The jobs are there, but the truth is that 99% of your efforts may be misdirected.
This used to be the success rate of job hunting methods (roughly):
10% sending CVs to advertised jobs or through employment agencies
25% approaching employers directly
50% networking
15% a combination of the above
No one has done research on the new phenomenon of people job hunting after 50, 60, 70 or 80, but given ageism and the lack of understanding, openness and provision in HR departments, the success rate in applying for advertised jobs or sending your CV, probably dwindles down to 1%?
99% of your job hunting time is wasted.
We continue sending our CV’s out into the cyberspace every day with no success. And yet we persist! This insight by Albert Einstein is very apt:
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
In short – in focusing on just sending your CV, you are setting yourself up for failure.
You still have to update your CV and spend time to construct a Résumé conscientiously and creatively (see Résumés for your 2nd life), but the fact is that if that is all you do, then 99% of your job hunting time is misdirected.
So what should you do with your time?
- Spend ONLY 10% of your time sending CVs to advertised jobs or through employment agencies
- Spend 25% of your time approaching employers directly (a lot of this will involve research)
- Spend 50% of your time networking
- Spend 15% of your job hunting time on a combination of the above
Most of your time is going to be used to: Research and Network, Research and Network, ad infinitum, until you find a job!
Research #1 – Yourself
- Listing what you are good at and enjoy is critical. Comb your work and hobby history for skills and enjoyable experiences. You can find some ideas here: Click here for Résumé for the 2nd life
- Devise your ideal job.
- What would you do 4-16 hours a day?
- Which of your best and most enjoyed skills would you use?
- What kind of environment?
- To what end? What goals do you have now? Maybe values you have not had a opportunity to put into practice before.
- This is what I need/want to earn.
- This is what I do not want!
- Create an objective.
- I want a job which would allow me to use these skills and this knowledge…
- I would like to work these hours…
- In this kind of environment…
- Towards these goals and values…
The more you can describe it, the more it will direct your search and the more you will recognise it when you get there.
THIS TASK: 2-3 hours a day for 7 days = time invested in your future.
Research #2 – the Environment of your ideal job
Mr Google is your friend. You want to find out:
- What jobs are out there? Copy/record this information:
- what employers are looking for
- what skills and knowledge is needed?
- which recruitment websites tend to offer the most jobs in your field? Can you register for a job feed from them – remember you can unsubscribe later if it does not suit you.
- What organisations are in your field of interest?
- Who are the influencers/decision makers in that field or organisation?
- What are the trends in your field?
- Remember to check our resource every day:
THIS TASK: 2-3 hours a day until you find work = time invested in your future.
Research #3 Networking
People are the source of every opportunity.
List every person you know. Everyone is part of your network.
You are not necessarily trying to get them to offer you a job, but to get information, introductions to people and links to opportunities.
How to use your list is the subject of a future article, but for now, create that list.
I recently spoke to someone who was sending out at least one or two CVs a day but when I asked him how he had got his last four jobs, three had been found through a contact and one by approaching the company directly. Ask yourself how you got your past jobs?
Contact at least 1 person a day. Over 20 weeks we allocate for job-hunting, that is 140 people.
What do you say?
‘Hi, I was just thinking about you because I am researching the job market and I thought you might know…’
and then after some conversation:
Who else should I be talking to?
Try to find at least 2 people.
Tell me when you suddenly someone says:
‘I have just the job for you!’
BUT don’t tell me it does NOT work, until you have tried 140 people!
THIS TASK: 2-3 hours a day until you find work = time invested in your future.
In short, the jobs are out there but not advertised and you are just using the wrong methods to find them.
Do you need help with this process? Please check this help I offer:
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