Think outside the box in your search

By Laura Raines, for the AJC

This is not the Great Depression, when unemployment numbers hit 25 percent. But it’s not your traditional job market either.

“It is important to recognize that traditional methods of searching for a new job rarely work any more,” said Randy Hain, managing partner of Bell Oaks Executive Search, a 39-year-old Atlanta-based firm.

Ron Young, president of the Atlanta-based executive coaching firm Trove Inc., advises people searching for jobs to use non-traditional ways to link up with potential employers. Photo by Leita Cowart, for the AJC.

You can’t just fax or mail in your resume to a company and hope to get noticed. Applying to the company’s Web site online does nothing to distinguish you from the crowd.

“Going to a networking group to get leads isn’t effective, because everyone there is unemployed and looking for the same thing,” he said. “People get addicted to the easy and non-confrontational ways of doing a job search because they fear conflict or rejection, so it becomes an endless cycle of doing the same things and getting nowhere.”

It’s time to think outside the box and find some new tactics, said Ron Young, founder and president of Trove, Inc., an Atlanta-based organizational development, executive coaching and professional training firm. Here are a few:

Create your ideal job. Instead of desperately applying to everything, take a different approach. “Start with what you are amazing at,” said Young. “What is it that you do that people ask ‘how did you do that?’ You don’t even know because it’s so natural and easy for you,” he said. “Couple that natural gift with what you love to do — your passion. Where the two overlap is your perfect job. Find that ideal job and fill it, and if it doesn’t exist, create it.” Don’t wait for employers to recognize their need — point it out to them.

“Maybe you hear from your contacts that executive teams aren’t working strongly together in this economy. Suppose your gift is helping groups increase their trust and breaking down silos and politics so that they can work more effectively together? How valuable would that be?” A job transition is an excellent time for shifting your perspective about what you can and love to do. Taking this approach puts purpose and excitement into your job search, generates confidence and is quite effective, Young said. Companies like to hire people who can identify and solve their problems.

Go directly to the decision maker. Social media allows you to bypass normal hiring channels and go straight to the person who makes the decisions, Hain said. “Identify the company or job that interests you. Find the hiring managers through a Google or LinkedIn search, or by using your network. Do your research, prepare and make a frontal assault — ask for a meeting. A direct, no-fear approach could save him time and money, and get you hired,” said Hain.

Make the most of LinkedIn. All of the Fortune 500 companies are represented on LinkedIn; 499 of them are represented by director-level and above employees. “This is a highly effective business tool. Our firm generated 25 percent of our revenue from LinkedIn client and candidate sources in the last three years,” said Hain.

To use the site well, “Have a transparent profile [listing past job descriptions, bio, personal interests and accomplishments] that will attract broad interest,” said Hain. “You want to screen in, not out to expand your network.”

“Upgrade your account to the first level of pay service. For a small monthly fee, you can connect to the people in your network directly, and not wait weeks for a referral. It’s a good investment,” said Hain. Use the Boolean search feature to find better contacts using key words from your background or interests.

Don’t just network — connect! “The foundation for successful networking and relationship building is making a meaningful connection rooted in mutual interest or experience,” Hain said. “Never start an e-mail or a conversation with ‘I’m in a job search. Can you help me,’” he said. “Find an affinity-based connection point, such as college, a hobby, faith or favorite charity — then ask if you can get together to see how you might help each other, and mean it.

“When we talk about shared passions or interests, it breaks down walls and starts to build relationships.” Listening, asking questions, sharing personal information and offering to help others creates the kind of meaningful connections that can enhance your life and career.

“The people who follow this strategy are finding jobs and in a realistic amount of time,” Hain said.