You can’t turn on the television, radio or check your favorite social media feed without seeing news about the presidential nomination race.
It may not surprise you to hear that running for a political office is similar to searching for a job. In fact, some career experts have even labeled the process job-search campaigning. Perhaps you can lift a page from the campaign strategies used by political candidates for your personal job search.
[See: 10 Ways to Perfect Your Personal Brand.]
Be likeable. Kiss babies and shake a lot of hands. That’s what politicians do. During your job search you want to make an effort to come across as friendly. The best ways to do this are to smile, make eye contact, use people’s names when speaking to them and most importantly, say the right things.
Keep your message simple. Using employer-specific acronyms isn’t going to win many votes. Hiring managers aren’t so different from voters. Go easy on using acronyms, product names and other company-specific details that your future employer may not understand. Carefully plan what you will say and use short stories to back up your skills.
Be trustworthy. Be sure you live up to your campaign promises. Follow up on all applications and after every interview. Your actions during a job search are indicative of how you will perform on the job. And never exaggerate your qualifications. Your integrity, honesty and ethical behavior can either work for you or against you. Do the right thing.
Enlist support from superdelegates. You need the support from company insiders and people with influence. Seek out the people you already know and ask for their support before you apply for jobs. Let your contacts know how your search is going and don’t be intimidated to ask for their help. You never know who your friends may know.
[See: The 8 Stages of a Winning Job Search.]
Answer the question. There’s nothing worse than hearing a candidate avoid a question during a political debate or interview. During your job search, anticipate tough questions, like why you left your last job and what you’ve been doing since you left your job. Prepare the best direct answer possible and try it out on your supporters for feedback.
Reference your track record. Experience in similar roles is usually desirable. But sometimes employers are searching for an outsider. If you’ve got related experience, flaunt it. In some cases, candidates have even spun unrelated experience to fit political aspirations. Success is transferrable. The key is to connect the dots between the two roles and show how the skills will translate. The good news is, it is possible to change careers.
Tap into media. Getting in front of the public is critical for a candidate. The same is true for you. You don’t want to be a well-kept secret. It may not be possible for you to get on television, but you can tap into social media, like Twitter, to share your ideas, opinions and activities to attract attention and build awareness.
Be visible. People tend to vote for candidates they know. You don’t want to be the nameless or faceless candidate. Stay in the public eye by attending events, staying connected with your past colleagues and volunteering. Become active in your local geographic or professional community. The best way to be remembered is to stay in the public eye.
[See: 10 Ways Social Media Can Help Land You a Job.]
Get a strong campaign manager. There isn’t a single candidate who is managing their campaign by themselves. Who will keep you on track? A job-search coach has previous experience showing job seekers the ropes. Using a coach will save you time and money down the road. If you can’t afford one, at least find someone to serve as your job-search mentor and accountability partner.
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Job-Search Lessons Learned From Political Campaigns originally appeared on usnews.com
