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Courting Your Career – lessons from dating applied to the job search
Are you the job seeker who, when asked what you’re good at, or what you want to do, says, “I am really good at a lot of things. I have many skills, such as X, Y and Z, and I am a quick learner, so I can really do anything and I am open to just about any job.”
If that sounds familiar, it is time to re-work your pitch! As Shawn Graham, author of Courting Your Career, notes in the book, being willing to do anything is akin to saying you would date just about anyone, as long as they have teeth!
Shawn’s useful and informative book helps make the job search process more accessible to readers by comparing a job search to a search for a mate.
The first step for both processes? Figure out who you are and what you want! Look beyond physical appearance and cast a wide enough net to include a variety of types of companies to “romance.”
While some may believe that “fate” should play a big role in their love life and career paths, it’s a good idea to incorporate a good dose of planning in both areas for success.
Shawn weaves the dating analogy through the “meet market” – networking, and reminds readers that “Before you can date someone, you need to meet someone” (p. 33). He offers three principles of effective networking:
- Assess – figure out who you know
- Expand – grow outside of your existing network
- Maintain – keep up your ongoing relationships
He reminds us that leveraging skills learned from past relationships is as useful for job seekers as it is for dating!
A tip I particularly enjoyed that also is perfectly aligned with both dating and job seeking is “it isn’t all about you.” Shawn asks, “Have you ever been on a date with someone who talked about him- or herself all night long?” (p. 111). You don’t want to be the self-centered job seeker! Remember that looking for a job is just as much about connecting to the employer’s needs as it is about what you have to offer!
There are some differences between job seeking and dating…For example, Shawn reminds readers that they should NOT send flowers to thank an interviewer!
Courting Your Career is a great (and fun) read for anyone in job search mode. The message is an optimistic and useful reminder – so much is in YOUR hands! Take advantage of it and move forward successfully!
YOU have a chance to win a copy of Courting Your Career! All you need to do is comment on any one of my blogs (comment on as many as you’d like to increase your chances). Share a story, ask a question…Let us know why you could use this book. I’ll pick one winner at random on Friday to receive a copy.
Need some help with your job search? I won’t help you with your dating life, but you’ll probably learn some great transferable skills when we work together! Follow THIS LINK to learn more about me and how we can work together!
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[...] JIST Publishing to give away a free copy of Courting Your Career. All you need to do is visit her Keppie Careers Blog and post a comment following the book review. You can ask a question, share a story, or explain how [...]
I get weekly tips emailed to me from Shawn. I also think that one of the most useful tips is that the relationship is not one sided. Since I have been applying to jobs and internships I have tried to discuss how I can help the business I am applying to in my cover in addition to what I will get out of this job. I think that it has allowed for me to be much more successful in my search and has made myself more marketable. I would love more tips!
Great reminders for the unemployed to network in person, not online, at places in DFW like: Southlake Focus Group, HPUMC-Career Jump Start, and careerconnection.org.
This would be a tremendous book for our career library at Hampden-Sydney College. As an all male school, I think the dating analogy may be very apt! I’ve read a lot of Shawn’s work elsewhere online and think it’s stellar.
I am a new PWI Vocational Consultant after a sucessful teaching career. I love my job finding jobs for people who have disabilities. It is the ultimate “high” to work with someone, let’s say, who has been in a wheelchair for 6.5 years and is now walking and thorugh teamwork and tenacity, be instrumental in them signing on for the job of their dreams as a youth outreach worker helping homeless yound adults! What a rush! That happened last month. And there is more to come. I am drinking up any resources I can get my hands on. Adding Courting Your Career (and any other free materials you have) would be EXCELLENT!
Sandy – thanks for your comment, but this contest is already over. Stay tuned, as I give away a new book every other week!