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You could be what industry is looking for

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 15:15

Dr Phil

During an episode called ‘When she’s the breadwinner’ Dr Phil conveys the expert advice of Brad Karsh the president of the recruitment company Jobbound, on how to search for and find a job. The 3 minute clip provides practical tips for jobseekers by using tools such as networking to gain entry to the relevant industry.

Karsh starts off with a warning, ‘don’t be picky and wait for that perfect job’. While we may have a set number of skills or specific areas of strength the way in which we utilize those skills should not be exclusive to one position or industry. Don’t get caught up in an ‘I do this’ attitude, which can become limiting warns Dr Phil.

‘You may have a set of skills that could cut across a whole lot of different things’ he says. Consider different positions and try to think about yourself in a different way. ‘Just because your industry is on a downward turn doesn’t mean that your skills set is not relevant somewhere else’.

‘Join social networking sites like, Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter’. This is a great networking platform says Dr Phil, spurring even those who are technologically-challenged to be a part of the online community. This is another avenue where you can learn and broaden your scope by looking at new employment possibilities.

Don’t just apply online. Dr Phil emphasizes the importance of connecting with your entire contact group ‘call old friends, classmates and colleagues’. Inform your networks that you are job-hunting.

‘Get out and meet new people’ advises Karsh, you can do this by joining groups or volunteering. In this way you will expand your network and discover fresh ideas about where your skills would be useful. This has the added benefit of providing purpose to your day. ‘Don’t isolate yourself’ stresses Dr Phil.

‘Redesign your resume as this is your calling card’. Be specific about your function in your previous job. Stay away from phrases such as ‘I was in charge of a, b and c“, says Dr Phil. Instead provide detailed descriptions of the activities that you managed, and include instances where your management skills were successfully utilized. Give scenarios or examples of what you did, says Dr Phil.

Think about life skills that you possess whether you developed them in college, at work or in your everyday life. For example housewives who need to organise and perform numerous activities could include multitasking as a skill, he says.

‘Realize you are not alone’. He says that being unemployed is no cause for shame or humiliation. Don’t feel or believe that you are a failure, realize that there are many others in the same predicament.

He encourages those who are job-hunting to see this time as an opportunity, and reminds the unemployed community that organisations are not completely closed off to recruiting new talent. ‘People understand that there are some really great finds out there’. Many companies see this period as a time to grab talent that they may not have been able to get before says Dr Phil. For those who are still in business the pressure to compete has intensified and organisations are on the look-out for people who can raise the bar and bring something new and dynamic to the company. ‘You could be the excellent find’.