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Job
Search Economics 101:
It still takes money to make money.
For those
of you who want to find your next job in a day or two, for
$29.99, I have a question. What are you thinking? The quality
of your next job directly affects your quality of life! Why
is it then, that so many people want to find that next job
without taking the time to consider their options and launch
a well-planned approach? Why not get professional help?
As a career
services professional, I've witnessed these inappropriate
fits of thriftiness time and time again. Ironically, most
folks don't have a problem dropping several hundred dollars
on interview attire, but seem to think that a thoughtlessly
prepared resume and perhaps a form letter is all that will
be needed to get those interviews. If that's all the more
prepared they are, I would say that they had better be prepared
to wait a long time for that interview, and hope the interview
suit still fits by then!
Of course
you don't have to spend thousands of dollars on a job search.
But it is wise to plan on spending some time and money on
your job search. With the right career services firm, this
is an investment that will pay for itself many, many, many
times over, considering the following benefits:
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You'll
be looking for the most lucrative job for which you're
qualified |
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You'll
significantly decrease the amount of time it takes to
land an interview |
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You'll
interview more effectively and get more offers |
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You'll
negotiate compensation more effectively (for people who
are at the beginning end a career, this translates into
hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years) |
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You'll
suffer far less anxiety than the average do-it-yourself
job seeker |
Before
you stiffen with fear of sticker shock, let me explain something
ñ a high-quality, reputable firm will not charge you more
than a few days' wages to prepare you for an outstanding job
search . Not a few weeks' wages, not a few months' wages.
There, feel better? And there truly isn't a better return
on investment anywhere.
A final
point. Most career consulting firms are small operations.
Why? Because career consulting is largely a one-to-one service.
Each job search is different, and therefore the strategies
employed by the career consultant differs. This type of service
simply doesn't lend itself to international franchising. There
are few economies of scale that consultants can take advantage
of and overhead is relatively high. Large firms can't charge
less than smaller firms, and in fact, typically charge much
more for less personalized service.
Whatever
you're paying a consultant, be it $75 or $200 per hour, please
remember that you're paying for your piece of the operation
(professional development, association fees, telephone service,
computers, office leases, furniture, advertising, and even
paperclips). Consultants sell their expertise based on a limited
number of hours, and while they are intrinsically motivated
by your career success, they can't give the service away,
and they can't sell it at a loss either. To find the right
firm for you, look at credentials, years of experience, mission
statements, and performance guarantees. Consult with a few
firms before hiring one so that you can make an informed decision.
You'll be very glad you did.
Tracy
Laswell Williams is an accredited resume writer and career
consultant who works with a diverse client base nationwide.
She built her company CAREER-Magic.com in 1994 on the premise
that “great minds think differently.” Visit the
company website at www.career-magic.com, or write to her directly
at tracy@career-magic.com.
© 1999 Tracy Laswell Williams. All rights reserved.
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