Job Search Lessons From Jaws

Job Search Lessons From JawsYoure Gonna Need a Bigger Boat / Job Search Lessons From JawsPower of storytelling. Remember how drawn in Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss were to Robert Shaws story of the capsized submarine in shark-infested waters? Jobseekers, you need to get your interviewers similarly engaged. I dont mean to imply you need stories of secret missions (unless you have them I did have an ex-Israeli commando tell me about his Afghanistan rescue mission). But you do need to enrapture your audience and have specifics. When Quint (Shaws character) talks about the soldier floating in the waterand he had been cut in half at the waistyou get the scope and the scale of what they were dealing with. Tell stories, be specific.Power of opposite thinking. I thought Hooper (Dreyfuss character) was done for when Jaws crushed his underwater cage and he had to swim out. I imagined hed swim up in a vain attempt to get away. Instead, he dove deeper and hid till it was safe to reappear. I n the job search, sometimes you dont want your job aspirations in plain sight (remember not every networking contact is about you, you, you, and your job search). Oftentimes, you need to dive deep, establish a relationship by getting to know your target, and reappear at the opportune moment.Power of focus over size You dont need a bigger boat, just good aim. When Brody (Scheiders character) sees Jaws for the first time up close, he remarks, Youre gonna need a bigger boat. Many job search candidates think they need the big boat a brand name school, lots of resumes sent, lots of job postings. Instead what you need is to focus on your target companies and use the resources you have to penetrate them. If Brody can get the big shark with a shotgun while perched on a sinking boat, you can slay this job market.Power of mastering key job search skills Quint was the only fisherman that used piano wire to catch the really big sharks, and it worked. The other bozos were throwing their wifes r oasts off the docks. Brody got the help he needed when Hooper came to the island from the Oceanographic Institute on the mainland. So dont hesitate to consult someone who knows what they are doing and that includes Career Services and perhaps Career Coaches. They will ensure that your resume, interview skills and pitch are where they need to be.Power of Research After Brody was slapped by the Kintner boys mother, he read everything he could about sharks. He learned that most attacks occur in just 3 of water and that territoriality was probably mora of a reality than a theory. So learn everything you can about the company you are interested in. Check your career services library or college on-line resources for any and all information about your company of interest. Read the Vault Guide on your company/ industry of interest. Ask career services for a list of alumni that work in that company or in that industry. Search LinkedIn and ask everyone you know if they know someone at the com pany. Conduct a Google Search which will send all news items directly to your email.Power of Not Biting Off More Than You Can Chew The shark made a fatal error when it tried to swallow the air tank whole. Brody was then able to kill it by blowing it up. Dont network unless you know how to do so effectively. Observe others that do it well and learn from them. Dont rush into an interview situation if you arent ready. There are many introductory things you need to do before interviewing. These include assessing and knowing your strengths and weaknesses, researching various companies, and preparing your marketing materials. You should practice with a friend, or a career coach because they can give you the feedback you need to improve. In this market, you have to shine at every contact with the employer.Once you land your dream job, you will no doubt be tired. So you can then sing Show me the way to go home. Im tired and I want to go to bed. Happy job huntingCaroline Ceniza-Levine and Co nnie Thanasoulis-Cerrachioareco-founders of SixFigureStart (www.SixFigureStart.com), a career coaching firm.