So, what is the difference between job seekers who achieve success and those that keep toiling away day after day, week after week, and month after month without landing a job? It is whether you approach your job search as a Hunter or a Farmer.
When compared to Farmers, Hunters are 87% more likely to find a job in this economy with key differences being in their qualitative approach to pursuing opportunities and their prioritization of using a professional network. So who are the Hunters and who are the Farmers - and which one are you?
Hunters are extremely focused and very selective; they stalk few opportunities and only ones they consider just right for them; and most important they effectively leverage their professional networks to work for them.
Hunters expand and leverage their professional network every day of the week to find opportunities and consider time spend networking exponentially more important to their job search than depending on job sites.
Hunters use online social media and profiles, with references and testimonials, as tools to enable their networks and develop a brand and Subject matter Expertise in their field.
Hunters manage their contacts personally and independently, outside of company systems.
Hunters are more selective and apply for fewer opportunities and only those opportunities considered fulfilling or critical to their career roadmap, and they are twice as likely to follow up interviews – and even after being rejected.
Hunters will tailor their resumes and cover letters for each position to stand out in a crowd, and they will focus on showing not only why they are qualified, but more so why they are the most qualified candidate for that job, and why they want to work specifically for that company and not its competitors.
Hunters cultivate, grow and contribute to their professional networks on an ongoing basis, and they place as much if not more emphasis on helping others rather than only looking to only themselves.
Hunters are more than twice as likely to consult mentors on their job search, and they are likely to seek out and pay for a resume and professional advice and attend paid seminars and networking events, rather than basing their job search exclusively around free advice, services, job fairs and no-fee events.
Farmers are seed-sowers; they cover a lot of ground, exploring numerous opportunities and place more value on broad, rather than qualitative searches.
Farmers are more conscious about key-word searches and not whether this is a job they will qualify for and enjoy.
Farmers use job boards to find opportunities and consider jobs sites more important than networking.
Farmers may use online profiles, but primarily to market themselves
Farmers keep address books or contact lists on company servers, making the data vulnerable to loss
Farmers post and pray; apply for many jobs, even those perceived as low matches
Farmers are more likely to use the same all-purpose resume and cover letter for each applied-for position.
Farmers only use their professional networks as needed.
Farmers rarely consult others on their job search or pay for a professional resume or valuable career advice.
Now that you know the facts you choose whether you want to be a farmer or HUNTER.
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