Top Ten Job Seeker Mistakes – #6

The sixth mistake is to get help primarily from traditional sources.

Who are traditional sources? Primarily campus placement services, recruiters, HR, and job board discussion groups.  Since 20% of jobs are through recruiters, HR, and job boards, guess what help they can give you? They can tell you how to chase after 20% of the jobs.

Ask yourself the question, “What experience do they have other than participating in the traditional 20% of job finding methods?” There will be exceptions but:

• Have they been the decision maker in hiring others?
• Do they understand the language of senior management?
• Have they sold products and services into decision makers?
• Do they understand marketing and sales?
• Do they understand relationship and complex solution sales?
• Have they been peers with other decision makers?

The point is that 80% of jobs is through networking into influencers, advisors, and decision makers who refer top candidates to decision makers. Unless those advising you have a strong background in being a decision maker / hiring manager, it is highly likely that their advice will not include what you need to know and do to find 80% of the jobs.

Again, I am not diminishing the help of others in providing great insights and services for 20% of the jobs. You should use them and learn from them. Those skills will be useful. I am suggesting that your PRIMARY help should be from those who have been in the jobs at levels where they understand what really goes on in networking, company politics, and the minds of people like them.

Where do you find these resources? First, from developing relationships with these profile executives who can help mentor you. Second, from career coaches
who have been there and know what you are facing.