There’s been a lot written lately on what to do to find a job in today’s difficult market, and there are stories galore on unusual things job seekers have done.
Here are some ideas on how to promote yourself, either within your current industry or in the industry you want to transition to, regardless of the state of the economy.
Tip #1: Get to Know the Recruiters in Your Sector
Part I: Retained Search Firms
There are two basic types of recruiters: retained and contingency. The retained group of recruiters are search consultants. They are basically management consultants hired by their client to find the best person for a given search. Search consultants are paid on retainer for their time and expertise and their focus is on their client, not on you, the candidate.
Do not expect that retained search consultants will welcome you with open arms and want to meet you. But if you have the specific experience they need to fill a given search, they may give you some time.
Part II: Contingency Recruiting Firms
Recruiters working on contingency (which is the majority) operate primarily on a volume model, since the more candidates they present to a client the better their chances of making a placement.
These recruiters get paid only upon making a placement; they do not get paid for their time or expertise.
If you have a good resume and are effective at relationship-building, you may be able to get their attention long enough for them to present you to a client.
Tip #2: Get Yourself Some Speaking Gigs
One of the best ways to establish yourself in your field (and I mean current or future field) is to speak at industry conferences.
Typically professional associations host at least one conference per year, and they are always looking for good speakers. Other venues are likely to be for-profit groups, which should be easily found through Google.
Tip #3: Join Your Industry Professional Association
I strongly encourage you to not only join your professional association, but sign up to be on a committee. Or join the council or the board. You will make good friends, you will learn a lot and you will have your ear to the ground. So when that new opportunity—the one you’ve been gunning for—comes up, you’ll have experts in your field to help you.
Tip #4: Write a Column for a Trade Publication
Every sector and function has a trade magazine or newspaper devoted to it, and yours is no exception. The trick is to provide good content as a resident expert in your field. These publications are always looking for substantive material and would like to see yours, if you are a decent and informed writer.
Tip #5: Use LinkedIn Effectively
There are two excellent reasons to use LinkedIn, no matter how uninterested you are in social networking for its own sake. One is to have something on the Web about you that is totally within your control.
The second reason is to get the word out that you’re looking and to showcase your offering.
Tip #6: Blog About Your Industry
One of the best ways to establish your expertise within your industry is to blog about it. It’s a great way to provide your personal spin while attracting the attention of potential hiring managers.
The easiest way to blog is to write for an established institution such as Fast Company or The Huffington Post. It’s easy to set up your blog on their sites and you will benefit from their existing traffic.
Tip #7: Create an Industry Networking Group
In today’s market there are many people out of work who could use each other’s help and not enough easy ways for them to interact.
Why not gather a group, ideally 6-8 people, who are at similar points in their careers. Meetings should be regular and in-person.
You can probably find a good career advisor or coach to facilitate your meetings at a fraction of the cost of one-on-one sessions. (Of course the advice will be at a more macro level but will be helpful nonetheless.)
Tip #8: Contact Industry Professionals You Admire
Does networking with someone who’s well-known in your industry make you a bit nervous? Have you seen certain people mentioned enough in the media and online that they’ve attained rock star status in your mind?
Well, join the club. We all feel this way. Especially when we’re looking for a job; we don’t believe that those who are successful in our field would be interested in us.
Having said that, I believe that if you craft a compelling enough message, have an idea that might interest them or if you know someone in common or have had a common experience, they may be happy to hear from you. Just make sure you do your homework about them so you have an idea of how to catch their attention and what you would like from them specifically.
Tip #9: Create a Project that Leverages Your Industry Contacts
What can you do to promote your contacts while promoting yourself? Here’s an idea:
Perhaps you’re good at communicating with reporters. One way to get their attention is to come up with a story idea that engages them, and offer to find others in your industry for them to speak with. You can do the legwork, ie. making the calls and doing the follow-up so they don’t have to.
Both the reporter and your contacts will view you as a someone they want to be helpful to in return.
Tip #10: Join a Non-Profit Board
People hire those they know and like, and a great way to become known to more people is to join a board and make a real contribution.
Not only will you be doing good but you will make friends and business contacts who may be helpful to you in the future.
Guest Expert:
Allison Cheston (www.allisoncheston.com) consults with individuals and organizations on career change, workplace flexibility, executive search and employment branding. She connects mid-career executives with work that best uses their skills and interests, and repackages clients to transition to growing industries. For four years Allison served as Chief Marketing Officer of the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC). Prior to that she spent 20 years in brand marketing and PR. Allison holds a BA in International Relations and Romance Languages from the University of Michigan, and an MA in International Education from NYU. She also holds a Certificate in Adult Career Planning from NYU.
