One of the principles of being highly effective is “Begin with the end in mind”. This is important advice in a job search. Being clear about where you want to end up will help you chart a course from here to there. Another strong reason for being clear about your goals is that it will make it easier for your network to help you. Here are some of the positive effects your clarity will have on your networking efforts:
More productive networking meetings. Networking meetings are not career counseling sessions. Precious networking time shouldn’t be spent sorting through your skills and passions and figuring out what you might be good at. Networking meetings are effective when you focus on listening and learning from the other person, then present a clear picture of yourself and your objectives.
Shorter sharing. Clear goals are easy to express concisely. Whether at a networking event, mingling at a party or crossing paths in the gym, you will be far better able to share your objectives quickly when you are clear on your goals.
Memorable. Clarity is far more memorable than murkiness. A job seeker who has scattershot objectives is less likely to be remembered than one who can clearly articulate a well thought through goal.
More likely to be passed along. What’s clear and memorable is easier to pass along! Imagine a friend says she is looking for an office manager. Are you more likely to recommend a contact who listed 8 or 10 things they can do, one of which might have been office management, or a contact who presented himself as an experienced, successful office manager, looking to use his skills in this specific area?
Connections seem more obvious. Use your network as extra eyes and ears in the market. They will find it much easier to identify potential connections for you if you’ve given a clear objective.
Greater willingness to share connections. When someone in your network connects you with someone else, their reputation is on the line. They are, in a sense, vouching for you. People are far more willing to do that if you show you’ve done the work to come up with clear objectives. If you’re perceived as a job seeker who will take anything, your network contacts may be less likely to risk their own reputation by helping you.
When people think of you and your job search, it should be crystal clear what you are looking for. They should think “She’s a ___, looking for opportunities to use ___ skills in ____ capacity.” If you don’t have a clear vision of your specialty, it’s a sure thing nobody else does. Help them help you! Be clear in your objectives so it’s easy for your network to help you get there.
Editor’s Note: Jobfully’s productivity suite can help you clarify your objectives and create a step-by-step plan to reach them. Visit our homepage to learn more.
3 Comments
Hi. I am having a hard time clarifying my career goals. I have a B.S. in Health Science and so I can do a lot of different things. I have narrowed my list down to two positions, but I am not having any luck with either, even with my network. Am I suppossed to change what I want to do just to get I job? I’ve even been told that I’m over qualified for many positions I’ve applied for. But I can’t get anything in my field because I lack the experience. What do I do now?
Hi Tanisha,
Thanks for your comment. Glad you reached out.
Let me first get a clear picture of your situation.
It sounds like you’ve been applying to two types of jobs -
1. Jobs you’re overqualified for. Perhaps those don’t require a bachelor’s degree?
2. Jobs you want and trained for. Perhaps jobs relating to your B.S. in Health Science, but you don’t have professional experience in.
Is this what you mean when you mentioned that you’ve narrowed down to two positions?
The way to address “over-qualification” is different from how to address “lack of experience”.
To address “over-qualification”, we need to understand the specific concern(s) behind “you’re over-qualified.” There are many possible concerns, and we need to know exactly what’s on the hiring manager’s mind in order to address their concerns.
Is it that they were worried you would leave the job as soon as you have another opportunity? Is it that they felt they couldn’t afford a salary you were looking for?
Here is a three-part series on how to overcome “overqualification”.
“You’re Overqualified.” What are they really saying? – http://blog.jobfully.com/2010/08/youre-overqualified-what-are-they-really-saying/
”You’re Overqualified.” Addressing the real concerns – http://blog.jobfully.com/2010/08/overqualified-addressing-the-real-concerns/
“You’re Overqualified.” Turning Your Qualifications into Advantages – http://blog.jobfully.com/2010/08/youre-overqualified-turning-your-qualifications-into-advantages/
To address “lack of experience”,
- Highlight relevant achievements and transferable skills although they might be in a different field or non-paying work
- Demonstrate how you have used the required skills to generate success although it was in a different field
- Share how you’ve gained industry knowledge via different channels
- Consider doing volunteer work or take an internship to gain hands-on experience in your target field
Here are a couple of blogs you might find helpful:
When You Don’t Have the Required Years of Experience – http://blog.jobfully.com/2011/02/dont-have-required-experience/
Internships During Job Search – http://blog.jobfully.com/2011/03/internship-job-search/
If you could tell me a little more about not having any luck with your network, we could also figure something out to get better results from your network.
I hope this gives you some ideas for your next step. Please let me know how it goes. Feel free to let me know if you have more questions.
Good luck.
Mei
When Networking, after my “elevator pitch” I always hand the other person TWO of my business cards. I fan them apart so the other person can see that they weren’t accidentally stuck together.
I ask the other person about their business and engage in conversation.
I then ask the other person a question that begins with, “Who do you know…?” The question may be along the line, “Who do you know that may may looking for what I do?”
Most people want to be of help and will stop and do some thinking.
If I’ve gotten one of their cards, I will scribble some notes about them on the back and I will follow up in a few days to see if anyone came to their mind and renew my contact with that person.
I like this because I’m not asking them directly for a job or to be a client. It’s very friendly. I also know that if they refer me to someone, I will have a better chance of being successful in my networking.
I also know that if they hand me back one of my cards, that they are likely not to be of help, so I’ve done a good rough-sort right there on the spot.
My elevator pitch: “I run a nine-faceted marketing business out of my home office. I deal in everything from purchasing investment property to farm chemicals.”
I deliberately don’t name off the other seven facets to my business, because that’s where I can customize my conversation if there’s any more interest.
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