Most job seekers take far too narrow a view of themselves and fail to do things that would broaden their appeal, says Robert J. Gerberg Jr., CEO of SET, a marketing firm working with executives, professionals and managers seeking $100,000 or more. "People could increase their opportunities significantly if they would take a few simple steps," he added.
Here are six things that SET routinely does for clients that you can do if you want to broaden your appeal:
1. Don't restrict yourself to just passive approaches. If all you do is answer ads and contact recruiters, you are limiting yourself to jobs that employers have tightly defined and made public. Instead, take the initiative to contact employers you think are ideal targets for you, even if they haven't advertised. Also, put a "news filter" in your mind so you scan business news for clues to jobs in the making — new plants, promotions, new products, etc.
3. Develop more than one resume. If you have achievements in both operations and sales, for example, you might increase your appeal if you have a separate resume for each.
4. Use letters for goals that might be a stretch. Let's say you have experience in purchasing and want to switch to sales. It's hard to make your case in a resume, but in a letter that emphasizes you've sat at the sales table many times, know what buyers are looking for and how to reach them, you can make a compelling case.
5. Target companies in growth industries and do some research. These companies need to hire people from other industries, since theirs in new. Research the industry and the company and show a lot of enthusiasm.
6. Solve your liabilities. If you have problems, like employment gaps or poor titles, figure out ahead of time how to neutralize them, so you don't get ruled out.
