Don't run your jobsearch like a politician

Photo by jaqian

I don’t know about you but I am really tired of political everything this year! It’s not that I don’t care about my country or what is happening to the economy or any other issue. It’s the barrage of political campaigning.

But the slick marketing direct mail shots are overwhelming my mailbox and they go straight to the trash can. Every television or radio commercial for one candidate is followed by another commercial for the other side trashing the other candidate. Then there are the politican telemarketers on the phone. What makes anyone think that A.) I want to be called on the phone and B.) I would listen to a recorded message.

I am sure there are some people who find all of it exhilarating but it isn’t me. It just builds more mistrust in me and more desire in me to not listen. I don’t think I am alone either.

You can learn from the political ads and candidates to make your job search more successful:

1. Target: Mailing (or e-mailing) your resume to everyone and every company you can find without a proper networking call or connection will probably result in your resume being throw away. Focus on who should get your resume.
2. Strategy: Your resume needs to show a company what value you bring. The “Tell me WHY” strategy will get you further. Politicians whose ads are mud-slinging at the opponent don’t tell me why I should vote for them. If you tell the employer how you can solve their problems and what you have done in the past that qualifies you for their position, you will have more value.
3. Execution: If you are calling to ask about a job possibility, plan in advance what you are going to say and listen to the other person. Make sure you are following job search phone etiquette.

Don’t run your job search like a politician. Make sure your value-infused and accomplishment- focused message is being communicated in the right way to the right audience.