It’s a bit noisy for job searchers

Despite the desire to be coddled on a restful Sunday morning, I was  revved up when I read GL Hoffman’s reference to resume writers in his Weekend Rant blog post. I won’t go into the details of my comments, only to say that I aspired to articulate the difference between a career historian and  resume editor, versus a career writer, strategist, clarifier and fitness coach.

As to a few other points I thought GL expressed ever so well and poignantly, as well as some comments generated by a consortium of careers experts, job searchers and others (Twitterers @dawnbugni, @dianaejennings, @artsmonkey, @conhake and more), I’d say it was a much needed rant on a timely subject.

The bottom line, I think, is that there are many job-search related  issues to be addressed: with HR and employers; with careers consultants; with big job boards; with job searchers themselves.

Diana (who’s in job search mode) commented her weariness from the noise iterated by  life coach and brand specialists. I get that – pragmatic, hit-the-ground running advice that will help gain real traction in her very REAL job search is needed. Those of us spewing advice need to constantly keep in mind our target audience’s bottom-line needs.

GL commented on frustrations with HR paying the big job boards but for what ROI? As well, he asked, is HR looking for  “easy choices versus difficult options?” I know, from my interaction with some very passionate HR professionals and executives how much they care; I also know how many of them are battling with doing more with many fewer resources and their burden to continually prove their ROI. Conversely, I have listened to a few HR pros who espouse their system of job-search screening and the (what seems like hoops) processes required to communicate with them, only to get no response, even after an interview has been held. Like any field, there are the good apples, and bad apples – and even with the good apples, there are bad trees (companies) whose roots infect the overall health of an otherwise good system.

“How do you know which companies to network with?” posed GL. Good point – with the globalization of our careers,  the same-old networking methodologies are not working. And his further declaration that if you have a boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse then you HAVE networked, resonated! I’ll admit it, I met my husband online, via one of the large-name dating sites. (Note: I’m NOT a believer that if you aren’t looking, you’ll find your man/woman, etc. And I’m an introvert who gains energy from working solo as well as through select collaborations versus being involved in large group networking situations. Those drain me.)

We ALL network – and our unique ways of doing so are OK – whether we’re extro- or introverts, no matter. Find what works for you and continue doing it. If you’re comfortable, you’ll present yourself better.

Job searchers – please know, we get your pain. Most people in their lifetimes have experienced major loss – or will. Death, the loss of a job, divorce, major illness or debilitation, etc. When I was smashed in the face with divorce eight years ago, I was devastated. Did I say ‘poor me?” Some of the time, yes! I learned to reach out, after years of ‘doing it alone’ and feeling too proud to ‘need’ to bare my needs so openly. I learned that not everyone cared, but some people cared a whole lot. Most people have lives of their own to manage first and foremost (I get that – I have to focus on my homefront first and foremost), but  if I was proactive and maintained positivity, I would attract solutions and people with whom synergies flowed. Indeed, I had to give to get, even if at times I was crying silently, amidst personal pain.

It wasn’t just about me and my tragedy, but how I dealt with it. One time, my mentor and business coach, who’d listened patiently to my woes for several months, stopped me in my tracks, saying “Yes, yes, we all have problems with <insert my problem>, so we’ve got that on the table, now lets move on.” VERY enlightening – she heard me and my pity party once too much and gently, but firmly, nudged me on to proactive thinking.

This is what I suggest to job searchers – your situation is not unlike many in the world undergoing life-changing, DIFFICULT turnaround. The time it will take to change your course may be longer than it has been for job searchers in recent years, but you WILL get there. It seems bigger partly because of the economy’s challenges and the larger number of job seekers out there than a year ago. But it is fix-able. If the noise and frustration level peaks, then turn off some of that noise – or turn down the volume.

Keep seeking and working with what ‘works’ for you! Do NOT despair – do not harbor anger and resentment. Look for and follow the light.

HR and others impacting the course changes – take a few moments in your busy, stressful schedules: I DO GET how many HR folks really do care and wish they had the time to respond effectively and efficiently and to really take great pains to care for the job-searchers soliciting them or responding to their postings.

Job Boards – take heed of the GL Hoffmans out there providing information rich, quality-centric and job searcher-focused services like LinkUp; they ARE changing the job-board landscape.