Appropriate Stalking Works

I got an email today from another job seeker who writes:" Susan--you were right--one of the contacts I worked the hardest, and the longest finally came through for me and I got a job offer today." She goes on to describe in detail how she worked the contact, how she followed up six times without becoming an inappropriate stalker. And that's the thing--no one believes in appropriate stalking.

If I had a dollar for every job seeker, even the seasoned and experienced ones, who referenced number of resumes sent or number of calls made as a measure of job search success, I'd be rich. Very, very rich. I don't know how to say it without being frank: volume doesn't work. You won't get a job because you seet the most resumes or called the most people. You just won't.

Whether in my book or my coaching sessions, I always lay out a plan for career research before the job search commences. And, I always recommend a job search management tool like Jibber Jobber. But whether it is industry focus or company focus, focus is the true name of the game. The more you narrow your search to a few companies or contacts, the more you can work your connections. Seriously.

Consider this:

1) The fewer contacts you focus on, the more likely you can spend more time getting to know them.
2) The fewer companies you focus on, the more you can learn about them, get to know multiple people inside the company

You've got to start with some wide net, that's for sure. But make your calls, talk to people, narrow things down and get specific. If you have four companies you're focused on, you can check back in with them regularly, meet with contacts once a month and offer to do contract work or intern as a start.

Are you in a job search right now? If you're feeling stuck ask yourself if you're really focused. Are you calling dozens of contacts once and never following up? Are you sending out resume after resume only to sit back, wait and hear nothing? You don't want to stalk anyone, but you don't want to make one call and wait and see what happens. This isn't seventh grade.

But then again, maybe it is. If John sends Jill a note in class and tells her he likes her, he can (a) sit back and wait or (b) he can follow-up and send her a complimentary text message, or maybe an IM just saying hello, He's not stalking Jill, he's reminding her that he's there and not backing down. And while you can't put a note in someone's professional locker, you can make sure they know you're there...and ready for action.