Tools of the Job Search and Why They’re Not Working For You

A friend of mine was recently putting together a Scandinavian-designed desk for his daughter. Back-to-school is about to be at a fever pitch around here so the family is preparing for that as they settle into their new house. Now my friend is handy and capable of pretty big house projects, so building the desk wasn’t going to be the problem. He was almost finished and realized he was given two of the same side panels vs. the left and right one. If anyone has built something that came in a box from Ikea you know the frustration.

In my experience of putting together furniture out of a box, it is always sweat and sighs of exasperation. Firstly, why only the little allen wrench!? Secondly, the instructions always seem to presuppose carpenter mastery in the purchaser of said boxed furniture.

I think some active Job Seekers feel as though they have the same 3-page picture illustration to navigate to their next opportunity. Where are the quality instructions? Where is my hefty toolkit to use the right gadget to achieve the best results?

If you have read or followed any career advice from anywhere, you will likely have seen the variety of these tools mentioned to succeed:

    • Resume

    • Company Target List

    • LinkedIn Rebrand

    • Interview Prep

    • Networking Strategy

    • Career Assessments

    • Cover Letter

    • Bio Sheet

    • Job Search Tracker

    • …and more…

What I see happening for some is that they are using these necessary tools in the wrong sequence. I have found that by equipping clients with the correct process where they know when to use these items in their journey to career alignment, the results are faster and we see much less frustration.

Today, I’m sharing the outline of this system so you can ditch the poor instructions for a process that is proven.

First — Career Clarity

If you don’t know what you are aiming for, you won’t get there.

If you are supposing you can go after a few options and see which “sticks,” you’re using the interview process to test the results and should be driving them instead.

Know what you are created to do first. That clarity can take you into where that role can be applied.

Tools Used: Career Assessments *(RP4C recommends YouMap®)

Second — Career Strategy

If you don’t narrow the target of where you could contribute your amazing self, then you’ll waste time, energy, and resources trying to go everywhere when you are meant to be somewhere specific.

If you don’t realize your branding documents have to be strategically aligned to tell the right story to the right audience, you will misfire in your execution of any kind of job search strategy.

Know where to aim yourself. The audience of that target will inform your branded documents. Getting those right opens the door for conversation and opportunity.

Tools Used: Company Target List, Resume, Cover Letter, LinkedIn Branding, Tailored Job Search Strategy

Third — Career Implementation

If you think only one way, one method is going to land you the role and align you to where you’re meant to be, you’re missing the effectiveness of having a job search strategy.

If you don’t hold yourself accountable for the actions you said you’d do in the job search, which includes allowing time for it, then your results will show it.

Know that an effective and tailored job search strategy is the fastest way to align to where you are meant to be. It requires a commitment to the time and ideas that were curated to see you arrive at your career journey destination.

Tools Used: Interview Prep, Networking Strategies, Tailored Outbound Communication, Offer Negotiation Coaching

If you are struggling with the effort to land the next role, try revisiting each of these steps.

Ask yourself:

  • Am I really clear on what I want or what I am created to do vocationally?

  • Am I using branded documents about me that creatively tell my story to the target audience?

  • Am I truly putting in the work of the job search or just thinking about it most of the time?

At RP4C we get very dialed into each of these steps with clients to see results. If you need more information about your situation, please reach out for a free Discovery Call to see how we can help you move forward in your career.

Michelle Rademacher