Why the ‘norm’ is killing your job search success

As humans we are strong social creatures and since caveman times – belonging and fitting in has been imperative to not only our survival but also feeling like we have value and worth.  This feeling of wanting to belong means we look to our peers and society for standards and for what is the ‘norm’.  Along the way, we learn from peers and society as to what is deemed to be acceptable and normal when finding a new job.

We absorb the marketing messages from Universities and Training Organisations that tell us that the key to our future career success is to simply enrol in the latest and greatest training courses.  We then proceed to spend thousands on training and education without any understanding of what ‘job’ or ‘career’ will truly make us happy.

We absorb the message from the major job boards like SEEK, and CareerOne that the only place you need to look to find your dream job is on their job board.  I mean where else to you go to find a job – plus everyone else is doing it, so it must be the only way to go.

We seek resources online and copy ‘bland’ resume templates and we end up sounding the same as everyone else– after all we don’t want to be ‘different’, it could damage our prospects! So we all end up sounding exactly the same as everyone else (down to the same templates) and using old clichés that we think employers want to hear, like ‘reliable’, ‘excellent communication skills’ and seeking ‘a dynamic and fast paced environment’.

We recall lessons from the career advisor or teacher at school and write that template cover letter that starts with ‘Please find attached my application for the position of Marketing Manager, advertised on SEEK’.

The result – a whole lot of blandness, sameness, averageness, and absolutely nothing that distinguishes you from the ‘masses’ and from the job search ‘norm’.  We end up chasing the same jobs that thousands of others chase on the job boards, we write the standard bland resume and cover letter, we enrol in courses everyone else enrols in, and we end up disappointed and frustrated with the whole process.

If you want true career success, STOP being the ‘norm’ and following the herd and start distinguishing yourself from others.  When I’m talking about distinguishing yourself from others, I’m not talking about using scented paper for your resume (Legally Blonde), adding flower graphics, or showing your true ‘zingy personality’, including those nose piercings at interview.  What I’m talking about is taking a completely different path from the majority of job seekers (the so called norm).

Stop using the job boards as your only source for finding a job.  Instead do what only a small handful of job seekers do and that is ‘tap into the hidden job market’.  Did you know that up to 80% of jobs are never advertised and yet over 95% of jobseekers chase the remaining 20% of jobs that get advertised on job boards.  It is madness to follow the norm.  Instead start networking, researching, strategically approaching decision makers (not Human Resources) in companies you want to work for – and become the 5% that chases the 80% of jobs available to you right now.

Stop being so bland on your resume and cover letters and get rid of overused clichés, boring formats, repetitive information and long lists of tired duties and responsibilities.  I’m not talking about using ‘bling’, but turning these documents into marketing tools that distinguishes you from others.  What sets you apart from others? What value do you offer the employer? What solutions to you offer the employer?

Avoid doing what is normal for most job seekers, which is turning your attention to finding a job only when you need to.  Instead become the new breed of job seeker that views their career and job search as an ongoing process.  Develop an online presence; build your networks and LinkedIn profile and continually look for new opportunities.  By building your network and online brand, opportunities will find you.

By not being the ‘norm’ and avoiding the ‘herd’ mentality you substantially increase the odds of your job search and life long career success.