, what you do, and why they need you to do it. It’s not just the corporations that need a defined brand- you do, too.

When you are going into academia, hopefully, your advisor also serves as your mentor. (My two favorite profs were offed before my program finished. The others assigned to me were like bad marriages. But, I found others to take their place.) And, as I moved further away from the hallowed halls, I developed a wonderful board of advisors. (Kudos to Arthur Lipper, who is the only one who is still among the living, for his wonderful advice and mentorship over the decades. And, to Andy Adams who willingly or unwillingly picked up the slack when two others joined the heavenly crew.) It’s critical for everyone to navigate the shoals of finding- and building- that perfect job.

It’s also that little ‘extra’ that makes you extraordinary.  Personalized notes (handwritten is even better), knowing about their likes and families, all those little things that make you stand out from the crowd, to be easily remembered.

That “Brand You” is how you will stand out when your application or name crosses the threshold of that dream job you’ve been seeking. And, that network and board will be there to help you thread the needle.

Go get ’em.

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4 thoughts on “Is this the one?”

  1. Great advice, Roy. I knew that employers checked social media to learn about their prospects because I knew one employer who said he did. I figured if this total computer illiterate was doing so, others did as well. You have just made what I thought was true into a fact.

    I also shared this for the young ones who are just starting out. Thanks.
    Ann recently posted..Google Plus for Inbound Marketing [Infographic]

  2. Great emphasize on building brand you. These days everybody googles if they want to know more about you. This could be a new date, employer or loan provider. So, you’d better make sure they can find nice things about you (or they can find you at all). Also, I love the advises you give about taking initiatives and taking part on extra curriculum activities. Those additional bonus points on your CV will make you stand out.
    JoeMoore recently posted..Distractions in our Driving Lives, Accidents and Auto Insurance

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