4 Metrics to Track to Land Your Next Job FASTER
By Paul Cecala, GCDF, May 30, 2023
Recently a client asked me, "How do you know to move onto your next target market or to pivot your job search based on metrics and goals?"
After recovering from my surprise, my first reply congratulated them on asking such an advanced and astute question! I find very few job seekers are tracking any data on their job search activities, and even fewer review the data for lessons to be learned. Yet, doing so will help you gauge the small successes that lead to the ultimate prize of a new role in a desired organization at the compensation level you want.
Before you can decide when it is time to shift your search in a new direction or to a new target market, you should identify the specific metrics that make sense to you. Here are some that I like to track:
The number of positions in a given target market. Sales research shows that we need at least 100 prospects to find 20 prospects interested in your product and deliver 5 proposals to make 1 high-value sale; translated to job search, that means you need to identify 100 possible positions to find 20 that you will have a shot at getting by interviewing for 5 positions to get 1 offer. Is your target market big enough to get you the results you need?
The number of Interview Processes you are involved in. How many interview processes are you engaged in? You should have 1-3 interview processes always taking place.
The number of hiring authorities you are speaking with. Needing more interviews often indicates a need to be in ongoing conversations with more hiring authorities or managers. If you are conversing with at least 5-6 hiring authorities at all times, then you will get 1-2 interviews.
The number of networking conversations you are conducting. Not talking to enough hiring authorities? Then you need to be networking with more people in the target market. I recommend 8-10 ongoing conversations with people in the target market who will introduce you to hiring authorities at the organizations you are going after.
Over time (between 4-8 weeks and 2-4 conversations), these connections will be fruitful or will clearly not lead to the desired result. Drop those that are not fruitful and pick up new conversations. When you run out of people to talk to, it is time to move on to the next target market.This client has identified 32 organizations in her primary target market with 68 positions that she would qualify for and want. This is not quite enough opportunity for a full-time search, but she went after it with gusto. Within 6 weeks, she made contact with more than 42 people who knew the hiring authorities at 27 of the organizations. She continued to seek connections at the remaining 5 companies but focused on the others. In less than 4 more weeks, she engaged 15 hiring authorities; after 8 weeks, she had spoken to at least 1 hiring authority in each of the 27 organizations. All these conversations resulted in 1 immediate interview process. Not resting on these results, she decided it was time to move on to another target. She exhausted the networking she could do at that time in that market.
Remember, shifting job search targets doesn't necessarily mean giving up on the previous target or your long-term goals. It can be a strategic decision to explore different avenues and maximize your chances of finding the right opportunity. Take time to reflect on your objectives, seek advice from mentors or career professionals, and make an informed decision based on your unique circumstances.
After 4 months of job searching, the activities in her primary target market resulted in interviews for 4 different positions at 3 companies, adding 28 hiring managers to her network for future opportunities, and developing relationships with 58 people who are or could be colleagues. Most importantly, after just 17 weeks of actively engaging in target networking, she landed a great position and negotiated an excellent compensation package better than she expected.
In truth, if you follow the complete methodology that we teach at Cecala Career Consultants, LLC, you likely will have addressed most of these issues as part of the job search preparation phase. However, if you have been searching for 6 months or more and are no closer to employment, then it is time to really consider these issues.
Finding a job is a numbers game. You should identify the metrics that are meaningful to you, track them, and adjust your process based on the results you are getting. If you are like most job seekers, spending 80% or more of your time filling out applications online and not getting interviews, maybe it's time to do something different.
About the Author:
Paul Cecala, a Global Career Developmental Facilitator (GCDF) certified career coach, is a principal at Cecala Career Consultants with decades of experience as a career coach helping individuals with finding career success. He has taught over 500 seminars and workshops on conducting successful job searches. Mr. Cecala can be reached at pcecala@cecalacareer.com . Follow him at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cecala-career-consultants.
Paul Cecala can help you navigate to your success. Learn more about his services here.
