Job Search Made Easy (Even for Introverts) - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Job Search Made Easy (Even for Introverts) - Introvert Whisperer Job Search Made Easy (Even for Introverts) While launching a job search may not rank in difficulty with rocket science, it has become increasingly difficult and more complex. If you add on top of that some Introvert tendencies, like a reluctance to “put yourself out there,” you are starting to nudge the scales towards seriously tough. If you are on the brink of launching a job search or have started one, hit the pause button before doing anything else. There are some simple guidelines you can follow to ensure you get the results you want, without the standard Introvert cringe: 1. Don’t Cherry-Pick Job Search Advice There are volumes on job search advice. If you pay attention, you’ll notice there are themes or things that get repeated. This should be a huge indicator that you need to do this “thing.” Too often I see job seekers decide to skip what they are being told to do. This will have dire consequences. 2. Don’t Do Everything at Once You will get overwhelmed, especially if you are an Introvert. You have to figure out your keywords, branding, LinkedIn profile, Facebook, Twitter, resume, online job sites, the latest and greatest job search tool, finding recruiters, interview prep, salary study, body language, handshake, new wardrobe, company research, networking and attending business events. Long list? That’s just to name a few. The deal is, if you attempt to bite off too much at once, you’ll choke or die trying. (Like this thought? Tweet it!) Start by being abundantly clear on one or two  â€œjob types” you are pursuing. You’d be shocked at how very few job seekers have real clarity. Then, work on a targeted resume. 3. It’s All About Connecting I deliberately put this in the middle, as Introverts really like to avoid this one (it’s the cherry-picking I told you about in #1). Most likely, you won’t find a job via a posted job. I’m sure someone has landed a job this way, but no one I know has been hired solely by pursuing a posted job. That means you and your resume have to connect to a real, live person. You can do this primarily through referrals and introductions from the people you know. People hire people. The online job search comforts Introverts because they don’t have to connect to a person. It’s a false sense of comfort. Start out to build your confidence. Set up coffee with one person you know so you can let them know what you’re looking for and see if they can introduce you to someone in your targeted company. Rinse and repeat. You will build confidence by doing this one at a time. 4. Figure Out YOUR Competitive Advantage You must think you have something to offer or you wouldn’t be pursuing a job. Why you? What is the thing that will set you apart from everyone else? You have to get it first or no one else will. If you can figure out your competitive advantage, you can translate that into everything from your resume to your LinkedIn profile. We are all unique, even if we do the same job as a thousand other people. 5. Don’t Take Things Personally You will discover a complete lack of etiquette out there. People don’t return emails or phone calls, they fail to follow up after interviews and they expect you to drop things just because they are hiring. You must pick up the slack and make the phone calls until you get a real human and do superhuman rescheduling. It’s not because they don’t like you; it’s because hiring someone takes a huge bite out of their schedule, and business must go on. Oh well. As a fellow Introvert, your key to a flawless job search is to connect with people, which isn’t always easy. But if you take it slow and easy, trust most of what you read on the job search and know you are an asset, you’ll love the results. This post originally appeared on JobMob. Go to top Which of these tips could help your job search go more smoothly? Share your thoughts in the comments! Image: Flickr Bottom-line â€" I want to help you accelerate your career â€" to achieve what you want by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my 4 Building Blocks to Relationships eBookâ€" the backbone to your Networking success and fantastic work relationships.   Grab yours by visiting: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.