He or She will be employed or unemployed but they will be
well branded, present throughout various social media channels, and will be
competitively seeking out new employment opportunities even if they are not
actively searching. Recent studies have shown that although currently employed,
86% of professionals are open to hearing about and/or looking for new
opportunities. These job seekers are not up for just “any” job, they want the
job where they can work “with you” not “for you”, their careers are in motion
and they are looking to make improvements and grow professionally. The economy
is changing and although it is not fully recovered, job seekers are taking
their careers into their own hands on a more regular basis.
So, how will the modern job seeker competitively seek out
new employment even if they are not actively searching? Simple, networking! They
will be the ones making a noticeable positive impact within their network / community.
Think back to those clichéd yet incredibly relevant movies at school dances where
the kid sat in the back waiting for someone to approach them to dance. Without
ever doing anything to get themselves noticed, it wasn’t likely they would be
chosen to dance. The kids who were chosen to dance were the ones who made the
effort to put themselves out there. This doesn’t mean that they were actively
trying to get someone to dance with them, but they were definitely not alone
and in the dark. Ok, maybe that wasn’t the best example but it’s a simple one.
The “modern” Job seeker understands this need to be able to be found in our
increasingly connected world. Without a presence on the social channels, it
will be hard to be found by employers (who are most likely searching for talent
there already). Even the currently employed are expanding their networks on
social media and making their professional presence known to a greater audience
through contribution to industry related networks. This not only helps to grow
their personal and professional networks, but it helps them to stay educated
and up to date on their specific industry.
Let’s try another example, how about dating? I think that applies
pretty well when you consider a relationship and the comfort and happiness
being sought after in that relationship. In order to find that we date other
people. When it comes to a job, comfort and happiness are often sought after as
well, but in order to get that we need to connect and interview. These initial
contacts / interviews are often like a first date, where both parties involved
are interested in finding out if the other is a possible match. Traditionally
the job interview was viewed as only for the benefit of the employer, however, today
the interview is as much for the job seeker as it is for the employer.
Job seekers, especially those who are employed and searching know that they have
options, and are really looking for the ideal places to work, the ones that
suit their personality, interests, and career ambitions.
The modern job seeker is not only performing research to
impress an interviewer, but to decide if it is their ideal place of employment.
Much like employers, the individuals searching have access to a connected world
like they never have before. They are able to find the information they want,
and position themselves in many different ways so that they can attain their
goals. If talent isn’t interested in what the employer has to offer, they won’t
apply. This discovery approach by job seekers is also placing them on the fast
track to attain referrals through the internal connections they are making
while researching.
The modern job seeker is mobile, versatile, and looking at
potential employers from multiple angles. They are looking to see not only how
the companies they apply to are performing, but for their culture, their brand,
and what others think of said brand. Thanks to advancing technology and an
improving economy, they are more informed about companies’ business, culture,
employees, etc. and are becoming empowered to be more “choosey” these days.