Are Career Experts Just Feeding You A Lot Of Rubbish?

Someone asked recently, "Are career experts full of it?" this was my answer: I can only speak for one – me; but YES! Absolutely! That is of course if “it” refers to substance as in a body of knowledge and not substance (eh-hem) as in matter.

Although I can only write as one Career Expert, I am sure there are others like me who will say “we are full of it”. For starters, when advising an individual, the “Positioning” as I like to refer to “it” is where I begin. Positioning is identifying a job or career focus. This covers not only what one’s talents, background and qualifications are, but the job role that should fit them best, the field or industry, and target employers–the specific "customer" for his/her talents, experience etc. Positioning is determined by probing interests, credentials, background, personal attributes, success factors, and values too. “It” is done through the use of various profile systems, any number of assessment tools… and a great deal of discussion.

There is also the “Marketing”. “It” consists of advertising tools - the written and verbal communications conduits that will be used to promote, as we say in marketing, your value and benefit to an employer. Some examples of “it” may include the development of a resume, letter, resume/letter combo, marketing letter, executive bio/summary, value-proposition and lots more.

Finally, there is “Exposure” to the marketplace. “It” may include various marketing channels (i.e. events, job fairs, online portholes, public forums, associations…) and multiple strategies (i.e. networking, targeted mail, referral marketing, database reports, setting up job alerts, spot opportunities, writing articles, volunteerism …) all coordinated to gain maximum exposure. The end-game is the right position, with the right organization; and “it” happens sooner than later, with the least amount of pain involved. So, Yup … speaking for myself, perhaps some others, “I really am full of it!”

Hope this helps!

YT,

Rob

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