5 Things You Need to Know About Your Competition For Your Next Job
Posted by Saundra Lee on Thu, Nov 03, 2011 @ 04:49 AM
Whether you are gunning for a promotion or interviewing externally, your competition is steep. The good news is that there are plenty of good opportunities out there but the bad news is that the best companies with the best opportunities are still very picky.
90% of the searches we are working on, the company will not look at a candidate without Big 4 public accounting experience but it does not end there. There is usually a list of 4-6 non-negotiables that the company wants as well.
We Headhunters are use to this but if those contemplating a job search could clearly understand what their competition brings to the table, they stand a better chance to get the job.
Here are 5 things you need to know about your competition.
- Your competition interviews for jobs that never even get posted. In the past, mainly just the more Sr. Level person (150k+) kept networking even while they were gainfully employed. As we progress in our careers we learn the vital importance of networking. In fact, the truth is that your network can be your best asset. Now, with LinkedIn, everyone is embracing the power of networking. Networking is how you will find jobs before they are posted.
- Your competition has positioned themselves as high-hanging fruit. I hate to say it but it is true. All employers want the high-hanging fruit. “High-hanging fruit” is a phrased used to describe the very in-demand, employed candidate that is not posted on the job boards. Usually, these candidates work only with Headhunters and do not respond to postings directly because they are too busy working. A great way to position yourself as “high-hanging fruit” and still be proactive is to optimize your LinkedIn profile to make sure the Recruiter finds you because they are searching LinkedIn. Pull, don’t push!
- Your competition has excellent verbal and written communication skills and they do NOT say so on their resume. Stating you have “excellent verbal and written communication skills” or stating any intangibles on a resume is fluff and does not belong on a resume. The employer does, however, want those skills and finding someone who really does know how to present to a BoD, influence without authority and write a decent report is usually the hardest part of filling a job. We can now help you with that.
- Your competition’s social media works in their favor. An employer will most likely check your Facebook page
and while you can get tricky and change your name or block your wall this is not going to give you any added advantage and might even be seen as a red flag. Use the massive power of social media for good vs. evil.
- Your competition is always looking. Statistically speaking, what are the odds that you are going to come upon the ideal opportunity when you are looking for it, need it or when you are just not that busy? Your competition knows this is not statistically likely and they are always prepared to at least explore all feasible opportunities. Your competition has learned that you just never know. Don’t be surprised if that position you are thinking about posting for just vanishes because your competition always has an eye open for a career move that will increase his/her marketability.
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