Every job fair in the past 18 months which I have attended or heard of has had more senior-level people attending. So your ‘competition’ is increasing. What should you do?
Tip 1. It’s who knows you, not just who you know.
You need to involve your current network effectively, of course. But now is also the time to expand it. Go for quality, not quantity! Connect via professional groups you belong. Add in LinkedIn or Twitter to increase your reach and to show you are using current tools.
Networking is the most common way anyone with extensive experience – and all of us on the north side of 35 – get jobs. People know you, they recommend you – and suddenly you are a top performer again, not just another expensive candidate.
Not sure how to ask for help? Watch this video:
Tip 2. Attend Job Fairs.
Yes, really – and not just because this is the ClearedJobs.Net blog. Job Fairs offer you a chance to catch up with the market. To meet recruiters at companies you know of and those you never knew existed. To network with other attendees. You can learn a lot that will help you even if there is not an immediately obvious job match.
Do your homework in advance so you know the companies attending and their needs. Go in with plenty of business cards and your best resume. Talk to the people you see around you and learn from them. Take advantage of any seminars or resume reviews or other services they offer.
Tip 3. Set up your own ‘job club.’
Get together with others in your field or across the government contracting spectrum. Meet regularly and help each other with job search ideas. Trade leads. You might also consider attending one of the local job search groups. Companies call this ‘co-opetition’. I call this smart. You support each other, you learn, you find the right job faster.
Originally published in ClearedJobs.net
