No longer content with a passionless career, nearly 5,000 professionals surveyed by Korn Ferry say that being bored and needing a challenge would be the top reason for seeking a new job in 2018.
When asked what their typical first step is when looking for a new job, the largest response was networking at 44 percent. The vast majority (89 percent) said networking at every point in their career is key, not just when they are in job search mode. “Networking is a contact sport and really the most critical part of a job search — but many people don’t do it well,” said Gary D. Burnison, Korn Ferry CEO and author of the upcoming book, Lose the Resume, Land the Job., which will be available in mid-February. “The truth is, networking is not about you—actually, it’s the opposite. Networking is about relationship-building, and relationships are not one-way streets,” said Burnison. “The best approach is to make networking a natural part of ongoing interactions with people, by focusing first on how you can help them.”
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n Burnison’s book, he outlines common mistakes made by job seekers in all industries and levels, from new grads to CEOs, including putting too much focus on their resumes. “Many job searchers spend an inordinate amount of time perfecting a resume, but that alone won’t land them the job,” said Burnison. “Given that an average of 250 resumes are received for every corporate job opening, blindly sending out resumes is patently passive and illogical.” While 23 percent of respondents said updating their resume is their first step to landing a new role,19 percent said their first step is taking an inventory of what kind of job would make them the happiest.
“Long before job seekers look ‘out there’ for a job, they need to begin inward—with who they are and what they have to offer,” said Burnison. “With this clear understanding, candidates can target their search to where they will be most satisfied and make the greatest contribution.”
The survey also highlights the role of the interviewer in a job search. More than half (53 percent) of respondents said that people who interviewed them for a job were only “somewhat prepared,” “ill-prepared” or “very ill-prepared,” and nearly half (46 percent) said they were turned down for a job because the interviewer did not take the time to fully understand their qualifications.
There is some good news in the survey about how authentic job candidates are during the process. Only 7 percent said they portrayed themselves as different than they actually were with the hope of landing a role. “During each part of the job seeking process and throughout their career, people need to understand how they ACT – an acronym that means being authentic, creating a connection and giving prospective bosses and colleagues a taste of who they are, what they do and the contributions they can make,” said Burnison.
The survey of 4,900 professionals took place in December 2017.
Source: Korn Ferry
