The Lazy Guide to Strategic Job Hunting

If you clicked on this hoping it's a guide for lazy job hunters, you'll be sorely disappointed. There is no such thing as a lazy job hunter who's successful in any strategic job hunt. Job hunting is a game - a strategy game. You don't need to be the hardest worker to win it, but you do need to be strategic and smart. So if you're lazy, you 110% need this guide! If you're not lazy, congrats on being a few steps ahead of your competitors!

Unfortunately and fortunately (depending on your philosophy toward work), hard work does not equal success in this game. Some people come to me when they're at the end of their ropes. They've spent the last few months to spruce up their resume, 'network', send loads of applications and even attended interviews... But still not get the results they were hoping for. It can be very discouraging, especially if you don't know what went wrong.

Although this group of people are not beyond my help, it's actually the worst time to engage a career coach.

Why? They really need it and they're desperate now... Firstly, job hunting is not a one-off event! It is a life long journey. You need to always be open. No matter how busy I am, I wouldn't say no to a potential client or opportunity(unless they're really weird, rude or suspicious). I might say not now, maybe, let's touch base again, or I'll even recommend them to someone else or point them to another resource. You may not be a business owner, but you are a business of one - yourself! Are you constantly open for business?

Secondly, you really need three things to be successful in your job search - time, money and options. You need time to plan, strategise, network and advance. Just like Rome wasn't build in a day, your network needs time to grow. You can't expect a cold Linkedin connection to turn into a coffee chat and turn into a job offer within a week. It could take months, and even years! Money needs no explanation. Yes, there's the obvious expenses like your interview suit, Linkedin premium for job hunters, travel expenses and coaching services. However, you have mouths to feed and bills to pay. How long can you last realistically without a job? How many months of savings do you need to plan ahead? Any negotiation expert will tell you that in any negotiation, the person with the most options wins. The same goes for job hunting. Don't be gunning for or be satisfied with just one option.

Lastly, when you come to a career coach as a last option, you would have reached the point of 'I'll take anything! Get me out of this job hunting hell!' You cannot take another rejection or closed door. The pain of job hunting would have taken its toll on you and you just want to end the pain.

Hence, you will shortchange yourself and take that job you are on the fence about. You are a unique and talented professional. You will be a valuable addition to the right company. Somewhere out there, someone is looking for someone exactly like you! Imagine if we could have worked together at the start of the journey. We could have planned ahead and made sure the journey will be one where you can grow and reach your goals.

That's why you need to be strategic when it comes to job hunting. I cannot stress this enough. Your career is a strategy game.

You cannot win it without strategy. Good strategy game players don't think of their next move when their turn comes. They are always thinking a few steps ahead! If you know of someone who did it without strategy, they are probably extremely lucky and chance was on their side. Most people only think of their next career move when their turn (retrenchment, industry changes, new boss, burnout and so on) comes. Can you really afford to leave it to chance?

Here are some Dos and Don'ts for strategic job hunting, based on a text exchange I had with a good friend who was asking me for advice:

TIP 1: Cover all grounds and cast your net wide.

DO: apply directly to companies AND work with a specialist agency recruiter

Good agency recruiters may have access to unadvertised jobs and useful market information

DON’T: stop interviewing or limit yourself to a few options just because it’s tiring to go through the interview process

Yes, it is time consuming but you’re investing into your next job which you have to spend 40 hours/week for the next few years. As the Chinese saying goes 先苦后甜 first bitter then sweet??

Of course there are exceptions to the above, such as if you’re not actively looking and have been headhunted for the role which gives you a higher bargaining power because of your perceived value and lack of desperation... ??that’s why #networking is so important!

TIP 2: Be open and don't limit your options

An interview is not a 1 way street where you’re trying to impress the recruiter or hiring manager to get the job. It’s a 2 way conversation.

DO: Meet your potential employers and key leaders in person before making up your mind about an opportunity.

Choose the person you would be happy to work with and can grow with. An opportunity may look good/bad on paper or over the phone but nothing beats an in person meeting.

DON’T: Stop interviewing until you have an offer you want to accept! Just because you’re already in process with your dream company and things are ‘looking positive’ does not mean you will get the job. If you've been banking on that company and they do not offer you the role, you would have to start from scratch again.

Do you think the company will stop interviewing other candidates just because they’ve met you, their dream candidate? :)

TIP 3: Do be careful if you are job hunting while still in your current job

Lots of things go on behind the scenes when you’re interviewing.

What if word gets out that you’re looking? In this text exchange, my friend has a valid concern. When you are actively job hunting, it may leak out! ??

In my years as a recruiter, I’ve heard candidate names being revealed in phone conversations, during bathroom or pantry sessions, and even openly in front of entire teams. Curious why? There are many reasons, and one of it is when you’re asking around for what other people think about a certain person(aka indirect referrals).

Or a recruiter who can’t be trusted? If you're considered a good candidate, recruiters may send your resume to their clients to see if they bite. I know of a recruiter who accidentally sent a candidate's resume to the candidate's manager! The manager was of course enthusiastic about this person, not knowing that this was already someone in their team. The poor recruiter had to make up some excuse about how this person was no longer available. #lol

Moral of the story: make sure you can trust your recruiter and that you have a good relationship with them.

TLDR version: You will never get a job being lazy! Be strategic...

My last tip? Work with an experienced career coach who can help you come up with a career game plan! You want a tried and tested short cut? This is the laziest but smartest tip I have for you lazy people out there... :D

Why I'm different from other career coaches :

• You want someone who walks the talk. By being strategic I've gotten 90% of my jobs through networking and not the traditional painful way.
• I've worked as an agency recruiter and in house recruiter for both listed and small companies. That means I have interviewed countless of job hunters like you. I know what works and what doesn't.
• I'm an ICF certified coach and have a 7 year track record of working with hundreds of clients to reach their career goals using both 1:1 and group coaching.
• I'm also a corporate trainer specialising in communication skills such as business storytelling, presentation skills and productivity - all the skills you will need to get ahead in your career.
• I genuinely care. I know job hunting is not an easy journey, and I would love to walk this journey with you. :)

Want to work with me? I'm enrolling new clients for my #StrategiseYourCareer program. Message me directly or email me on [email protected] if you're interested. I only accept a small number of clients each intake as I want to focus on your progress and success. The pen's in your hand, let's write your career story together :)

I'm also a Linkedin Open Networker, so I invite you to connect with me.

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