With all of America coming down from a political hangover, it only seems appropriate that everyone should be looking for lessons learned. Democrats are reveling in their victory, and listing successful tactics to adhere to in 2016. Republicans are looking for what they could do better next time. The rest of America is seemingly happy that the whole thing is over, and a decision has been made. They can go back to non-political issues, prepare for the upcoming holidays and regain their television commercial breaks for more important things like prescription drug and Travelocity ads.
There are, however, a few things that those searching for jobs can learn from the political process. In a FOX Business article, Why You Need to Run your Job Search Like a Presidential Campaign, the author describes what aspects of a campaign would be helpful for the everyday job seeker. Let me highlight three of the tactics that are the most important.
Lobby for Support
Not only are you your harshest critic, you are also your greatest publicist. No one is going to present you in a better light than you are yourself. When I lost my job earlier this year, I was devastated. The day after it happened, I picked myself up, and contacted every single person in my rolodex and started my campaign. By providing my network of friends and colleagues with my updated resume and goals for future employment, I was not an army of one. I had supporters for my cause. Keep them well prepared though. The less work your advocates have to put into passing along your information, the better. A well-packaged pitch for employment can go a long way.
Know your Constituency
Who will be reading your resume? Do they need to know ALL of the details listed on my resume? What should I highlight? These may seem like obvious questions, but many times job seekers forget to think of the big picture. Your audience wants to hire someone that will fit into and contribute to their team. Put yourself in the hiring manager’s shoes. If you were the boss in your career field, would you want to know their past ten years of employment to include serving tables at Applebee’s in college? Probably not. Streamline your resume, and for heaven’s sake, if it is seven pages long, edit!
Kiss the Babies
Networking is one of the most important aspects of the job search process. Connection with an employer whether online or in person can really make the difference. A genuine connection can help make you memorable and help provide an edge over other candidates. Asking questions and following up after an interview are both excellent ways to set yourself apart from the competition.
Erika Wonn is a communications analyst and proud veteran in Washington, DC. Follow Erika on Twitter @erikawonn
