Marketing Career: 7 habits of highly effective marketing job seekers – part 2
Last week’s marketing career post explored how marketers should implement Steven Covey’s first habit, “Be Proactive,” into their job hunt. Scott Howard, Executive Director of Operations, MECLABS, helped to draw out applicable and helpful tips from the bestselling book. This week, we’ll hear from him again on the next two habits: “Begin with the End in Mind” and “Put First Things First.”
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
I find this to be one of the most important habits for job hunters. Why? Because it is the foundation on which all following habits build. Without an end vision, you won’t know how to best direct all the energy you put into the other habits.
So how do you create this vision? Covey instructs you to create an image, picture or paradigm of the end of your life just as you want it to be. In a job seeker’s case, picture the job you want to have not just now, but also the one you want in the future. Using this reference, you will then determine your behavior and actions now and in the future. It also works on the principle that all things are created twice, once being mental, followed by the physical. Beginning with an end in mind focuses on the mental construction. (The physical will start to take shape in the next habit, “Put First Things First.”)
Scott says, “You need a destination. You can’t know how to get somewhere without first knowing where you want to go.”
Envision your ideal career path. Where do you want to be in five, 10, 20 years? Know the general direction you want to go, and focus your job search on positions that support this vision. In essence, you will create your own personal mission statement.
As a job seeker, I know how tempting it can be to apply to anything and everything. Having a job is better than not having one, right? Well, not necessarily. A résumé riddled with short employments or unrelated job positions does not look good to potential employers. Don’t continually apply to jobs you know you will leave in six months, or that have nothing to do with your end vision.
In The New York Times’ blog, Room for Debate, Katherine S. Newman, professor of sociology and public affairs at Princeton University, explains it further, “…if [your] biography doesn’t match [your] aspirations, it can be a tough sell when newer, less ‘scarred’ job seekers flood the pool from which the boss is choosing.” In other words, taking that unrelated job could hurt your chances of following your ideal career path.
This habit helps to narrows down your job search. Focus on what you what to be and do, then determine the steps, values and principles that will get you there.
Try writing this statement for yourself, and fill in the blanks to it is applicable to you …
“I want to be a (digital marketer, B2B marketer, community manager, etc) so that I can (list your contributions and achievement here). To get to that destination, I will (take an internship, apply for specific job descriptions, further my training or education, build my network, etc).”
Key Takeaway:
- Envision your idea career path. Once you determine your career destination, hone your job search to focus on this ideal direction. If you’re not quite sure where you want your career to go, try reading through MarketingSherpa case studies to get a deeper understanding of certain roles and organizations.
Habit 3: Put First Things First
This habit focuses on time and life management, and builds the physical construction of your career path in Habit 2. You must learn to prioritize your life in accordance to the goals you set up.
You don’t have time to apply and customize a cover letter for every job you come across, so don’t try. The quality of your résumés, cover letters and sample work will be less than your best, and you will always find yourself “catching up” rather than getting ahead.
Apply to positions based on the importance, or desirability, of the jobs, as they fit into your ideal vision. Covey provides a time management matrix framework that I’ve built upon with some input from Scott, to show you how to sift through available job openings, and non-openings.
Ideally, job seekers should strive to work from Quadrant II and Quadrant I. Your ideal vision takes place in Quadrant II.
So where do you find these ideal Quadrant II jobs? You might not be able to. Instead, Scott advises, “create your dream job, and then find a company you would want to work with that the position would solve a problem for in that organization.”
Keep in mind a key point in Scott’s suggestion: the position you want must solve a problem for that company. Unless there is a need, the phone will not be ringing for that interview.
Also, you might have better luck with unposted positions. According to BH Careers International, 80% of available job positions are never advertised. You might find yourself lucky and interviewing for your dream job in your dream company because you took a chance and submitted a résumé for an unadvertised position.
While I hope you have luck with Quadrant II, you should spend equal time and energy in Quadrant I. This quadrant encompasses advertised positions that match your qualifications and aspirations. They are urgent due to deadlines that offer only limited time to research the company and job description, and put real value into your specific cover letters. I’ll speak more about infusing your cover letters with value in this series’ next post.
In reality, Quadrants III and IV waste valuable time and energy best spent on valid job opportunities. These jobs will either not get you on the career path that you created in Habit 2, or are well above your qualifications.
Key Takeaways:
- Create positions that both support your ideal career path and solve a problem for ideal companies. Find or build network connections in companies that you would like to work for, or send in a cold call cover letter explaining how your qualifications can help solve a current problem for the company.
- Apply to positions that both support your ideal career path and match your qualifications. Optimize your job search by using the ideal vision created in Habit 2 to find jobs advertised that will further you along your envisioned career path, but that also match your skills, qualifications and background.
Related Resources:
MarketingSherpa Careers newsletter – Get weekly updates on marketing job openings
7 Habits of Highly Effective Marketing Job Seekers – Part 1
Email Marketing Manager: Look past campaigns to boost your career
Informed Dissent: The best marketing campaigns come from the best ideas
Categories: Marketing Careers cover letter, Marketing, marketing career, networking, resume
Habit 3 reads almost identically to that of the book: What Color is your Parachute. In it, they discuss the key areas of job search and how you may have to redefine yourself in order to get that “dream job.” They too talk about how many jobs are created, which I have experienced in my own career, thanks to that book.
Great post and I look forward to reading the remaining 4 habits.