In a tricky economy, it’s common to hear job hunters grumbling about steep competition. “Things are bad out there,” they say, shaking their heads. “The job market is jammed, with hundreds of people lined up for every position.”
Here’s what I say: Competition can be controlled. You can make it go away.
This statement contradicts what most people believe about job searching during a recession. They’ve heard rumors, reports and statistics. They’ve seen news reports. And some have faced this competition first hand, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with dozens (or hundreds) of job seekers, all trying to meet a handful of employers at crowded job fairs.
If you want to eliminate competition, focus your job hunt on a specific company, contact the manager and start a real-live conversation. Try it, and your perspective will change. There still will be a recession going on around you, and lots of people still will need work. But for the moment, for this particular job, competition will cease to exist.
Keep up a great impression, and you could land yourself a rewarding job — or at least add a new contact to your ever-expanding job search network.
It’s logical, really. Spending time in places where job seekers congregate (such as job fairs and online job boards) increases your competition. Stepping out of the crowd pitches competition to the side of the road.
But, here’s something to remember: You can’t just leave the room. You have to take action in a new way.
Most businesses need something (or someone) to help them grow and thrive in this market. They might need a strong leader to inspire the workforce. An assertive salesperson to revitalize failing accounts. A reliable dishwasher to speed through Saturday nights and work a few last-minute weekday shifts.
Think of the countless opportunities available in the market right now. Businesses need your talents and services. All you have to do is introduce yourself to the hiring manager. Get some face time. Show the employer how you can improve the company from your first day on the job.
This takes effort. Courage. In most cases, it isn’t easy, which is why many job hunters would rather stay home, tap the keyboard a few times, post their resumes on the Internet and then gripe about the results of an uninspired job search.
If you truly care about your career, and genuinely want to shirk the competition, head out on your own. Do the work. Research local companies. Learn about their mission statements, goals and challenges in this economic climate. Then, narrow down your research. Pick one company and figure out how you would fit in. Determine what you could do to improve the bottom line. Now, get ready for the hard part: Find the boss, smile, and begin an actual conversation.
When you move away from the competition, you take personal accountability for your career (and life). You no longer complain about the job market coming down around you. Instead, you say, “I know that I will make a difference for a great company. I know that I have talent, and deserve a lucrative, full-time job …”
Don’t get lost in the crowd. Be brave. Come up with a new zero-competition strategy and dive in.
Send your job search questions to Eve.GetAJob@gmail.com
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