If you are in the midst of a job search, it's time to get clear about what you want. However, this does not necessarily mean naming a specific job title or position. The first step in making a successful transition to new work is realizing a change is necessary and committing to it.
What comes after that can delay the process, especially if you cannot adequately answer the questions: "What am I looking for?" And, "If someone wants to help me find work, what do I say to them?" Even if you do not have clear answers to these questions, you must come up with some response other than "I don't know…I was hoping you would tell me."
A prospective client making an inquiry about my career counseling business was on the mark today when he said, "I don't believe I need to tell people with whom I'm networking what job I'm looking for, but rather, what skills I have to offer." Offering a bit of free career advice, I added: "Yes, identifying your skills in a networking meeting is good, and even more effective if you follow with the question 'How are these skills used in your company?' " Perhaps at that point the individual could make a connection for you with the person who demonstrates your talents. Then you might have a handle on a specific job for which you are qualified.
Eventually you will need to connect what you do well with where those skills are used in the marketplace (i.e. the positions that require your skills). Then you will recognize appropriate jobs when you see them. If you are considering a significant career shift, this connection is particularly important and initially difficult to figure out.
Here are some steps to help you move beyond the dreaded question "What type of job are you looking for?"
• Review your work history and determine the generic skills, talents and attributes that you consistently brought to your positions.
• Create a résumé that effectively and clearly presents those skills. If you are changing careers or industries, consider a functional format for your résumé.
• Identify a few key individuals who would be willing to speak with you about how they see you fitting into the marketplace.
• Arrange meetings with those key individuals. Be clear about your intention: to receive help connecting your skills and interests with the areas of the marketplace with which they are familiar and to ask for the names of people who are using similar skills in their work.
• Follow up on contacts and conduct informational interview to determine if there is a good match between what these people (who are using the skills you've used) do and what you want to do.
• Once you have identified one or several appealing possibilities, begin to shift your approach from asking for information about the jobs to requesting advice on how to secure a position.
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