Do you understand how employers are filling jobs? Why are there so few jobs posted on-line right now? Why isn't your resume getting hits? To answer these questions, put yourself in the position of a person who has a vacancy on their team.
Painful is an understatement. Everyone is probably already working 2-3 jobs within the team. Lean and mean is the new operating standard. When there is one less person, it really can have an impact on the whole operation.
With so many people out there looking, you would think the hiring manager would just post a job, sift through resumes, interview and hire. That's not usually the case.
They want to hire someone they know or who comes referred. There's a good post on this topic at CareerRocketeer. What this article points out is that filling a position is about sourcing the right candidates (from a recruiting firms view).
The take away is that being a sourced candidate means that you are not a well kept secret internally or externally.
People must know what you are good at doing. Coworkers, vendors/suppliers, managers and higher are great places to create this awareness.
You need to be well respected in your field and outside. Professional associations, industry groups, community organizations all are great ways to help spread your reputation.
What it comes down to is developing a reputation for being very good at something a future employer will need, not something that is obsolete or too specific to only one company.
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
