Proceed With Caution

In work, as in life, we face dilemmas every day. For every question, there are often as many answers as there are opinions. When the question is, "How do I get hired?" the answers can, and do, change constantly, depending on the trends of the moment, the industry, the organization, the area, and, obviously, the candidate.

Sifting through the flood of ever changing suggestions and expert opinions to find that winning combination of common sense, innovation, and smart business strategy can be a daunting task for even the most intelligent and motivated job seeker.

There is no 'one-size-fits-all' when it comes to career planning, but there is 'one-size-fits-none'. I say this because it's so very important for job seekers to carefully pick and choose which advice to follow, and which to ignore, when seeking new strategies for their job searches. Not all of what you hear or read will be credible, reliable or advisable, so choose carefully.

I caution you to be wary when adopting new strategies to your job search. Ask yourself some key questions:
• Is it congruent with your personal belief system? (Remember the Golden Rule!)
• Does common sense tell you it’s a good idea? If not, there’s probably a reason you never heard it suggested before!
• Is there a better way to apply the advice for your particular career path?
• Is it right for YOU? Your personal strengths and weaknesses will determine how effectively you can apply any given suggestion. What works for an extrovert, for example, could be damaging to an extreme introvert, and so forth.
• Consider the source, but realize even great sources are occasionally wrong.

As an example, Fortune Magazine recently ran a cover story titled, "How To Find A Job." Along with a lot of great ideas, the article included some unfortunate suggestions.

Candidates were advised to use interviews as an opportunity to gather intel on an organization; then offer the company’s competition this insider information in exchange for a meeting. This behavior is unethical, and a display of questionable morals is never a good tactic for a job seeker. Many companies would quite justifiably call their competitor to report such a candidate, thus eliminating any chance of a job offer from either company.

Another recommendation from the article was for candidates to follow up after interviews by sending the hiring manager links to relevant articles. This is good, but it only goes halfway. Summarizing key points from the articles and making recommendations is a better demonstration of your problem solving skills and initiative.

Ultimately only you know what tactics will work best in your job search, and in your life. Only by being selective and remaining true to your own standards will you find success.