Confused In Your Job Search? Take A Step Back To Find What Works For You

Don’t fall for cookie-cutter advice!

Do you believe in everything you read on the Internet?

It seems many people in career transition do. Unintentionally, but they fall into this trap and get confused or stuck.

A quick scroll on LinkedIn will yield conflicting advice such as:

• Make a one-page resume VS. A resume is always two pages
• Write a custom cover letter VS. Cover letters are dead
• Connect with everyone VS. Only connect with people you know

So… what do you do as a job seeker to get the results you want?

The Human Element

Just like the human resources field is not a science, career transition is not black and white. There are no exact rules that apply to everyone in every situation because we’re dealing with humans.

Of course, it’s always the people! People do different things and bring exceptions to the rules! So the first point to keep in mind is that there are no rules for your job search. You can see the advice as best practices that change depending on many factors.

For example, the hiring manager of an IT startup may prefer a one-page resume with some colours and graphics because it’s easier to spot the information they need and is looking for originality. On the contrary, a hiring manager of a government organization will want to see a traditional two-page resume in plain font and layout in a way that’s more aligned with their organizational culture.

The debate about cover letters is a funny one. Most people say that nobody reads them, but others say that you should make one for every job application. I usually go with a consultant’s most common answer: it depends. First of all, read the job ad very well because there are organizations that request one and you’ll be disqualified if you don’t include it. On the other hand, regardless of the company, if you’re really interested in a particular job and you think you’ll stand out by sending a cover letter, go ahead and write it. A well-written cover letter won’t hurt your application.

As for “connecting with everyone on LinkedIn” — that’s entirely up to you. You might be an avid networker, comfortable with connecting with anyone who sends you an invitation. Maybe you’re building followers because you’re a digital marketing professional. In contrast, what if you’re an electrical engineer and a more private person? You’ll probably want to keep a small circle of quality contacts to have one-on-one conversations. The exact same connection strategy will not prove fruitful for both cases because the professions, preferences, and objectives for networking are completely different.

Two tips for the same person

A few years ago, I mentored a woman who was new to Canada. We shared the same profession in human resources and specializations in organizational development and corporate training.

In one of my initial meetings with her, she wanted my opinion about joining different professional associations. In Canada, within the field of human resources, you can find associations for human resources professionals (CPHR Canada or HRPA, depending on where you live), as well as more specialized ones in Learning & Development, Health & Safety, Recruitment, Organizational Development, Payroll, etc. Each offers distinct benefits to its members for an annual fee.

My mentee had the idea of joining three associations. But I immediately told her “no, don’t join, unless you want to throw $1500.” I’m not against any association but wanted her to think more about her career path first.

Mentee: — …but Liliana, everyone out there has told me to join these professional associations. They post about attending webinars and networking events. I feel I am behind and won’t get a job in my field if I don’t join.

Me:— Well, you’re not “everyone out there”. Your career has been unique so far and will continue to be unique here too. In order to make a more informed decision, you can do a self-assessment and state your career goals as specifically as possible. What type of work are you really passionate about? How do you picture your progress within your desired career path? Then, explore what the associations offer and match those activities with your goals. Some people don’t join these associations and are still very successful.

In the following months, we did some more work together to identify her desired fields and interests. She attended events organized by different associations and groups, networked with diverse professionals, and took online courses. Once she was certain about specializing in learning and development, I told her that she could join the association in that field only if she thought it would be beneficial. This ended up being the best approach for her and she’s now an accomplished learning designer.

So you can see that I said “don’t join” and “join” to the same person at different points in time. I was able to personalize the advice according to their circumstances and after they did their homework.

The most important question

As a job seeker, you will find tons of generic, cookie-cutter advice online that may not apply to your specific needs. Remember that you are not a generic person for everything you read online.

Think of the available advice as a buffet. You can taste many different foods, but only a selection of them will be best for your health. You don’t have to eat all the food; just be selective about your choices. Start by knowing your body and thinking why you’re eating a particular food.

To enhance your critical thinking, the most important question would be:

Does this advice make sense to me, in my current situation?

If your answer is ‘yes’, personalize it further for yourself. Align it with your values and goals. Make an action plan with deadlines. Take time to evaluate if it has worked. If it has, then see if it makes sense to continue with those actions or you need to tweak them for better results.

Oftentimes, in your job search you’ll need to use a combination of techniques and actions to maximize your chances — a balanced diet!

Lastly, if you have tried a number of actions and nothing seems to work, perhaps it’s a good idea to find someone like a career coach or mentor who understands your unique circumstances. Don’t be afraid to seek help when needed!

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