Do you ever feel as if the job search process has gotten turned on its head somehow? That maybe the wrong things are being asked for in job ads, or that the best people aren’t being hired? This isn’t scientific, but I think most job seekers would answer yes to those questions.
While some would argue that the system is broken (myself included), imagining ways to fix it feels like bailing Lake Michigan with a teacup. Still, not being able to fix a broken system doesn’t mean that you have to be enslaved to it.
One way to break the tyranny of today’s job search processes is to go back to your roots — literally. It’s time to look inside and then out, rather than vice versa.
Here’s what I mean. In today’s typical job search, candidates log onto a job board, such as Monster.com, to look for openings. They might type their occupation into the search engine first, or they might simply scan all the listings until something catches their eye. Then they will follow the instructions (complete this application, send your resume) before resuming their hunt.
This is an excellent example of an “outside-in” job search. That is, you respond to an external stimulus (the job board posting) to move yourself forward. Success means that you are invited to a company to discuss its vision of what you should do for a living.
Of course, given a choice between not working at all and having someone else define your career, many gladly choose the paycheck.
But since this process doesn’t seem to be yielding even a poor-fitting job for many seekers, I’m inspired to ask: What if you turned things inside out? What if, instead of looking for outside sources to tell you what to do for a living, you searched inside for those answers, then looked for the job that you actually wanted?
One way to imagine this is to ask yourself what you want to do for a living, at what level, in which city, etc. Of course, asking the questions doesn’t mean you can simply dream your way into being an astronaut or a rock star. On the other hand, I don’t disparage dreaming as a career tool. If the dream is the precursor to making the plan, then we’re on the right track.
In truth, I don’t see people “dreaming beyond their pay grade” very often. When job seekers talk about goals, they’re frequently mundane: save money, work with collaborative co-workers, build expertise in something. With this criteria in hand, the task is to put a name to this work so it can be searched for.
This sometimes arduous step of moving from one’s desired criteria to an actual job title might be one reason job seekers so often default to an externally driven process.
I’m in favor of seeking the job you want, instead of chasing the jobs you don’t want.
If you want to try this yourself, here are some steps to get started.
1. Build your wish list: What do you want in your next job? List everything that pops into your head, even though you probably can’t have it all.
2. Use your top two or three criteria to define your next job. For example, suppose you want $50,000, a short commute and work that is very social in nature. In this case, I would start with the commute and ask: How short? Then I would advise listing every company, large and small, within that domain. Next, we would compare that list against your skill set to see what you could do for each employer that fits your other two criteria.
3. Reach out to potential employers. Yes, just like that. These are exploratory conversations, because you don’t know yet what you are offering or asking them for. And yes, I agree — this is a tricky conversation to initiate. But what do you have to lose?
This “inside-out” job search process won’t appeal to everyone, especially since there is no real road map to guide you. But if you’re not making headway otherwise, why not dream a little?
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