What can you do to advance your career in today’s job market? This question was the focus of a special conference sponsored by DeVry University in New York. A participating group of industry specialists identified the biggest mistakes and smartest moves for career success: Job-seekers don’t use their time on social media networking sites wisely. Too much time is spent trying to create a presence on every social media website causing networking overload rather than meaningful connections.
The Smart Move: instead, job-hunters need to find the right places to connect. Focus on places that offer the best quality and quantity of contacts and companies you are interested in and build on those connections to increase your network. It is not necessary to become a member of every hot new networking site. Consider what purpose each site serves as it pertains to your career goals. Choose wisely.
Also, job-seekers constantly look at what's hot now instead of long-term employment trends. Being unaware of which industries have the greatest growth potential is a missed opportunity for many people. The Smart Move: understand where the job opportunities are and will be by looking at statistics and broad trends. For example, healthcare management and technology will thrive in the coming years due to an aging population and a focus on providing care to those who have not traditionally been able to afford coverage.
Job-seekers are overly focused on making new connections. They tend to overlook existing and former contacts in pursuit of new ones when networking. The Smart Move: revisit old contacts and resources. Networking is not just about creating new contacts. For example, your college career office is a relevant resource for jobs, even if you graduated many years ago. Also, reconnect with former colleagues,
Job-seekers consider gaining new skills an impossible undertaking. Many rule out returning to school due to time commitments or expense. The Smart Move: do your research and understand what new skills could be good for your career and the best way to get them. For people who are looking to fit career-related education into a life filled with other responsibilities, options exist such as flexible online and in-classroom learning options.
Job-seekers confuse demonstrating digital savvy with using casual tech-talk. 'lol,' 'ttyl' and a range of emoticons and acronyms, or tech-talk have a growing presence in the vernacular of job-seekers. The new abbreviations have moved from being typical of friend-to-friend digital communication to use in interviews and on resumes, often replacing professional communication which employers view as critical. The Smart Move: demonstrate that you can balance both tech-talk and formal business communication. Before tweeting, ask yourself whether the 140 characters potential employers might see will add value and show that you will be a professional asset to their company. Take the time to write formal cover letters that demonstrate advanced communications skills.
Job-seekers do not have a well-defined personal brand. With so many people applying for the same job, job-seekers need to think about how to stand out. This is particularly true of recent college graduates who have had little experience in trying to differentiate themselves outside their academic world. The Smart Move: create a strong and memorable personal brand that sets you apart and remains consistent regardless of your career path. Ask for feedback from personal and professional contacts to identify how you are perceived, your work style, your strengths, what makes you different.
Job-seekers only look to older adult contacts as mentors. While having an older mentor certainly helps to provide career guidance, they can lack a fresh perspective on new trends and technologies that are valued by employers. The Smart Move: look to younger friends, family or professional contacts as mentors, especially those that are early adaptors to new technologies. Employers are looking for innovative thinking and younger mentors can explain new technologies and provide a unique way to look at the world around them. (September 9th, 2010)
Sources: DeVry University, Market Watch
