CH 06. Plan Your Job Search and Your Networking

COMMENTARY: This post and the next are the crux of the Orville Pierson Method. It is an ongoing process even while you are employed and satisfied with your work you must maintain your network. I will discuss this is a later post. Please read this with care and take to heart. This is a paraphrased review of the chapter from “Highly effective networking: meet the right people and get a great job”.

Many job hunters do not plan their job search. When asked about their plan they look a little glassy eyed as they asked what do you mean, plan. They seem to think that the job search is something that happens to them, something they have to cope with rather than plan. The job seeker must organize, plan, and conduct their job search in the same manner as any other project. Networking can make your job hunting more effective.

Networking is a tool and a process that begins with planning the search.  Pierson believes this is so important that he wrote extensively on this topic in his other book, The Unwritten Rules of the Highly Effective Job Search. 

• The Highly Effective Project Plan includes:
• 1.       Professional objectives - the kind of work you desire to do
• 2.       Target market - where you want to work
• 3.       Core message - what you will say about yourself

The first step to be clear about is what you are hunting for. The clearer you are the easier your search becomes. Most people are not qualified for most jobs even though state they will take anything. If this occurs then they usually end up in a job that is just any ole job or worse, a nothing job. Thus, starting out requires a reasonable focus.

COMMENTARY: In careers such as the military and even in poorly scoped contracts it is not uncommon for the management to redirect members into jobs that do not support a career or even member’s interest. This always results in a job that is just any ole job or worse, a nothing job.  Most people would recognize this as extremely poor management which it is. The aforementioned “Most people are not qualified for most jobs even though state they will take anything” can lead to the same effect. Focus on your core message and skill sets. 

Step 1: Your Professional Objective

Your objective defines the kind of work you are seeking. It clusters job titles and informs perspective employers what you are willing to do for them. Few job titles such as accountant as universal. Therefore, the job seeker must cluster job titles and target a profession. The term profession applies to a clearly defined body of knowledge and is not limited to doctors, lawyers, engineers, or the like. Defining the professional objective is important because it focuses the search activities.

Step 2: The target market is defined by location, industry, and size

Identify and target employers who will most likely hire someone with a professional objective like yours. Typically these employers already have people in positions like the ones you desire. You are looking to make contact before a position opens. This increases the the chances of working for someone you really like.

The first action is to determine the geographic area you desire to work. Define it in a way that can be used by databases. Pick only a few places that also include relocation if necessary. Do not look in places that are not in your chosen geographic locations. 

The second action is to determine the type of organization you desire to work for. This means you must define the genre and the industry. The genre indicates the organizations sector; government, private, public, or non-profit. The industry points to the organizations focus; manufacturing, healthcare, financial, etc... The industry is often designated by an Standard Subject Industry Code, SSIC. Another defining characteristic is the size of the organization. 

Step 3: The target list is just as important as your resume

Once you complete step 2 you can now build a list of target companies. Both the target list and resume are important and effective tools to your search. There are a lot of resources to help you define your target list; libraries, online databases, etc...

Step 4: Your core message describes your qualifications in the language of your target market

The core message tells potential employers your usefulness. You get the message to them through a variety of networking methods to include email signatures, resume submittals, business cards, online presence, etc... During your job search you will be discussing yourself a lot therefore refining your core message and other messages is important to an effective job search. You will need to be able to deliver your verbal message in less than two minutes. 

Your proactive job search is based on your project plan. 

Once you have the basics in place you are ready to begin your proactive and highly effective search. In fact, you have begun networking before this was completed as you’ll gain critical information that will adjust your project plan. Networking is an important part of building and refining your target list. Networking most helps in defining the professional objective and developing a target list. 

Using your network:

•  Create and refine your professional objective: Developing the professional objective may require three or four additional steps. First, read books on career choices. Second, conduct research on work that is attractive to you. Third, you'll need to network to learn about the jobs. Fourth, you may need to do information interviewing to gain stronger perspectives and strengthen network connections.

• Create and refine your target list: The target list is an excellent tool in networking. You should show your list to friends and acquaintances. Discuss the list and be clear you do not expect to locate immediate job openings. Discuss the organizations with them and if these organizations are viable prospects. With people you do not know well do not show the list but instead verbally discuss a few of the organizations.  This list is continuous improvement.

• Get your message out: Networks are a good way to spread information as well as collect it. The more people who are of you the more likely the information hit a decision maker. The primary core message you want everyone to hear is that you are available. 

• Gather information: Knowledge is power. Research individual target companies. The list size may vary. Research reputations, culture, compensation, and other details. Prioritize the list and work through it each week. Talk to people who work there.  Also survey the profession and industry. 

• Meet insiders at target organizations: As you network gather information about those inside a company. Network in to those who best fit your career path. The goal is to become a known entity for when a job arises.

• Get in touch with decision maker: Once you've made the insider contacts you will want to move up the chain to the decision makers. A highly effective job seeker meets decision makers long before the job becomes open. There is less pressure and conversations are more natural than when in an interview. Thus, the decision maker becomes more comfortable with you.

Commentary: The Pierson method is an effective and continuous method that requires time to build and maintain. Professionals should dedicate a minimum of a half hour in addition to a regular day to maintaining the network. Whenever possible integrate into all professional interactions. When unemployed the work day becomes the Pierson method. Along the way there will be mistakes and disagreements. How one manages these is important. Dale Carnegie offers strong solutions. 

I will explore in the next several blogs Highly Effective Networking: Meet the Right People and Get a Great Job. Should you have any comments or questions please feel free to email me at james.bogden@gmail.com.

References:

Pierson, O. (2009) Highly effective networking: meet the right people and get a great job. Career Press. NJ.