Here are the 5 main things you can do and that I’ve observed over the last couple of decades that help people get hired faster.
1. Get off the computer and get out there to meet people. Your resume is never going to be “perfect” so stop tweaking it before you start your search. And those job postings you’re seeing online? By the time you apply, it might be too late anyway. One recruiter I know said it well… those who get hired are typically the ones who were first in line, and if you’re answering a job ad, you’re rarely the first candidate in line.
2. Make a list of organizations where you’d most like to work. Then create a plan for how you’re going to reach out to the managers who have the power to hire you in those orgs – whether they have openings posted or not.
3. When you meet people, tell them your story succinctly and understandably. By “your story,” I mean that you should know what problems you solve well and where you’d like to solve them (I suggest you tell them about the top orgs on your list too). Remove the technical jargon of your industry and make it simple and direct. People prefer to hear an easy-to-comprehend and compelling self-introduction.
4. When you get out there and tell your story, take an interest in what others’ stories are, too. Introduce people to other people who can help solve each others’ problems. Being a connector makes you memorable to people in your network – and it makes you feel good.
“If you want to lift yourself up, lift someone else up.” – Booker T. Washington
5. Allow for outside-the-box possibilities. While you do want to be specific about what would be your most ideal career move, you also want to be open-minded to how that might look. For example, just because you can’t get a regular full time job with super benefits immediately, you might consider stepping into a temporary contract position and getting a high-deductible individual insurance plan for now. Being productive again – even if it’s not the ideal job – will do wonders for your self-esteem. Just remember to keep your eye on the prize and keep working toward the ideal. And you just might find that the foot you put in that temporary contract door will open up other better possibilities.