Conversation with a job-seeker today…

Hi. Nice to connect with you. What are you looking for?

I am looking for engineering opportunities in Austin… Bio-Med, Medical Device, etc.

I don't have any clients in that arena right now. Wish I did. If I am connected to anyone that you need to meet, let me know and I will do an intro. But listen, I don't recommend focusing on connecting with recruiters at companies where you want to work - but with managers of people who do what you do. If they like you, they will tell the recruiter to set up a meeting.

Hey that’s good advice. How do I know who is the hiring manager?

What would your manager's title be?

I mean how do I know if the manager is hiring?

Ah - You see, that does not matter!!! See, you really need to get my book It provides tools for developing your resume, cover letters and other communication tools; as well as networking plans, interview preparations, and negotiating strategies. It is very affordable and quickly available on Amazon at http://bit.ly/STARcareerworkbook

Here's what I mean: 

Networking to find your next move is the smartest move to make. The STAR method is focused on networking within organizations where your passion, strengths, and financial needs can intersect. I don’t focus on whether those organizations have a “job opening” that is a “fit” for you right now. In fact, I might prefer they don’t, yet.

Our focus is on establishing your name, your connections, and then your value to that organization… before they decide to fill a new position. Your efforts can and should result in uncovering hidden job opportunities, positioning yourself as the organization’s next new hire, and having that organization design a new job around you and your strengths, experiences, and successes.

You may get frustrated with the run-around and people who seem too busy to talk to you. But your name and skills will be known. The team will already be comfortable with you. Your salary will not be an issue. Gaps in your resume will not be an issue. You are the eagle, perched on a branch, ready to swoop in to catch your prey.

I expect that you will also follow traditional paths of identifying and applying for “job openings.” I just don’t encourage you to spend more than half of your time doing so, and I don’t encourage you to put incredible hope in that path. Regardless, this workbook will help you on that path as well.

Your goal is to find and connect with contacts within your target employers, at various levels of authority. Leverage meetings, conversations and introductions until you are sitting in front of a hiring manager, interviewing for a real, open position (or, for a job description and posting you have created together).

The reality is, often times, that when a job opening is created, the process repeats for all the people who are NOT on the inside. The job has been defined for the insider, but hundreds of other applicants are sending in their resumes with a glimmer of hope for the opportunity.

In other words, there is a strong chance that for every “job opening” to which you apply, there is already a candidate on the inside. Your goal is to BE that candidate on the inside, BEFORE the job is defined and posted.

You can also use this approach as a part of your efforts to apply for existing job openings. The hope is that you may 1) have time to establish relationships, 2) become a known and trusted resource during the company’s period of “open” search, and 3) if there is some insider already in place, your relationships and your qualifications will surpass his or hers.

Note that you will often meet “gate-keepers” along the way. These are individuals who will ask you to submit your application, along with all of the other masses, and just wait for feedback. If there is a job posting that fits your qualifications, by all means do apply. Then reply back to that gate-keeper and say, “Thank you for your advice! I have applied to your job posting of [job title], job number [job number]. Please advise me if there is anything else I may do to network within your organization”.

Then continue networking and find other contacts in that company who will forward your name around.