Reeling in Opportunity in the New Work World
Have you ever been on a mission to find something important to you, only to find something else? You may have taken yourself in a totally different direction. I think the word used to describe that experience is “serendipity.”
That happened to me just the other day when I was looking for a picture that was taken many years ago and held particular significance to me. While looking through all the photos from years gone by that were nestled in old boxes, many tattered and torn, I came upon something else I was not looking for. I found a picture of me landing a 100-pound tuna on a deep-sea fishing trip in Hawaii. I never did find the one I was originally searching for, but when I found the image of this huge fish, it really didn’t seem to matter.
As I looked at this photograph, the wheels began to turn in my head. It brought back many memories of traveling to a new place. I had never been to Hawaii, and I was trying my hand at a new experience. Deep-sea fishing was not something I had ever done, and landing this huge catch was a thrill like none other.
I reflected on how the employment market in these very different times might have some strong correlations to how this fishing experience was so different for me. We are all on a new journey of sorts, traveling to a somewhat foreign land, as the New Work World is very different these days. We are all quite ready, I believe, to land that “big catch,” whether it be finding the right job or hiring the right employee.
I believe it all starts with being open to the new journey. I remember having my own apprehensions about deep-sea fishing. That particular day in Hawaii, the water was a bit rocky, and fishing had never really been a big passion of mine. I was with people who had much more skill, and I wanted to take a chance and see what would come of it. Just like in the job market, we tend to do what is familiar to us. I know that had I not gone ahead and put my fears to rest on that fishing trip, I would never be looking at this picture today with a big smile on my face. I’m now able to reflect on how trying something new landed me such a great catch!
Let’s investigate five ways of finding a job that might be like deep-sea fishing in the New Work World.
1. You Need the Right Bait!
I remember my friends on the boat telling me that we had to have the right bait to catch the big fish. How true is that now in our job search? What we need these days has to be different, too. If you are an employee looking for a job, make sure your LinkedIn profile is professional, up to date, streamlined, and written well, with a professional picture at the top. Any relevant references included in the profile might also glean interest from prospective employers. We have to evaluate our social media profiles for professional presentation and remove non-offensive pictures and quotes that could be misinterpreted. The resume has to reflect the right keywords, and the cover letter should speak to why we are a good match for the position to which we are applying.
We might have to cast our line into “new waters” if our industry is not hiring and make the necessary networking contacts to increase our odds of getting interviews. If we are an employer looking to hire, we have to align ourselves with people who can facilitate our search to maximize results, rather than taking us away from other important tasks by going through hundreds of resumes. Employers in the New Work World must search in the right spots for the right candidates to “bite” and conduct the necessary background checks, or work with professionals who can assist in this process. They also need to make sure the skill sets they are seeking are necessary for the position to be executed, or determine whether the right attitude with a related skill set would also work.
2. Have an Attitude of Serendipity
There are times in our lives when we need to be open to the chance events that might take place. Think about when you had to change direction or move to a different spot before a new job or opportunity showed itself. I remember that on the fishing trip, we had to move the boat to different areas many times because the fish were not biting. The same is true in finding your dream job or the right applicant. Submitting a few resumes a week may not get you the results you need for interviews. Interviewing online might require you to consider getting the right lighting, background, or microphone to present yourself in the best possible light.
If you are an employer, consider changing certain educational or experience requirements to hire a candidate from a different industry background where transferable skills might apply, and where a higher salary may not be required.
3. Diversify Your Approach
That day in Hawaii, I remember the captain giving us different directives during our fishing trip. We used a combination of various bait, moved the boat, went far out, and came in closer to shore. If you are a job seeker, only submitting your current resume to online job boards perhaps won’t yield the results it did in the past. You may need a combination of a newly written resume, or more than one, in addition to networking and reaching out to friends and family for contacts that could open new doors. Consider joining professional organizations like Toastmasters or Rotary, or taking online classes to gain new software proficiency that is in higher demand.
Employers might need to take a more team-oriented approach to hiring these days, getting support and training directives from other department heads or more senior, tenured employees. More involvement from current employees in the training process may foster a greater sense of community.
4. Seek Out Your Captain
On that fishing trip in Hawaii, the captain was very involved with the people on the boat. He gave us tips that streamlined our process and enhanced our chances of landing the “big catch.” Whether you are a job seeker or an employer, finding a career coach, consultant, or advisor might allow you to get better results with less frustration and time wasted. Career consultants can advise on strategies you may not have thought of or utilized in the New Work World, which could expedite your progress and help you land your own “big catch” more quickly, allowing you to revel in the joy that aligns with your goals.
5. After You Get a Bite, You Still Need to Land It
I will never forget getting a tug on my line from that huge 100-pound tuna. Other people on the boat had to help bring in that “big catch.” If I had used the same strategy as in a local lake or river, it would have gotten away. The same concept applies if you get through that first interview, online or in person. Make sure you call your references before providing their names to the hiring authority so they understand they might be contacted. There is nothing worse than a prospective employer calling a reference and not hearing back. I have had employers tell me that could be a “red flag,” and they asked me to stop the process on a particular candidate in favor of others.
Send a thank-you note to the company within a reasonable amount of time. In these competitive times, create a 30-60-90-day plan for the second interview or conduct extensive research on the company before meeting others in the interview process. Being able to speak knowledgeably about past or future events or industry markers can help you receive an offer.
You can reel in your own “big catch” in the New Work World and have your own exciting fishing expedition if you change up your journey and sail your own career boat in a new direction. Sometimes when we are looking for one thing, we can find something different and much better by shifting our thinking and mindset. Maybe with that new great job, a trip to Hawaii can be on your bucket list in the near future to celebrate your success.
Be open to a new journey in the New Work World. When you combine a solid plan of action and a positive mindset, knowing what you want and how you are going to achieve it, your ability to create it makes all the difference in your success.
