Job Search - The Beginning - Understanding The Rules

by Nancy Bergman, Executive Vice President
Stanley, Barber & Associates

In the process of becoming proactive concerning your career, you would do well to realize that the search process is a competitive game which requires a lot of skill, chance, and endurance. It is usually played by two or more individuals according to little known or recognized rules.

Most people are hired because they are liked best. They are not necessarily the best qualified.
Most successful job placements result from an individual's personal set of contacts, leads, or connections.
Employees are hired because the decision maker believes the individual can:
1. Make money for the company;
2. Save money for the company;
3. Solve problems;
4. Improve or build new systems, processes or products; and/or
5. Train and motivate people.
Most hiring decisions are made within the first two minutes of contact based on feelings and chemistry generated by the participants.
Resumes (or other forms of collateral material), in the hands of decision makers, have a life expectancy of approximately 90 seconds. Thus, a concise, targeted resume has the best chance of being read.
Most of the available (and desirable) positions are in small companies with less than 100 employees.
Rarely do the players in the job searching game know or understand these rules!

While the market for jobs is always fluid, moving, and changing with the times and technology, most job search candidates will not do a good job of marketing themselves. Your primary advantage over other job seekers comes when you become comfortable with the idea that you are prepared to market your skills.

Any marketing or sales person will tell you that if you are going to introduce a new product into a competitive market, you must learn everything you possibly can about the product. What can the product do? What do potential buyers want it to do? Where can it best be utilized?

With these and related questions clarified, you, the product will be ready to prepare a marketing campaign to create a demand for your unique product.