By Mark Moreau, Executive Search Managing Director at True North Human Capital
Having worked in the recruitment industry for the last 15 years I have seen market conditions fluctuate between the good, the bad and the darn right ugly and I have endeavoured to support job hunters through all that’s been thrown at them. Today as the world begins to turn and the green shoots become saplings the battle for talent is undoubtedly hotting up and it is imperative that candidates are aware of the need to embrace a strategic and proactive approach to securing their next dream role.
As with any cutting edge marketing function there are now a multitude of channels to consider when taking a product to market and the same can now be said for individuals embarking on their hunt for a new job opportunity. Your route to market used to be clear and defined but is now clouded by the introduction of online job boards, countless recruitment companies, direct sourcing models, RPO’s and In-House recruitment teams – where exactly do you start?
Unfortunately the simplicity of browsing the appointments section of the Sunday Times, which previously acted as a trusted barometer of the job market, is no longer viable. Similarly the monopoly imposed by the cartel of big 4 search firms is now over as their antiquated processes and fee structures are being eroded away by the plethora of “niche” and “boutique” consultancies cropping up on a global basis. The resultant situation is that your route to market has been diluted and as everyone begins to poke their head above the parapet, post economic crisis, confusion reigns and common sense has seemingly been thrown out the window.
There is no stronger commercial message that that of a prospective employee reaching out to a peer within a key competitor requesting the opportunity to discuss whether or not there is a match in terms of their skill set and the client’s requirements. You come without an introductory fee attached and at this stage, although speculative, you will likely secure an informal meeting to discuss your capabilities. It’s amazing how many of these coffees culminate in a job offer, maybe not immediately but the seed is sown and you are now front of mind.
No matter what your view on the recruitment industry, and I have heard them all, it plays and will continue to play an invaluable role in progressing peoples careers. Your role as a job seeker is to build relationships with those that you trust or have been referred to you from your network. Of course this involves taking the time to drink copious amounts of coffee and kissing the proverbial frogs before you find your prince, but once you have got one hone that relationship for the long term as trust me it will pay dividends in the future. Avoid playing recruiters off against each other and ensure that any introductions made are sanctioned by you and don’t cross over with other search businesses or indeed direct approaches that you have made.
So there you have it Omni Channel Job Hunting – Ignite your network, Identify your target companies and approach directly and lastly understand whom you want to partner with in the recruitment market place. If you take a balanced approach to all of the above I am confident that you will be ahead of the curve and in a great position to secure your next role.