You will have heard of the saying “who dares wins.” In the coaching profession we sometimes adapt that to “who is clear wins.” When you apply this to career search and career transition it is absolutely the case that those who are clearest are going to be the ones who are the most successful. Here’s why…
1. The Employment World is Changing
Employment has been changing for a generation. The global financial crash and its impact has accelerated such things as the commoditization of labour. Without clarity, it’s therefore difficult to address the issues of finding work, changing careers and so on. It has just become harder and more complicated to achieve such goals without being clear on your game plan.
2. Job Marketplaces Are Crowded
Most of the world’s developed countries currently have high unemployment rates. In some cases in Europe there is tragically high unemployment. In addition to these kind of headlines, there are also those who are underemployed, in other words people who desire bigger work opportunities than they are currently able to get hold off. Again it is tough and we have to learn to stand out in the marketplace by being clear about what we want out of it.
3. Professionalism is a Must
There was a time when we felt that we could spray our CV around, make ourselves known to the right recruiters and hey presto we could get through. This doesn’t happen on a regular basis anymore. We have to be professional in the job hunt. We have to put our best face on and that starts with being clear on what our best face is. We have to recognise finding a job is going to take time and we have to give it our best shot. Anything less and we sell ourselves short.
4. Being Specific is Key
Never before has there been a time when we need to be more specific about our own value and clearer about what it is that we want to do. It feels like a gamble if we go out into the job market and put ourselves out there without knowing what we’re worth, how much we can do and how talented we really are. All too often, we really, really want to hold open as many options as we can. Holding on to lots of different options runs completely contra to Position Ignition’s best advice – we need to be specific and clear about what it is we’re targeting. See 10 Ways to Being Focused in a Job Search.
5. Clarity Aids Exploration
Before getting specific you need to explore your options. To do the best job on that you have to do a deep dive into just what it is that you’ve got in terms of your asset base of talents and experiences. Open yourself up to explore all the options that are possible for you at this stage at your working life, then eliminate those options. You can filter them out and crystallise your target until you are absolutely specific about what it is you’re going to focus on when you step out into your career search.
6. Being Clear Brings Confidence
Now that you’re getting clear in your career search, you’re able to step forward with real confidence. You can assess and plan where you go now.
7. You Become a Better Researcher
The quality of your research is correlated with the depth that you go into understanding and analysing potential employer organisations or sectors and their products and people. The clearer you are on the things you want to research, the higher quality that research will be. Nothing happens until you can be really smart about not wasting time in your career search. When you do your research you are acting as if you are buying an employer and the better your research, the more likely you are to end up with the right employer. See Job Interviews: 7 Ways to Research a Company.
8. You Are in Charge
To be the one in control of your career search, you need to get clear. Clarity gives you knowledge of what tools you are going to use in your career search, how you’re going to go about connecting with key people that you know and people who, at this moment, you don’t know but will know. It’s a great feeling to have that level of clarity.
9. Clarity Leads to Time Efficiency
Once you get clear, you are not going to waste your time. You’re not going to waste the time of others who are you going to be helping you in your career search. You are going to be the ultimate professional. People, employers are going to see you are serious. Your intensity is going to be manifest. That will work well for you.
10. Your Message Gets Amplified
When you’re specific and when you know what your target is, you’re ready to project, very specifically, what you need to those who you need. Amplification has many facets. An online profile on a social networking site is only one element of promoting your career intentions. Become clear in your career search and other platforms will be revealed to you. See Job Search and Getting the Right Job: Targeting the Role.
By Simon North, Founder of Position Ignition (www.positionignition.com) and the Career Ignition Club (www.careerignitionclub.com), the UK’s leading career change and career development company and platform. He is also the author of 125 LinkedIn Job Search Tips (http://www.positionignition.com/100-linkedin-job-search-tips). Follow him @PosIgnition for more help with your career challenges.
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