Most people looking for work don’t get much feedback. And that leaves a big black hole for figuring out how to improve your job search strategies and materials.
Resumes go into the black hole of the Internet. Online applications disappear into the ether. Cover letters are acknowledged. Interviews that go by without comment despite the earnest, timely thank you notes that you send out immediately after you’ve met. Sales conversations that pile up without a last word
Is anybody home? (and what ever happened to common courtesy and acknowledgement)
How did I do? Why didn’t I get the job? What’s wrong with me?
Better yet, what was right about me? Prove that I’m not a good fit!
It’s true that no feedback is feedback. You either get hired or you don’t.
So, how can you get in front of people and get hired?
By reaching out and asking for feedback
Now, if you remember anything about my career coaching philosophy, then you know I believe you have to get in front of people to get hired. And one of the ways you get noticed is to ask for feedback. Even when they didn’t interview you. (Don’t get me started with what to do when you did get an interview… I’ll get there in a moment.)
Okay, so you have done your research and you know you’re a good fit and you don’t get an interview. What do you do? Make contact, for goodness sake. Send an email. Pick up the phone. Find out what’s up. Because you have to show employers that you are serious about getting hired. And you want to know what’s up.
Back in the day when people used the phone as part of a job search, I always called up potential employers. One of the boldest calls I ever made was to a hiring manager who hadn’t interviewed me. (I had his name because it was given in the job posting). When I got him on the phone, I introduced myself and explained that I was calling to find out the status of the particular position. Filled, thank you very much. And then I asked him why he hadn’t interviewed me. By then, he had pulled out my resume and I had explained a bit about my qualifications (so he would know that I was a match for the job. And you know what happened? He paused and to my amazement he said, why didn’t we interview you?! We both laughed. I don’t have a happy ending to this story where I tell you that he hired me. What I got was: a) satisfaction of knowing that I was a good fit, b) new muscle to call employers and introduce myself, and c) a contact that I could use to make other introductions and referrals for me, one that could say that I had chutzpah and that I was a serious candidate. I still feel good about having made that phone call!
Now what about you? Where are opportunities for you to get feedback?
Let’s start with what’s easy. You were interviewed and you didn’t get the job. Regardless of whether it’s a phone or in-person interview, you have a warm contact (or contacts). Now it’s your turn to make a call back. Find out what they saw in the candidate that was hired. Find out what you were missing. And get yourself a lead or three. Tell them you’re serious about working in that industry in that type of position and ask who they can refer you to or which companies they can recommend. Get names. Get contact information. And make new contacts.
Every time you have an interview, you have added to your network. Make sure you nurture and grow that contact and keep your network alive. Doing so will serve you now and in the future. You never know when you might want to circle back with someone to find out what’s available.
Now, if you didn’t make it to the interview stage, it can be harder to find a live person you can speak to. Let’s get inventive and think about how to reach out. Is there someone listed as a hiring manager? Is there information in LinkedIn about who got the job you were after? Can you talk to that person and find out what they offer that you don’t? What are ways for you to learn more about what makes someone a good match? What are ways for you to add to your network and get more visible in that industry.
Remember my mantra: get noticed, get visible, make connections, and get hired. What’s the first step: MAKE CONTACT WITH A REAL PERSON!
Do you really want feedback???
You may be thinking that you don’t really want feedback. Because it could be negative. What if it’s not glowing? What if they say I wasn’t a good fit for the job? What if they mention that I was scattered and disorganized or that I didn’t seem to know what the job entailed?
Imagine: you might get some information you can use to interview better next time! You might also get insights about where you are a fit and where you’re not. Wouldn’t that be useful to your job search?
Here’s the bottom line: when you reach out to people, you build your network. When you get feedback, you get insights into what you’re doing and how you’re presenting yourself. It’s true that what you hear is only one person’s opinion. So, take it with a grain of salt. But know that that person has influence in the hiring ladder and that person likely reflects the culture of the organization you’re pursuing. By making contact, you’ll be able to add substance to your sense of a company and it’s hiring criteria.
And if it feels intimidating to ask for feedback from the horse’s mouth, contact a friend or a friendly coach so you can practice making that phone call. You’ll want to be ready with a simple introduction that captures your essence and skills and you’ll want talking points to know what you are going to ask and make sure you remember to ask for a referral!
Contact me. I always return calls and emails. And, I offer workshops where you can get constructive feedback you can put to use right away.
https://lauraparadisecoaching.com/new-series-learn-to-proclaim-your-value/