4 ways to reduce the time you’re out of work
According to LinkedIn research, the average time that it takes to find a new job is six to seven months. Those that don’t get a job within 12 months fall into the category of long-term unemployed and one might reasonably argue that the longer someone is out of work so it becomes more difficult to get back into a similar position. So, it makes sense that anything that you can do to reduce your search time has very significant benefits. This applies equally to those who are in employment and want to make a change. In this short blog, we will address the issue of the need for speed and offer two things that you can do to accelerate your job search, whatever your circumstances.
There are quite a number of things that you can put in place now while you have a job, which will no doubt accelerate your job search whether or not that is initiated by you wanting to make a change or by your current employer because they have decided to make you redundant. Here are some things to consider:
Proactively build and serve your network | I have mentioned this before: your role in networking is ultimately to serve others. This can be done by simply asking how your contacts are, making introductions, sending useful information, inviting to relevant events, and so on. My advice would be to develop a system so that everyone in your network receives some sort of message from you at least twice a year. You will build up goodwill and when you need help, you can ask for it and not be reaching out to people who have not heard from you for three or four years. This takes time and the time to start is now.
Keep your CV and LinkedIn up to date | It is important to ensure that your CV is in great shape and crucially, reasonably up to date. Your CV should adequately communicate your value proposition, which is designed to be appealing to your target audience. Your CV is passive in that you decide when to send it out. That said, it is so much easier to keep it current and update it once a year or at the point of a significant change or accomplishment. Your LinkedIn Profile is, however, active. It is visible, searchable and you might want to think of optimising it now. It is also key to ensure that you are super-well connected with highly relevant people beyond your closer professional network. I have written various blogs on what makes a strong LinkedIn profile here.
Have a Plan B | Being made redundant can naturally be quite a shock - I know because it has happened to me. Doing the thinking about what you might do ahead of time will take away a lot of the feeling of uncertainty and stress out of the situation. Furthermore, does is not make sense to lift your head up from your daily toil, survey the horizon and consider your overarching career objectives and the career path that you are thoughtfully taking? I recently re-read a book on peak performance under pressure and in it the authors discussed this ‘bifocal’ approach. Check in and re-associate emotionally with what it is that you are seeking to achieve and then turn to the tasks at hand with complete concentration and intensity. Having your Plan B will enable you to save significant time in those important first few days and weeks of being made redundant.
Get competent specialist coaching | Having a coach who understands your area of business and has a proven system will certainly save you time. Working in a structured manner through a relevant programme with someone who knows what questions to ask and who has been down this path with clients numerous times before will undoubtedly save time. Every day, week and month counts. A great coach will also help you avoid making mistakes such as burning up precious network goodwill to no effect. Furthermore, you will not be alone in the process; you will have someone who will hold you accountable, give you honest and unalloyed specific and actionable feedback. This will help you maintain crucial momentum through the ups and downs. A great coaching programme will also enable you to understand the many channels for identifying and getting in front of relevant hiring managers, which will increase your career opportunities. Finally, learning how to perform really well in interviews as the stand out candidate using a trial an error approach will potentially mean that you miss out on great roles that you might have succeeded in getting, had you had great training. Having a career coach will help you to excel in interviews and hone your approach to impressing prospective employers.
Self-auditing your job and career now, deeply considering your path, putting basics in place now and getting a career coach are all things that will stand you in very good stead if you are currently employed or if, regrettably, you have been made redundant. If you currently have a job, I would suggest that rather than pushing back until the situation becomes acute, taking action now will really serve you and be a great investment in time. Getting a career coach who knows the road ahead will give you very real competitive advantage and accelerate your job search campaign when you need it most.