Personal Advancement
The hidden job marketIt's not just about getting noticed -- a clown nose, purple hair and trombone will get you noticed, but not likely a job. |
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The London Free Press |
Some people think that a willingness to take any job will make them a more desirable candidate, but most of the time that's not the case -- a potential employer might see this as being unfocused and indecisive.
» Be ready to talk about it. You never know where and when an opportunity might pop up -- on an elevator, on an airplane or in a coffee shop. Pretend you have been given a 30-second commercial spot on television to sell yourself -- what would you say?
"You need to have a strong sense of what you've done in the past that you are proud of and then you need to be able to articulate that in a short, compelling way," says Oliver Howey, executive director of EARN (Executive Advancement Resource Network), a not-for-profit job search network organization for experienced business professionals (www.earnworks.org).
» Develop a network and/or a list of contacts.
"The hidden job market is where most of the jobs are and to find out about these jobs, since they aren't publicly advertised, you need a contact on the inside," Franco says.
To develop your network, consider joining professional associations and business groups, the chamber of commerce or the board of trade.
» Be positive and self-confident.
"People need to remember that just because they lost their job doesn't mean they're a bad person, especially in today's corporate climate. However, if they wear their anger and lack of self-confidence on their sleeve, they are not employable -- companies don't hire angry, problem-focused people," Howey says.
Books that can help include Canadian Directory of Search Firms and Who's Hiring 2003 (Media Corp. Canada Inc.).
In a nutshell, give yourself permission to brag.
You know yourself better than anyone else, and who better than you to let others know how good you are and what you have to offer. Besides, if you don't market yourself, who will?
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