A College Kids Take + A LinkedIn Conference = Job-Search Gold

Sometimes things that don’t really go together can end up being put together to provide the absolute best lessons. So for today here is a simple formula for you to remember for your job-search:

Lesson #1 – College Kids Know Job-Search (Kinda’)

A while back I received the following comment in response to a question I posted online about what people had learned in college. I was expecting to hear the same old, same old from folks like myself whose college days had long passed but instead snagged this piece of gold from a current MTSU student (GO BIG BLUE!).

“The lesson I have learned over the past two years has little to do with linear regression, case studies or promotion. The lesson learned was if we want something bad enough and are willing to put in the work we CAN do things that in the past we thought we couldn’t.”

 

While what he says is so true about college its also very true of job-search as well. Anyone can learn how to put together a resume or how to answer an interview question but it’s those folks who want it badly enough to go a step further in their search that have the most success.

Lesson #2 – Curiosity Didn’t Kill The Cat

I was lucky enough to go to LinkedIn’s Talent Connect event last week in Las Vegas and one thing that came out of it for me was to be “constantly curious” in everything you do.

In many cases it’s not the people who do what the majority are doing in job-search that have success, it’s those that choose to follow Robert Frost and take the road not taken that get there the quickest.

The Net Result of Lesson #1 and Lesson #2?

So what’s the best advice that can be given when you combine the wisdom of a college kid and a nugget of information from a LinkedIn conference?

• TRY SOMETHING NEW IN YOUR SEARCH AND WORK YOUR BUTT OFF AT IT
• IF THE OLD ISN’T WORKING KICK IT TO THE CURB
• BE WILLING TO DO THE THINGS THAT NO ONE ELSE IS (WITHIN REASON) IN YOUR SEARCH

Until next time, good hunting and good luck!

Want a Job? Five Things You Have to Consider, NOW!

When you’re looking for a new job your number one priority is finding said job right? It better be! To help you move your search along here are five things to consider:

1. Don’t expect any one thing or tool to be a silver bullet. One of the real frustrations with job-search is that you just never know where your next job is going come from. For many its networking, for others it might be a job-board or a recruiter. Do not ‘expect’ one thing to be your savior – invest your time in several but focus on what is proven to work (networking).
2. Don’t get fooled by gimmicks (especially if you have to pay for them).  Anyone who tells you they have the ‘total package’ for your job-search and guarantees their ‘system’ will get you a job is a liar. Don’t be fooled and do NOT write them a $5,000 check.
3. Listen to those that know. If you went to the doctor for an illness and he told you to do XYZ you would listen right? Then why don’t you take the same approach with your job-search and listen to all of those folks that talk about how good networking is?
4. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Let’s see. You found a job twenty years ago by doing XYZ and now you want to do the same thing. I’ll talk to you in six months when you are still looking. The time is now to look at new things whether it be an online networking site, a personal website, or making a stand to manage your career.
5. Keep your skills current. Watch webinars, go to seminars/conferences, take a class read articles, volunteer, do anything and everything to keep your skills fresh, clean, and up-to-date. Otherwise you will pay for it in the interview.

There you have it – five things to do, not do, watch, avoid, and think about for your search.

What would you add to the list? Anything?

Until next time, good hunting and good luck!