The Work Connection: The Work Connection, #2

THE WORK

CONNECTION

Escape the modern job search

take back control

and get the work life you want

workconnectionacademy.com

simple guides to a better work life

Copyright © 2020

The Work Connection Team.  The Work Connection – Escape the modern job search, take back control and get the work life you want.

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other

electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the

publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

The Work Connection Team would like to thank everyone who helped along the way especially everyone at home working on our dream. It really does take a

village, Jeff, Chris, Tiago, Andrew & Rachel who were patient and supportive all the

way through the process in writing my first book. To Sarah and her family, Peter

& Magda, Ben and Afsheen, Michael and Maya and Lucy and the employer contributors for their time. To anyone we have missed – thank you too.

Book Cover by Tiago. Illustrations by Andrew.

Disclaimer Notice:

Please note the information contained within this document is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Every attempt has been made to provide

accurate, up to date and reliable information. No warranties of any kind are

expressed or implied. Readers acknowledge that the author is not engaging in

the rendering of legal, financial, medical, or professional advice. The content of this book has been derived from various sources. Please consult a licensed professional before attempting any techniques outlined in this book. By reading this document, the reader agrees that under no circumstances are the author responsible for any losses, direct or indirect, which are incurred as a result of the use of information contained within this document, including, but not limited to, —errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.

Table of Contents

Preface 1

Chapter 1: Clarity. Part 1 9

The Paradox of the Hidden Job Market. It isn’t as hidden as you think

Chapter 2: Clarity. Part2 18

Where Am I Going and Why?

Chapter 3: Attract. Part 1 30

How to get to your destination?

Chapter 4: Attract. Part 2 43

Creating More Pull

Chapter 5: Land It. Part 1 63

Turning Interviews into Offers

Chapter 6: Land It. Part 2 75

Turning Interviews into Offers

Chapter 7: Land It. Part 3 81

Assess, Accept, or Reject

Chapter 8: Maintain 90

Chapter 9: The Work Connection! 92

End Notes 95

Preface

The Work Connection has been written for, with and by those people who want to become fulfilled and happy in their jobs, no matter what the economic conditions. 

This is not an existential, ‘how do I find my purpose?’ book. This is a practical, real-life career design book written by industry insiders so that you too can have the work life you deserve.

The central problem The Work Connection sets out to address is: if you want to find a new or better job and you are not getting interviews or feedback you want, what can you do to get better results? 

In this situation there are usually two options you can use. Option A) or Job Search version 1.0 = 30% of all vacancies are visible to you online.  

Option A is what most people do. It means keep applying for jobs online and network with people you know. Focusing your energies on that 30% in the diagram above. Option A is by its nature a mainly reactive process, you are waiting for relevant job advertisements and waiting for responses, with some small networking with people you already know.  

•  Leaving the other 70% not visible to you or inaccessible in the Hidden Job Market

•  On average, 2% of all candidates get called to a job interview from an online job advertisement. Leaving 98% not getting an interview

•  Pre-2020 pandemic, an average of 250 people applied for the same job advertised online. This will only increase during any downturn, perhaps by as much as a factor of two. Post pandemic my team and I have had jobs posted online with 400 plus applications

It is a fool’s game to base your entire job hunt or career change strategy on competing with hundreds of other candidates with Job Search version 1.0. If you are searching for a job the same way everyone else is, it is time to upgrade the way you search. 

The Work Connection is based upon Option B) or Job Search version 2.0. This is a simple direct to employer system of network building, so you can begin to access more of the 70% of other roles that are available. This is a proactive job hunt and career change system.  

"Why do I need this? I’m busy enough doing what I am doing?" That maybe something that is going through your mind. This is normal when presented with new ideas. There are a couple of things we have learned through researching & testing this system with job hunters and career changers over the years we would like to share. 

Post Covid-19, not for the first time, we find ourselves in challenging times. Many of our economies are experiencing increased volatility and more competition for good jobs. The truth is you have little control over the economy or these events. What you can control is how prepared you are for them when they happen. What professional relationships, systems, skills, and strategies do you have in place to give yourself options should you need them? 

The modern paradox is that many of us do not invest in our networks or in our interview or selling skills to anywhere near the level we invest in our education. "Why should I? If I need a job I just apply, and I’ll get an interview where I want? Right? That works some of the time. In tougher economic times, what happens when it does not? Or you accept the first job that comes along, when you know there was a great company in your community you wanted to work for but just could not get it.  The Work Connection will help you put a plan together to address that.

This is your career coach and futureproof career plan in one book. 

There are two types of career change events that can happen in your work life. The first type is Involuntary, meaning you have limited control of the events that are happening. They can come in the form of an economic or global event like a pandemic, a recession, being made redundant or a change in your family circumstances.  The other type is a Voluntary event, and this is where you have more control e.g.