Improving Your Job Search Robert Dandrade

February 2014

The Search Process has Four Phases- Phase I: Planning, Preparation and Learning, Phase II: Build Awareness/ Getting Feedback & Information , Phase III: Initial Engagement and Phase IV: Close the Deal When things don’t go as expected you need to look back at prior phases and decide what to adjust and what to change. If things go well you can assume that you have some things right. To understand what comprises a Phase, what tools are needed and what are the measures, please see the January article, “Managing the Job Search – “Knowing when to make adjustments or changes” . This article focuses on leveraging a self assessment checklist for improving your search process as well as providing specific points that may need to be considered as you decide what to improve/ change. Self Assessment for Improvement 1) Phase II - Do you have MANY leads for full time, permanent jobs? o Where did you discover your leads? o If the leads originated from Networking, how did you find the Bridger who recommended the lead? Are there other “Bridgers” you need to talk to? o What is the profile of the “Bridgers” who connected you to opportunities? Are there similar, like-minded contacts who your existing “Bridgers” know? Did you show them the profile and ask them? o How would you describe one of your typical networking conversations? o Are you ready to show your search plan, including the elevator speech? o Have others mentioned your active listening skills? ( building rapport, probing, paraphrasing, summarizing)? If not, please study and practice these skills that will help you forever. o Have you been maintaining a journal of all interactions? 2) Phase III - Are you getting SOME Call-backs or Phone Interviews? o Do you have a resume that others have screened and edited? ( notice that this is NOT the first question asked) o What is your SUCCINCT answer to “Tell me about yourself”. o Does your succinct answer reflect balance between COMPETENCY, CHARACTER and CHEMISTRY? Does it reveal at least one unique thing about you? o Do you have a listing of what you want and do NOT want in a job? ( Boles’ Flower/ “Considerations”) 3) Phase IV - Have you had a FEW face-to-face meetings with Insiders or had On-site Interviews? o Can you describe the themes of 15-20 of your interview stories? o Are these formatted in the I.A.R. or S.O.A.R.S. format? o Do you have a balanced number stories for Competency, Character and Chemistry? o Have you been able to maintain a very positive and energetic attitude? o Do you research the organizations you interview with?

o

Have you researched comparable salaries in preparation for salary negotiations?

Specific Areas that may need to be improved/ Changed o o o o

o o o

o o o o

Improper Networking practices or scripts – impacting Phase II No Search Plan – impacting Phase II because when you Network, you aren’t helping the Bridger give you practical and relevant advice and contact names Poor Listening Skills- impacting Phase II because you don’t retain and use Bridger feedback that would improve the process and increase your chances of finding a job Seeking a job where the probability is very low ( Note: Networking should uncover that) – Impacts Phase III because you can be perfectly prepared but what you are competing for is currently not for you. Are you being blinded by pride or fear in thinking that the job you had before is the “only” job for you and/or that you still are the perfect fit for it? Poor Elevator Speech – do people’s eyes glaze over when you talk about yourself? This could impact Phase II, III or IV Poorly designed Resume – Impacts Phase III or IV. This is the first thing people think of changing when things aren’t working. Do you see where it is on this list? No pre-work on what want/ don’t want from job, effecting Phase II, III, IV ( no Boles Flower/ Considerations). If you can’t define this for a Bridger and list it in a Search Plan, won’t some of the advice you get point you organizations or jobs you don’t want? Poor Interview Skills ( only practice will make perfect in this area) effecting Phase IV Poor interview preparation ( I.A.R. formatted stories or organization research) effecting Phase IV Not having balance in interview ( dialogue versus interrogation and/or 3C’s) Physical appearance/ Age, etc. ( most of which you can’t change)