Ongoing Career Management is No Longer Optional for the Expat in Today's New World of Work

Recently I was honored to be asked by fellow career and resume specialists Miriam Salpeter and Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter to join a community of career bloggers called "Career Collective".  Their brainchild came from their desire to build a strong collective of career expert voices and a sustainable community of career expert bloggers. So once a month I'll be writing about a topic selected by the Career Collective here on my blog.

This month's topic is related to taking a "cookie-cutter" approach to the job search.  (For those of you not familiar with that expression, it essentially means taking a standard, traditional, one-size-fits-all approach to the job search.)

There are numerous trends that one has to consider when thinking about how to approach the job search in today's job market. Here are a few of note:

• Recent studies have indicated that the average stay of an upper-level manager or executive at a company is 2.3 years. 

• One recent survey indicated that 45% of recruiters and hiring managers use the information they find online in their hiring decisions.

• According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the top in-demand jobs for 2010 in the U.S. did not even exist in 2004.

Of course, the relevancy of these statistics can vary across industries and across cultures.  But no one can argue with the fact that the times, they are changing.

What does this mean?

• Long-term job security is a thing of the past - expecting that you will only have to conduct a job search a handful of times over your career is going to leave you ill-prepared to thrive in the new world of work.

• Whether you like it or not, your online presence will affect how recruiters & hiring managers think about you as a potential candidate for a job. What shows up in the search results when someone googles your name will affect the strength of your application for any job to you might apply.

• Market needs are constantly changing - believing that a series of job titles on your resume or CV is going to be enough to communicate how you can help a company solve it problems will leave you ill-equipped to compete in today's market. Being clear about your personal brand and being able to powerfully communicate how your qualities, skills and accomplishments are relevant to a particular company's needs is no longer optional if you want to be taken seriously by employers. 

Bottom line: The 20th century approach to the job search - "all I really need is a strong general resume or CV, a few good connections, some recruiters working for me, applying to some jobs online and the right interview answers - eventually, I'll get a job" - just doesn't cut it anymore.

And if you are an expatriate, or someone looking to pursue a job in another country, it would be deadly to assume that there is a one-size-fits-all approach to the job search.  Not only must you be aware of the how to run a job search in a particular country, but you must be sure that your application materials and message of value is culturally relevant as well.

One of the most important messages I can give to any job seeker - no matter where they live or where they are looking for a job - given shorter job life cycles - you are ALWAYS at some point in your job search process. 

For this reason, we need to think about ongoing career management versus periodic career development. 

Those people who recently lost their jobs due to cutbacks across the globe are prime examples of this. Those that had clear long-term goals, had been taking action on an ongoing basis to build their network and regularly demonstrate their unique value by being of service to their network were much better positioned - many were able to find new jobs.  Those that had not thought about their careers at all since their last job search were left struggling in an incredibly competitive job market.

Here is a short video where I am featured on CNNMoney.com which further reinforces this point:

YOUR EXPAT SUCCESS TIP:  Consider how past approaches to your job search would fare in light of the statistics mentioned in this blog post which only begin to define today's new world of work. Do you have clear career goals that you are working towards - both on- and offline - on a regular or even daily basis? If not, take your first step towards managing your career in today's world of work by clarifying your career and lifestyle goals.  Then begin to research how and in what country those goals could be realized.  

Here's what other "Career Collective" career experts had to say on the subject of taking a "cookie cutter" approach to the job search:

Top Margin: Gayle's Blog Sabotaging Your Prospects: Cookie-cutter Style 

CAREEREALISM: Cookie Cutters are for Baking...Not Job Searching! 

The Emerging Professional: On the "Cookie Cutter" Approach to Job Search: Do You Need a Recipe?

Sterling Career Concepts: Job seekers: Break out of the mold!

Dawn Bugni, The Write Solution: Is your job search "cookie-cutter" or "hand-dropped"?

Rosa Vargas, Creating Prints Resume-Writing Blog: Being a Cookie-Cutter Job Seeker is a Misfortune

Heather Mundell, life@work: How Not to Be a Cookie Cutter Job Seeker

Sweet Careers: Passive Job Seeker=Cookie Cutter Job Seeker 

Barbara Safani, Career Solvers Blog: Cookie Cutter Resumes Can Leave a Bad Taste in the Hiring Manager's Mouth 

Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, Career Trend Blog: Eating Bananas Doesn't Make You an Ape

Miriam Salpeter, Keppie Careers: How Can a Job Seeker Stand Out? 

Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters Tips Blog: Avoiding Being a Cookie-Cutter Job-seeker In Your Resume and Throughout Your Job Search

Heather R. Huhman, HeatherHuhman.com: Break the Mold: Don't Be a Cookie Cutter

Comments

[Judy]

Megan, your analysis and advice are spot on. This is no longer the future; it is the current reality and applies not only to expats, but all those in the workforce. Personally I can see a time when most people will be independent contractors; a situation which may work well for those at the top of their professions, but will be a struggle for the average performer. Right now it’s working well for companies, but it may well prove a challenge for them in the future. I’m not sure I like it, but it is what it is and we must deal with it.

[Dawn Bugni]

Megan - Stunning statistics. Job search 21st century is truly about being open to opportunities at all times. It's not so much a "search" anymore as much as it is being ready for the next big thing, always. Excellent reminder.

[Career Sherpa]

Megan: I love the way you phrased that we will always be at some piont in the job search process! That along with the data back up the point that it is critical to have excellent job search skills!

[Chandlee]

Megan, Great post. Your advice on the importance of cultural understanding for the expat job search is "spot-on." It's like baking in a different altitude: you have to adjust the recipe for your environment!

All the Best,
Chandlee

[twitter.com/GayleHoward]

Terrific post Megan. I have so much admiration for people who seek employment in another country. It is hard enough to change jobs when the jobseeker knows the industry, the main players and the key stakeholders. I can't imagine how difficult it is for those individuals who arrive having to learn everything from the ground up! One thing is for certain though, using "cookie cutter" stock standard ways of doing things that have worked before just won't work and your post encapsulates that perfectly!

[Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter]

Wonderful article, Megan, backed up by statistics and also punctuated by solutions to propel one's expat job search.

Your concluding 'success tip' further emphasizes how past job searches would fare in light of today's climate. Clarifying career/lifestyle goals, indeed, is vital!

Moreover, for your work with Expats (and for any career coach collaborating with those aspiring to international work), your advice to articulate culturally relevant value messages is key.

Great article, Megan!

Jacqui

[Rosa Elizabeth Vargas]

Megan, what a wealth of valuable information you have posted here. Interesting figures, especially “85% of recruiters and hiring managers use the information they find online in their hiring decisions.” This reinforces what most career coaches advise -- a differentiating online image is vital. Great post! I look forward to your next post.

[Barbara Safani]

Meagan,

So true. A strong resume is just one piece of the puzzle. Today's job seeker needs a multi-media approach with a strong message of value across multiple business, social, and online identity platforms.

[Megan Fitzgerald, Expat Personal Branding Coach]

Greetings!

I am away on holiday at the moment but will get back to you as soon as I return.

My very best,
Megan

[twitter.com/goinglobal]

Hi Megan,

You make an excellent point. A time of recession forces all of us - regardless at what point in the job spectrum we may be - to evaluate our career as a journey rather than a one time venture. I write primarily for students and it is so important for them to remember what you mentioned 'the cookie cutter approach to job hunting is a strategy of the past'. Looking for jobs and managing your career is a daily process.

Thanks for the helpful information.

Cheers!

Olga

[Megan]

Many thanks to all of you for your insightful comments!

As people who support careerists in pursuing their professional goals - we must truly educate them about the need for ongoing activity as it relates to their career.

And for those interested in working abroad, cultural relevancy must be underscored when looking at their unique value proposition and career marketing materials.

It's an exciting time with many changes on the horizon!

[Business Career]

The post is informative. great post.

[Carrie]

I would recommend for expatriate to look for job before they land in the foreign coutries. Especially if the foreign contries are third world countries. It will make your life so much easier. Trust me

[Uk Employment Guide]

Great blog! The information you provide is quiet helpful, why I was not able to find it earlier. Anyways I’ve subscribed to your feeds, keep the good work up.