The Problem with being a Job-Seeker<\/strong><\/p>\n

The word job-seeker is often thrown around to describe a person who is “looking” for a job. \u00a0It’s fine if someone is simply looking for a job as there are many people who just want a paycheck but in reality, even those just looking for a paycheck tend to have goals beyond the paycheck. \u00a0The problem I have with this term is that it immediately puts people in the mentality that their primary goal when it comes to their career is to search for jobs. \u00a0What happens when a “job-seeker” finds a job? \u00a0Job-seekers find their job and then stop “seeking” until they find themselves in a position where they need a new job or they are ready to “climb the ladder.” \u00a0We’ve always been told that climbing the ladder is the way we should view our careers and that to “get to the top,” we must climb. \u00a0Careers are not like ladders. \u00a0The steps on a ladder require effort to climb but then job-seekers rest on the peg once they land on the next step. \u00a0Careers are more like mountains. \u00a0You’re always working toward your ultimate goal (Whatever that may be) at the top of the mountain and remaining stagnant when hiking isn’t an option. \u00a0There is no “seeking,” stopping, resting, and then seeking again – the work is perpetual. \u00a0Many people do not think this way. \u00a0This requires a person to think more like a company – be the CEO of You and build your brand. \u00a0I have spoken about what I call the reverse job search to many people but I want to provide a visual so others can fully understand this concept.<\/p>\n

Traditional Job Search vs. the Reverse Job Search<\/strong><\/p>\n

The traditional job search is one in which job-seekers create minimal, old-fashioned career marketing collateral and they push it out to employers. \u00a0This minimal collateral tends to be a resume and a cover letter with references and perhaps even some letters of recommendation left with a business card. \u00a0You’ve heard this bad advice before – “it’s a numbers game” and “get your resume to as many people as possible.” \u00a0This is bad advice because it lacks focus and many people waste their time pushing out their resumes with no clear goals only to find no one is responding. \u00a0You don’t even get the chance to provide references, letters of recommendation, and your business card because you never make it to the interview process. \u00a0I’m not saying you should avoid this all-together, but you should also be working on building your brand and engaging in the Reverse Job Search. \u00a0The Reverse Job Search isn’t about searching and finding, it’s about\u00a0the process of marketing one\u2019s talents, skills, achievements, qualities, and reputation to a target audience to attract opportunity. \u00a0It comes down to being the magnifying glass (search and find strategy) or being the magnet that attracts opportunity. \u00a0Don’t just be a job-seeker – be a brand builder and attract opportunity. \u00a0Here’s a visual that explains the difference between Traditional vs. Reverse Job Search.<\/strong><\/p>\n