Posting that you are looking for a job on CraigsList is a good thing to do… IF…
Tip: What NOT to do in your HEADLINE and why
FACT: Employers and recruiters rarely look at ‘I’ll do anything’ listings.
BACKGROUND: Non-verbal communication tells people a lot about you. How you dress is a key type of non-verbal communication.
WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH YOUR JOB WANTED POSITNG? The wording of your headline is the written equivalent to the cloths you wear. And, it communicates a lot about you.
What ‘I’ll Do Anything’ says about you – and – what potential employers and recruiters might think about you.
- You are desperate.
- Did you get fired? Layed off? Why?
- You lack direction in your life.
Then they start making up a story about you without clicking onto your post:
- You probably won’t be a valuable employee.
- You don’t value yourself.
- You are not experience enough. I don’t have time to train a beginner level.
- You might not like what I have to offer after a few days.
- You change your mind at the drop of a hat. Then, I’ll have to do this all over.
- You might take my job and keep looking for something better. I want someone who will stay.
These stories lead employers or recruiters to conclude:
- I do not have time to click through to see if they can do what I need.
- I don’t need desperation-mindedness in my workplace.
- This person is just too risky to take a chance on.
- I’ll keep the headlines.
One last result for them is that they might be missing out on the perfect employee – you!
Result for you:
- Employers and recruiters do NOT click through to read more about you. They move on to the headline that matches their need.
- Your job placement ad is ineffective.
- You get more discourage thinking that you are not valuable.
I know that the conclusions they might jump to may be totally wrong, AND what matters is that they do not click to learn more about you.
How to Dress Your Headline for Success!
Figure out what kind of job you want and put that in your headline.
Remember ‘anything’ is not the right answer here.
Think about it, you would NOT do anything.
Try this exercise as a way of beginning the process of figuring out what you want to do/don’t want to do:
- Look around at job listing – rule out what you are not willing to do and don’t want to do but would for a short period of time.
- Narrow ‘anything’ down by work type: office work, manual labor, skilled labor, technical, etc.
- Keep narrowing it by industry: insurance, healthcare, hardware, software, engineering, gaming, etc.
- Keep narrowing what you are willing to do, what you want to do until you have a job.
You can also approach your dilemma from this angle – Think about your ideal job then work backwards. Combine what you learned about what you don’t want with what you do want.
Narrow, narrow, narrow – be clear and specific. Then put that in the heading of your job listing. Apply for those types of jobs. Write your resume to fit that job.
Go find a career counselor. Try the community colleges. They have great programs.
If you want to try out some areas or professions, consider Temp Agencies.
When I first came to Seattle in 1978, I only had $50 to my name. I was, you might say, desperate for work. I worked at a temp agency. I liked the work so much that after I was done with my contract, I started my own business doing technical writing. It launched a very lucrative career for me.
It just might work for you too. Consider it research not a demotion. Once I stuffed 20% off signs in L’eggs Panty Hose eggs. After a few hours, I knew for sure that I did not want to do that job for the rest of my life, and it paid the rent that month. Do your homework.
When I was just out of high school, I wanted to be a medical technologist (lab technician). I got a summer job at the local hospital. I decided I didn’t want to do that for a career, and I paid my way through undergraduate and graduate school drawing blood and working in labs. It was a stepping stone and it paid the bills.
Take time to help employers and recruiters help you.
They are not career counselors. Recruiters want to help you find a job, not figure out what job to find. Help them help you be being clear. It will pay off.
Get help where you need it. We are often too close see beyond our immediate situation. I’m a professional coach and I’ve written resumes for people for over 20 years. I cannot write my own resume. I’m too close to my own emotions.
Find someone to talk to – a coach, a therapist or a trusted friend who will not tell you what they think you should do. Try the community colleges.
Ask me questions on this blog. It’s free.
Clarity rules,
Coach Colleen
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