Job Seeker With a Purpose - Some Insights

Jobs can only be as available as the industry demands. The industry may not be knowledgeable about its solutions and therefore some industry needs may not be reflected by the design of jobs being advertised. Many employers are still stuck with empirical job descriptions that do not embrace the required levels of competitiveness. It takes the job seeker to develop ability to challenge the market (not jobs) by growing their command of the market and developing strategies for pursuing such identified opportunities.

There are three levels of job seekers.

Level One – Elementary

They have no connection with the industry needs. All they know is that they have some training and skills that (they heard) the market requires. They will only respond to advertised jobs that correspond to titles that they are familiar with. Many times they will not read the job descriptions. When they come across opportunities, they will always wait to be led and unless someone else does something creative, they do not have a chance to identify new scopes. They are there to be directed and in their opinions, careers grow by the duration one takes on a job rather than what they do in such jobs. They are likely to pursue advanced training not on the basis of tangible skills that they want to acquire but on the perception they want the market to have on them or the potential material benefits that they stand to accrue on that basis.

Level Two – Intermediate

They have no connection with the industry needs beyond the jobs that they are suitable for. They are keen on job descriptions and the type of companies they want to work for – most often they prefer high end employers. They are clear of what it takes to get the job and deliver on the same. They are likely not to be creative beyond the circumstances of their current employers. They apply for advertised jobs or opportunities that are shared through the grape vine.

Level Three – High End

They have a good command of the market beyond the employers that they have worked for. They also have a good command of their career directions. They know what they are capable of, what they need to work on and the skills that the market requires both in the short and long term. They are able to develop position concepts that can lead to the creation of jobs that do not exist. They do not fear losing jobs – in fact they would rather have a job whose purpose they can identify with rather than one that they do not appreciate. They solve market challenges through their careers. They are choosy and have no problem being paid the right salary – they are very compelling. They may not necessarily be highly knowledgeable but they are serious thought leaders with structured problem solving abilities.

WHICH ONE ARE YOU?

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