Job Shop: Adjust Your Career Search

The unemployment rate is creeping closer to 10 percent according to new information from the Labor Department..

Consumer reporter Michelle Buckman has the latest numbers and advice for job seekers.

Further Information:

Fox 29 consumer reporter Michelle Buckman is always asking her Job Shop "experts" about the secret to getting the gig you want.

Eric Herrenkohl owns a consulting company in Wynnewood. He's also writing a book, 'How to Hire A-Players' and interviewed lots of executives and head-hunters as research.

So Michelle asked him, what are they looking for? Here are more career tips from Eric:

Create a target list of companies and executives. Companies that consistently hire A-players have a target list of people they want to hire. You should have your own target list of executives that you want to meet. Ask people in your network if they know these individuals and if they will introduce you to them. Your preparation will demonstrate that you are an A-player and make it easier for your contacts to assist you in your job search.

Focus on jobs for which you have a passion (or at least real interest). The best companies want to hire talented people who have a passion for their business. Don’t interview out of desperation. Pick companies that line up with your interests and your skills. Then, articulate to these companies why you are a better fit for them than the average job seeker.

Leverage LinkedIn and other social media. Companies that do a great job of recruiting are actively using LinkedIn, Twitter, and other social media tools to find A-players. You should be leveraging these same tools to find the contacts at your companies of choice. LinkedIn ( www.linkedin.com) in particular is a great tool for researching companies and figuring out the specific individuals to whom you need to get introduced.

Once you start networking, don’t stop. Companies that are great at recruiting A-players never stop interviewing people. You should have the same attitude about networking. Most people get frustrated by networking and quit too soon. For example, when you attend a networking event, stay until the very end of the evening. Many of the best conversations and connections from these events come during the last 30 minutes after the crowds have cleared out.

Do your homework. Companies are looking for people who take initiative and don’t require a lot of direction. Demonstrate that you are this kind of person by researching companies before you interview with them. Interviewers hate it when job candidates don’t know anything about their company. Use your research to ask intelligent questions during the interview that distinguish you from the job-seeking throngs.

Know your own accomplishments. When A-player companies interview you, they want to hear detailed explanations of your past accomplishments and results. When describing their past positions, most candidates focus on the work that they did rather than the results that they created. Take the time to rehearse your answer to the question, “Can you please tell me in detail what results you created in your last jobs?”

In an interview, say “We” as well as “I”. Companies that hire A-players want to hire leaders who can help their entire team produce better results. Leaders take pride in their team’s accomplishments more than their own individual accomplishments. As a result, during an interview, make sure to give plenty of credit to the people who worked for you or with you in your previous jobs.

Follow Up. Companies that are great are recruiting stay in touch with good people whether or not they hire them today. Take the same approach in your job search. Write thank you notes, stay in touch, and cultivate the contacts that you make. You have to remind people that you are around so that they remember you when a job opportunity arises.

About Eric Herrenkohl:

Eric Herrenkohl is the author of the upcoming book 'How to Hire A-Players: Finding the Top People for your Team—Even if You Don’t Have a Recruiting Department' (John Wiley & Sons, April 2010). He serves as an expert author for Monster.com. Learn more about Eric, his consulting practice, and his upcoming book at www.herrenkohlconsulting.com