There really isn’t a magic pill for an effective job search

Sometimes people come to me with unrealistic expectations. It’s not unusual for people to believe a career coach will “get them a job,” just as many people assume a recruiter will “get them a job.” In each case, their expectations are hopeful but unrealistic.

As a career coach, I can help someone develop a strategy for getting a job, assist with creating all the tools required and guide their preparation. I can also help people navigate tough situations in a way that will allow them to keep their job or move in a new direction. And sometimes it really is possible to connect candidates with employers that are in need. But, overall, there is nothing I (or anyone else) can ever do to guarantee that someone will get a job, unless the person is enlisting in the military. As much as I wish it were so, there just isn’t a magic pill I can give someone to solve their employment concerns.

If a career coach can’t make that promise, then a recruiter can, right? No, sorry, not them either. Recruiters are paid by a company to find talent. They might reach out to candidates when they are representing a client company that is in need, but they are not in the business of finding jobs for candidates. In the old days, as a recruiter I marketed great candidates to employers I had close relationships with and was often successful in facilitating an unsolicited match that worked out for everyone.

Things have changed quite a bit, and the exchanges are less personal. When someone’s skills are common or the market they work in is one that everyone else on the planet wants to work in, those ordinary – even highly talented – people aren’t going to be able to rely on a recruiter to “find them a job.” In this market, unless someone has incredibly unique or in-demand skills, a recruiter is not going to give them the time of day unless they have an immediate need or anticipate one coming up. And even then, a recruiter cannot guarantee that the employer will love the candidate or that the candidate will love the role that comes up. Only the candidate can go to the interview and actually influence the interaction that takes place between them and the employer.

the easy way is typically a quick or short-term fix and is not necessarily the sustainable or long-term solution

No matter how attractive it might seem to just call someone and ask them to do it for you, there isn’t  a special button to push or a pill to take that will remove the need to research what you are getting into and prepare you for your interaction with the employer. Even when it seems like there is an easy way, the easy way is typically a quick or short-term fix and is not necessarily the sustainable or long-term solution. An attractive resume or LinkedIn profile may attract employers, but there is never a guarantee that whoever calls on you has your best interests in mind or that you will be prepared to have an intelligent conversation should they contact you out of the blue. The promise of a “catchy” resume or profile cannot make up for the market/industry/role research that is needed before someone can make a long-lasting good impression or a good decision.

The good news is that there are more jobs now. Many of the people who were underemployed throughout the long recession are moving up and out. That doesn’t mean that the great jobs are easy to find or get. People who have stayed connected with their networks and stayed on top of industry trends are moving into roles they have spent time positioning themselves for. The less desirable roles are left for those who have been waiting to climb on the bandwagon, hoping for a break when the economy turned around.

If you have been sending out hundreds of resumes, posted on ten job boards and are still not working in a role that makes sense for you, then consider taking a different approach. Stop doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. Start doing your research and connect with your network to learn about unpublished opportunities. Find out what employers want before they post. Don’t wait for a magic pill.