I wonder if people like me make it sound too easy to get another job, just do what we say and you’ll be at the top of the list for getting a great new job.
Recent TV programmes such as The Fairy Job mother and Who Knows Best: Getting a Job make it look simple to get another job but alongside the coaching, interview practice and makeovers, they also use their contacts to get their unemployed guinea pig an interview. In one of these programmes the job offer to someone who hadn’t worked for 5 years wouldn’t have happened without the TV programme backup. Far too risky, when compared to other applicants. Also, How many people get 3 weeks of one to one coaching as provided by the Fairy Job mother? So these programmes are not realistic.
Too many hard working people are now looking for work, and finding it very difficult to find something. Many people are spending hours each day looking for a new job, but the continual rejection makes it hard to carry on. There are so many sad stories of people in all area of the media.
Career consultants and job search coaches definitely help, and many people who contact me have significant opportunities to improve. It’s satisfying to have a client tell me how they are now reenergised, are now getting shortlisted, and success at interview. When I first meet them it’s such a shame that they are doing so many things that are ineffective. Too often I see:
· Poor CVs, even when they have been professionally created. I’ve seen CVs created by consultants from well known outplacement companies that are boring and old fashioned in layout and style, I was writing them like that 10 years ago but these consultants are stuck in a time warp. I’ve also seen one that someone paid £250 that looked shoddy and was ineffective, such a waste of money for a client of mine earning £15k p.a.
· Cover letters that don’t ‘sell’ the person. They have to cover both how the person matches with the job and also why they want the job. It should address the requirements of the job ad. This is 50% of the application and the cover letter is as important as the CV.
· A limited approach. Too much time spent looking for jobs online and negligible time spent on more proactive approaches. Being busy does not necessarily relate to being effective.
· Failing to network, which can also be done online via LinkedIn or discussion groups for those of us who are more introverted.
· Invisibility online. Do a Google search for someone and you don’t find anything. They need to at the very least get a completed LinkedIn profile.
Read more >>
