Job Status is Not a Skill

The air’s filled with optimism when the New Year begins. It’s contagious. My hope is that the millions of job seekers will start a celebratory countdown towards their first day back to work. I’m excited for the numbers of people who will land their dream job in 2011. Are you?

Until then, my goal is to help get people focused on what lies ahead and leave the past behind. Start charting a fresh course for a new tomorrow, where the ability to pay bills and professional dignity is restored. Now here comes the tough questions…Can job seekers get rid of the “I’m Unemployed” status in the interview? Can they focus on the expertise and talents needed compete in today’s job market? Will they create a personal brand based on transferable skill sets? It is time to shed the baggage of being unemployed. As I often tell my clients, “Employers are not hiring people because they need a job.” “They are hiring the best qualified candidate for the position.”

For example, I had the pleasure of speaking with a gentleman who has been in the financial job market for over a year. What I love most about our exchange is that he reached out to me via Facebook. We initially met at a ‘Tweetup” in 2009. Employed at the time and kept in touch after his job loss. Social Media and face-to-face networking at its best.

Fast forward to our recent discussion, my financial buddy wanted to chat about his impending interview. He had concerns about how long it has taken to find a job. I quickly assured him that the market is not the same market from 5 years ago. No longer is there a stigma attached to unemployed persons who are job searching for an extended period. Unless an employer has had their head in the sand since 2008, they should know the average time to land a new job has grossly changed.

Focus on the accomplishments from earlier work experience. Translate the impact of those achievements into examples that directly predict future performance under similar circumstances. Discuss what you have done since your last job. Detail volunteer work under the umbrella of community outreach. Share how your networks of colleagues are intact via social media and how they can serve as excellent references.

In other words, stop classifying yourself as an unemployed candidate and start acting like the most qualified candidate…for every interview.

Make it Happen in 2011!