Let’s do the math.

• Fewer jobs.
• More applicants.
• Should = some changes in how you go about marketing yourself

Because I have been through a few downturns of hiring cycles, I can tell you from experience how hiring executives think when it comes to either filling an existing role with a new person or opening up a new role. They want either:

• The perfect candidate. One that exactly meets the requirements. No risk in the resume.
• Or, someone who can wear several hats at once. This person needs to meet the requirements of the core role, but be able to play more than one position. More bang for the hiring buck.

So, here is where your focus should be, if you are at all exploring or actively searching for that next role.

1. Develop a target, or a few targets. Types of role in a certain type of organization. This might be based on where you are most hirable or what you want to do next.
2. Define your value proposition for those targets. Why you and not the hundreds of other people that would like this job?
3. Ensure that your resume, cover letter and other marketing materials represent a compelling, attractive and credible case for your candidacy.
4. Work on your verbal presentation so that when you have those conversations, you are able to get them interested in you and your offering. That includes networking conversations and formal interviewing. There are too many tips to get into in this post. My general observation over the years has been that most people, no matter how senior they are in their profession, aren’t as good as they think they are at the interviewing conversation.
5. Focus your attentions on:
   • The opportunities that fit within your target buckets. Apply to opportunities where you truly are a fit. Where your value proposition aligns. Ignore the others.
   • The relationships and networks that support you finding opportunities and becoming known in your target areas.
   • The activities that generate the above.

Back to the math. You need to do what you can to improve the odds on that equation. In addition to our existing services, I am about to announce some new solutions that address head-on this climate that we are in right now. More later.