Did you know that over 70% of all new jobs that people get were never even advertised?
They were never on monster/career builder or any other big online job board. They were never advertised in the local newspaper. They were never promoted…anywhere.
When I first heard this little secret, I was shocked. Shocked at first and then delighted. Delighted because it made me realize that I wasn’t limited to the jobs that were being advertised.
There are actually way more opportunities than you think.
So what exactly does this mean for you? This means that if you are willing to approach your job search differently, you just may land a position that is better suited to YOU. Not a general position that is advertised for thousands to apply for.
When I got my last position in nursing informatics, many other nurses in the hospital asked me:
- How I had heard about the position?
- Where was it advertised?
- Etc
But the truth was, I hadn’t seen or heard of the position anywhere. What I had heard was that our hospital was getting CPOE (Computerized Provider Order Entry). This was the same information everyone else at the hospital had heard. The difference is, when I heard about it, I did something about it.
Being a computer geek, I was always interested in nursing informatics. So what did I do? I didn’t search any job boards or newsletters. I went straight to the Nurse Manger who had recently been hired as Director of the CPOE project and I asked her if she needed help. And she did. I applied, interviewed, and the rest is history. Of course it helped that my resume was up to date, I knew how to interview powerfully, and I had been doing research on nursing informatics for years.
The point is, you do not need to always wait for desired positions to be advertised. Start taking actions to position yourself for what you want. Here are just a few suggestions:
- Build a strong “power base” of influential people in your network. This is something I coach on extensively in my career coaching. When you understand how to build and maintain a power base, you will never want for a job again. You will know how to get and stay connected with people who you can help and who can help you with connections and resources whenever you need them.
- Do not be afraid to send your resume and cover letter to recruiters and hiring managers explaining what you are qualified for and what you are looking for.
- Talk about yourself. I am not talking about bragging. People are not mind readers. Let people in your network (friends/family/co-workers/affiliates/acquaintances/past managers who you have strong relationships with) know what you are currently doing and what you are looking for.
- Join industry organizations/associations that you are interested in. Be active in these organizations and be a strong contributor. People will notice.
The point is to be proactive. Do not sit and wait for opportunity to come. You must think of your nursing as a career. It is not about going from job to job. It is about positioning yourself powerfully and professionally. One aspect of career coaching I love is teaching fellow nurses how to tap into the hidden job market. There are possibilities out there that you can benefit from.
So what are you going to do?
Pick one suggestion, make a plan, and then take action.
In the comments below, let me know which action you are going to take.
Talk soon,
Alicia-Joy
[...] from your current gig, but aren’t sure where to start to search for something new? Alicia-joy at Transitions in Nursingrecently wrote up an excellent post about landing a more desirable job. Right off the bat, she tells [...]