Stop Applying and Work the Relationships Rant - Career Pivot

Stop Applying and Work the Relationships Rant - Career Pivot Stop Applying Please stop applying online for positions! I have said this at least a dozen times in the last couple of weeks. It makes me want to pull out what little hair I have left in my follicle-challenged scalp. Let me explain my frustration. Contract Recruiter Last week, I had coffee with a financial recruiter. She works for one of the national recruiting companies and recruits for small to medium businesses. This recruiter primarily places accountants, financial controllers, and an occasional CFO. She told me that she gets great resumes across her deskâ€"resumes with 30 plus years of experience. She said, “I can’t get interviews for any of them. The clients are just not interested.” I had to mutter under my breath, “Why are they coming to you?” Someone with 30 plus years of experience is over 50 years of age. The only way they will get in front of the hiring manager is through a referral. Passing a resume through a recruiting service will get you nowhere! ARGH!! Stop applying and start building relationships to get a referral. Listen to the most recent episode Work the relationships! Work the relationships!…… More:Headhunters â€" Who Do They Work for? NOT YOU! Resume Writer I received an e-mail from a resume writer who was looking for advice. His question was, “What strategies can a career changer who is in mid-career use to compete against younger, more experienced veterans?” WOW!! When making a career changeâ€"a career pivotâ€"your resume is not what will get you that next position. It will be a relationship. Most of the time, someone will take a chance and hire you. In my six career changes, all have been half step career changes. I had one foot in the old world and one foot in the new world. It was always a relationship that helped me across. ARGH!! Stop working on your resume and stop applying. Go build the relationships that will take you across into your new role! More:Combat Age Discrimination with Strategic Relationships Account Manager I have been working with a gentleman who is closer to 60 than 50 years of age. He was let go from his account management position near the beginning of the year. I have had him working his weak ties dutifully. He has been reaching out to people he worked with over the last 20 years. He has been asking for A-I-R (Advice, Insights, and Recommendations). Last week, he interviewed with a company and an offer should be coming shortly. He did not fill out a single application in the past three months. He had multiple interviews during that time. A personal referral got him every interview. He has a strong internal advocate helping him at the company where we are expecting an offer. If you follow his lead, you will stop applying for jobs and work your relationships. Boy, did he work the relationships! It was amazing how many people were willing to help him. YEAH!!! (More on this story in a later blog post)Read the full story:Introverted Sales Guy Job Search â€" Case Study Over 50 If you are over 50 years of age and are looking for a job, you need to stop applying and work the relationships. If you wait for a position to be posted online, you are too late! Waiting is not a job search strategy! RANT OVER! I feel better now. Marc Miller Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights! Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...