January is the most popular time to think about making changes in your life and career growth is a top priority for many people this time of year. Life is too short to be unhappy every week, so if you find yourself with a regular case of the “Sunday Night Blues,” it might be time to make a change. When you know you’re ready, be mindful of one thing that can really stand in your way:
Fear.
When you feel you’re ready to make a change, it’s crucial to commit to it—otherwise you’ll get in your own way. Starting a job search is scary and to be successful, you have to venture outside of your comfort zone on a regular basis. This is why fear is the biggest barrier to a successful job search. We see so many people take the “safe” low profile route by updating their resume and applying to jobs that are posted online. Then, they sit and wait—often for weeks or more.
The best way to get a job is to network and talk to people. Relationships (not resumes) get jobs. A well written resume is a crucial part of the process, but even after you’ve landed an interview, your ability to build rapport and create a fast relationship with the hiring manger are what will get you hired. But before you get there, you have to get noticed. A great way to do this when you don’t have existing connections is to take a more aggressive approach to networking.
Follow up on jobs you’ve applied to whenever possible. A polite phone call or email is never a nuisance as long as you keep it friendly and brief. Get organized before you call and make sure you can tell the person on the other line what job you applied for, the date you applied for it, and why you’d be a great fit—ideally in under 60 seconds. To avoid getting the brush off, practice asking for something easy and specific like, “Would you be willing to give me some quick feedback on my resume?” or, “I understand that you may not be the one to talk to about this role, so if that’s the case, would you mind directing me to the right person?”
Fortune favors the bold and seeing results from online applications requires fearlessness. You have to put yourself out there, you have to ask for help, and you also have to make yourself visible.
Look for opportunities to attend networking sessions, community events, job fairs, and training courses in your area. Use LinkedIn to locate people who look like they are in positions of authority at companies you’re targeting. Send connection invites to those people and to others who look like they are doing jobs similar to the one you applied for. Tell these people why you’re interested in their company and ask if they’d be willing to pass your resume on to the hiring manager. Taking a bold approach to networking is a little intimidating for most people, but it will yield more meaningful conversations which will in turn help you transition those conversations into interviews!
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