If you are in a job search, you must first decide on what you want. My clients know I’m a broken record on this one. You can then find where that is and get it! But when you get to the go-get-it stage, it’s not all about you. The equation has to include what the employer—that potential buyer—wants. This means you have to figure out what you need to get that job. And just because you think you know what it takes to do that job, doesn’t mean the employer (or others trying to help you) know that. If you don’t know what they want, how in the world can you give it to them?
· Dig for what they want … to get what you want
To make sure your ideal job aligns with landing it, do these five things:
- Name the criteria (both preferred and desired requirements) for the job you want
- Compare those against your existing experience, skills, qualities and features
- Identify any gaps between what you need and what you already have
- Decide on an action to overcome those gaps (whether they are real or perceived by others)
- Translate your return on investment into what it is employers want
Do you honestly have the experience, skills, education and other requirements for the job or types of jobs you want? Do you have them now? Employers like purple squirrels (perfect fits and then some). They at a minimum, want the best fit. Not a maybe fit. Not a Jack or Jill of all trades. Step back. If there is a gap between your wants and their wants, it’s going to become a roadblock to success in the search. How can you prepare communication materials, target lists or plans without knowing how you fit? How can you talk about it convincingly? Assume your competition will. Who will get the job?
Every time you look at an advertised opening, ask yourself:
Do I have the required experience, skills and personal characteristics for this opportunity?
- If yes, write down the experience, skills and personal characteristics you have.
- If no, write down any similar experiences, skills and personal characteristics that you do have.
- If you have nothing even close, write down how you might get it.
· Once found, bridge those gaps
There are five typical gaps my clients have had to bridge.
- Industry experience. It’s a fact that most companies ask for previous industry experience. It is what it is. Control what you can. Candidates certainly do succeed in crossing the industry threshold, particularly if strong in the other required areas. It’s not uncommon for a company to hire someone outside the industry because they have deep overall experience.
- Role label. This is a language issue, but it can cause a real disconnect, especially with search engine optimization and applicant tracking technology-driven hiring systems. Project Manager or Team Lead. Sales or Business Development. You have to mirror back the language they speak.
- Money. The more effort you invest in figuring out your salary requirements (“must-have”, “okay” and “would-be-great”), the more success you’ll have getting the interviews. It’s a dance. If you ask for $25K more than what the market averages, you’re probably out. On the other hand, don’t ask $25K less than you’re worth or need. You’ll get it.
- Skills. This one’s often a deal-breaker; but can be worked through. Do you actually lack the skills for the job? Or perhaps you have very close skills that aren’t being identified—again a potential language issue. I see it all the time with clients’ skill sets. My client thought she was lacking the right video conferencing skill set for the job she was drooling to get. Then she realized that her proficiency with JustMeet software was dang close to the required LifeSize experience. Well, she just had to make this clear. “I learned JustMeet and am quite honestly, the go-to whiz in my current position; I have no doubt that LifeSize will be a breeze.” She landed.
- Education. Ask about the weight of an education requirement. It may be a preferred requisite that can be overlooked based on other variables. Sometimes, it is non-negotiable and driven by human resource and legal restrictions.
· Keep digging if you’re not sure
If you want to know as much as possible about whether you have what employers want for the job(s) you want, try these strategies:
- Tap your network. Ask everyone you think might know about their thoughts on what is required for your dream job. Listen. Take notes. Then filter and use what makes sense to you.
- Research. Use the Internet to research the jobs that are out there and what they require in terms of skills, experience and other qualities. Tap into one of the best resources to help you—your local library.
- Experiment like a marketer. In your job search networking meetings, informational interviews, job interviews, applications—the gamut, ask for feedback. Test it. Track it. Use what is useful.
It will serve you well to pay attention to gaps. This whole job thing is a match between what you want and what they want. Sometimes the gaps are insurmountable. Quite often, they are not. It may mean training, a bridge job, or articulating what else you have that trumps the gap. But can you negotiate without knowing? As Dr. Phil says, “You can’t change what you don’t acknowledge.” And I add that you can’t acknowledge what you don’t know.
Photo: limaoscarjuliet
