When a job search is, and isn’t, about you

If you’re in job search, sometimes the story is about you, and sometimes it isn’t. The challenge is to discern which situation is which and act accordingly.

As a general guideline, it is more about you at the beginning of the job search process, and less about you the closer you get to the end of the process. Here’s what I mean:

1. It IS about you…

It is completely about you in the exploration process, when you’re first deciding about the kind of work you want and how much you want to earn, plus considering any geographic or physical limitations.

At this point, you may begin training, or you may enter directly into your job search. If job search is the stage you’re in, you’ve crossed the bridge into the other arena.

AMY LINDGREN

WORKING STRATEGIES

2. It’s NOT about you…

…when you write your resume. Don’t approach the resume process with the question, “What do I want to tell the employer?” or even, “What are my best assets?” but rather, “What does the employer need to know in order to make the decision to interview me?”

What the employer really needs to see are the skills and aptitudes you have that will benefit their organization. Think first about the employer’s needs, then write accordingly.

It’s also not about you when you interview for a position. Again, what matters is what the employer needs.

If this sounds very employer-centered, don’t worry. The focus shifts again once an offer has been made. When you come on board, it is now about both of you.

Left to their own devices, most job seekers will choose career paths based on employer needs and labor market statistics rather than on their own interests — a sure formula for dissatisfaction. Then they reach out to employers with a message that hints of entitlement — a sure formula for continued unemployment.

Learn to get this right and it will be all about you when you get your paycheck, which is when it really matters.

- Amy Lindgren owns Prototype Career Service, a career consulting firm in St. Paul, Minn. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecaree rservice.com or at 1071 W. Seventh St., St. Paul, MN 55102.