The Times reports today that job seekers outnumber job openings by six to one, the worst ratio since the Labor Department started tracking this statistic in 2000. I coach many people who are part of that job-seeking group. My clients are getting jobs faster than their competition even in a worsening environment. Here are just a few of the things they are doing, which you can also do, to speed up the process toward your next opportunity. The good news is that out of the six people competing for each job, 5.99999 of them have no idea how to properly look for a job. If you are in the group of 0.00001 who read this, your chances just improved a lot.

 

1. Looking for a job is a full-time job. You need to spend 35 hours a week on your job search. Allow yourself about three hours a week for fun. Most people are not nearly disciplined enough to do this and even those who are spend the time doing the wrong things, like answering ads on job boards. If you’re employed but the handwriting is on the wall, you should be spending at least 10 hours a week on your search.

2. You have to have 6-10 things in the works at all times. If you are working two or three job leads and are waiting by the phone for a positive outcome, you may also be the type of person who buys Lotto tickets and believes you’ll win. Success in getting a job is a function of high numbers. You have to get, and keep, many opportunities going at all times because most of them will not materialize.

3. Focus on getting meetings, not job interviews. Are you old enough to remember Bill Bradley when he played for the New York Knicks? Great basketball players know how and where to move on the court even when (make that especially when)  they don’t have the ball. It’s the same with job seekers. Your objective should be to have meetings, as many as possible, so that you can become known to an organization even when there is no job currently available. But there could be one next month, or next week, or tomorrow. And there you’ll be, fresh in their minds.

4. Position yourself as a consultant. Too many people approach job interviews as applicants, or worse, supplicants. Your neediness is really unattractive. Employers want solutions to walk in the door. So position yourself as a problem solver. Instead of thinking you are applying for a $50,000 or $150,000 job, your mindset should be that you’re pitching a $50,000 or $150,000 consulting assignment. Uncover needs, ask excellent questions, take really good notes for your follow up.

5. Value-added follow up. Enough with the thank-you cards. If you meet with a potential hiring manager, you need to send a letter after a meeting that she absolutely can’t ignore or toss, because your information is too valuable. Your insight will require another meeting to get into more detail. And then another meeting. And that just might result in a job offer.

 

These are just a few of the things my coaching clients do differently from most other people.Contact me you’d like to know more.

 

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