Chasing your tail?

[Janine Moon]

So how’s that job search going?

I facilitate a monthly networking group–Execunet–for those who are in job search mode and/or who recognize that connecting, developing and maintaining a lifelong network is critical in today’s work world. Some people don’t get it: when they leave, they say “Nice to be here, but I hope I don’t see you next month!” Others do get it, and use the meeting as a beginning step in expanding their lifelong network.

We’re creatures of habit, so maybe it shouldn’t be surprising that so many folks looking for their next job use the same old approaches and tactics that worked the last time around–back in the 20th century… way back, actually. So, when you’re looking, just know that hanging your job search on these things is really ineffective…a lot like a dog chasing its tail!

“I’m an executive”

What you were called then doesn’t mean a whole lot, except to you, obviously, as you continue to define who you are by your former title.

So making it a point of dropping “executive” and “C-level” and “Cxx” into your conversation and expecting people to treat you special (and be honest here, if you didn’t think it did, why would you use it in the first place?) isn’t effective or helpful. It dates you. It says you’re still living in the past. Emphasizing what your title was as opposed to what your value is says “I paid my dues and deserve to be at the top of the heap” or “I’m important, so know who you’re talking to.”

Other executives may be interested in hearing this…most likely for mirroring or measurement purposes. Otherwise, it’s really irrelevant. While there was a time when you were defined by your title, that’s no longer the case: you are defined by what you bring to the workplace, by your skills and talents and characteristics and contributions.

Hiring managers (C-level included) want to know what you can do for them…not how great you used to be, or how high up the ladder you climbed. When you tell your stories about results, outcomes, growth and value you can make it very plain that you bring strategic-level results and visionary leadership. And that’s what translates to “what you can do for them.”

POINT: Talk your value, not your (former) title.

“I have an MBA”

That’s great. An MBA has value in and of itself. But what have you learned since you got that degree?

Work is driven by information and ideas. The amount of information–new information–available to us every 30 days is staggering: it’s about as much as two Washington Monuments. We can’t even measure it linearly, only exponentially. Look at it this way: in 1980, the information available to us as a world was about the size of the Washington Monument. Now, every 30 days we have double that available.** Not all good probably, not all valuable maybe, but available nonetheless. So an MBA, as the end-all-and-be-all statement of business knowledge has a life span of, say, the time it takes you to walk across the stage as you collect your degree.

Of course your MBA is valuable…just don’t think you can stop there. It may be most useful today to get you through the paper sort of resumes, but it says nothing about how current you are. So, use your MBA as a distinction, yes, but more importantly as a jumping-off-point for your agility and ongoing learning around business, building teams and leading change.

POINT: Talk your currency, not your degree.

“My resume tells the story!”

To you, maybe, but it’s your story that gets lost in the pile of paper collected for a job posting.

The best use of a resume is to follow you…not precede you! Because when it follows you, the person who reads it has already met you and so begun the process of knowing, liking and trusting you.

If you must send your resume to become part of a stack of paper, then you also must recognize that how it tells your story is the key to getting you to the other stack, the “interview” pile. Effective resumes summarize, highlight, spotlight, accentuate and underscore your value in concise, carefully chosen and customized language, and do so in the first third of the first page. On average, your resume, might get a seven-second read; your goal is to have your paper-description fit the job description like a glove…so you get a longer read and make it into that more desirable stack of paper!
POINT: Talk your fit, not your life story.

Little shifts can make for big impacts. Be intentional in your approach, stop chasing your tail, and get more effective results: focusing on your value, not your persona makes you memorable!

**from the video, Shift Happens!, by Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod

[Janine Moon]

Muralidharan: thanks for taking the time to post a comment. I'm glad that you found the posting relevant, and I'm hoping that you are doing the most effective things to move yourself forward. Best wishes!

[Janine Moon]

Hi, Jill: thanks for your comment...and I'm glad to hear that you're ready to jump into the networking opportunity! Execunet is a good group, and the local networking groups are (in my view!), the most important resource available to folks in the market. Good luck to you!

[Jill Vipond]

Hi Janine. Great info. I am a member of Execunet, although I have not devoted much time other than reading through the updates I receive via email. As relocation is not an option for me I have been hesitant to move forward; however I did recently (2 days ago) sign up to join the Arizona Chapter. Networking is important, further proven by my being able to connect with you just now. I shall be looking for your name in future correpsondence I receive.

[Muralidharan Chennai India]

Hi Janeen,
This is a wonderful read and is so relevant as many of us, me included are 'chasing the tail' today.. Thanks for the timely inputs. "you are defined by what you bring to the workplace, by your skills and talents and characteristics and contributions" - is bang on and so is "your goal is to have your paper-description fit the job description like a glove…so you get a longer read and make it into that more desirable stack of paper!
POINT: Talk your fit, not your life story."....
Thanks...
Muralidharan