In our daily conversations with candidates who are currently in the process of searching for their next role, we hear of numerous different methods of approaching the market. It has been interesting to see over the past few months of working on the Jobsearch Support Service that there is a marked difference in success between candidates that have a focused and methodical strategy, and those with less structure.
Knowing who you are and what you are actually looking for is a vital first step. Performing self evaluation exercises such as Gap and the SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threats) analysis’ in the early days of your search will give you a greater sense not only of what your skills are and what you have to offer, but also where you fit into the market and the type of roles you can realistically apply for. Once armed with this self assurance and focus on their strengths and weaknesses, we are noticing that the successful candidates are those that put all their efforts into those few roles that fill their skill and experience set completely, as opposed to using a ‘scatter gun’ approach and applying for every project management role they see in the hope that one will eventually stick.
I often hear candidates say that by applying for as many roles as possible they are they are doing as much as they can. My response to that would be ‘not necessarily’. A thorough assessment of the role criteria, sector, skills and experience required, followed up by an effective and detailed application, is more often than not the best way to get your foot in the door. This cannot be done if you are applying for 100 roles a week, as I know some candidates are. Using an ‘Apply to all’ philosophy can have an adverse effect on your confidence, too. Think about it – if you apply for a ton of jobs on a weekly basis and get no responses, of course you’re going to start to wonder why and perhaps become disheartened. Streamlining your expectations and focusing on the areas where you know you are strong should help to maintain your motivation and keep your enthusiasm at a higher level.
Obviously the most common approach to job hunting is to use the job boards and apply online. This can bring a lot of success; however, candidates shouldn’t limit themselves and should look at exploring other avenues to supplement this. Review the local and national press. There are trade journals to consider, namely APM’s Project magazine or PM Today, and also research potential organisations where you could see yourself working and apply direct. Looking in these areas will open you up to agencies which specialise in particular types of roles. By doing your background research you will also be able to spot where organisations may be going through change and have potential new openings. Major examples might be a company move to a new build, a new product development or major order. The truly effective candidates are those that send a speculative CV or review the company website directly for any new roles at this stage, and in so doing pre-empt the rush of further applications.
If you would like any further advice on this area or in relation to the job search in general, please follow the link to our Careers Advice page. Alternatively if you are currently unemployed and registered with JobCentre Plus, follow the link to our Jobsearch Support Service for Newly Unemployed Professionals for information on a full and personalised programme of support.
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I would also add that for certain roles (especially those at the senior end of the project management market) they often don’t even get advertised. To be in the running with these types of roles a completely different approach is required. That normally means expanding your own personal network or calling organisations directly (that you’ve thoroughly researched beforehand)and selling yourself directly to the department or project head. Daunting stuff but at that senior level it should be a piece of cake right?