By Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter
The launch of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio” on November 20, 2010 was a step into the unknown. At the time, there were very few high-quality podcasts and the audio quality was quite poor. The purpose of this show is to dispel myths in the job search because from my search, I realized that job hunting doesn’t have to be as difficult as it used to be.
Ten years and 2,000 episodes later, I’ve taught many job search classes and given career advice through the show, and I thought it would be a good time to summarize a few important takeaways.
1. You are the Chairman of the Board of Directors in your career. Too many people leave responsibility for their careers to their employers and learn the hard way that their employers only care about their own interests, not theirs. You have a board of directors – your husband, wife, partner, children – and you report to them. You are responsible for your career, not the people you work for.
2. Life is too short to do work you don’t like or that is boring. I feel a sense of sadness when I receive messages from listeners who feel trapped and numb in their work. You can take steps to change your job and work environment. It may take effort and time, but so does living a life that slowly numbs you. See Job Search Lesson #1.
3. When companies recruit, ability is just one of the qualities they look for. Additionally, they look for confidence, character, chemistry, and sometimes charisma. Together, these qualities lead to the important thing they seek—trust. They trust you. If there is no trust (or despair – but you don’t want to get into a desperate situation), they will continue the interview.
4. Networking is a professional practice, not a job search practice. Many people make the mistake of moving from one task to another for human interaction “when needed.” They ignore the data: The Internet fills more jobs than recruiting and advertising. So when they need someone, they become “one of the guys” Those ones “People” try to use history with someone to their own advantage rather than maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship. Successful networking often involves maintaining relationships rather than finding new ones. Few people network unless they need something. See Job Search Lesson #1.
5. Interview practice. Don’t wing it. Great athletes practice, and The artists are rehearsing. Job seekers go to interviews and when they first say these words in the interview, they wonder why their results were poor. They will ask certain predictable questions in every interview. Rehearse your answers by saying them.
6. Although we know we are influenced by brands, we rarely brand ourselves. We live in an age of influencers and brands, and even though we don’t work hard to be seen, we act like the universe will recognize and recognize our talents. Proactively think about what you can do to expand your reach so that opportunities come to you instead of you chasing them. See Job Search Lesson #1.
7. Treat others with respect. A recruiter is a person who tries to fill a job vacancy. They are neither leeches nor parasites. They are paid by the company to fill positions. They don’t work for you and you don’t pay anything. It’s your responsibility to take care of yourself, not theirs. See Job Search Lesson #1.
8. Negotiations begin with the first question about compensation. Whether you live in a state where asking about current wages is still legal, or one where it’s illegal, they will be open to negotiation once the topic turns to compensation. “What are you currently making? Is this gross salary or base salary? Gee, that seems a bit high. Can you be more flexible?” You know nothing about the job, the team, or who you will be reporting to, other than what you learned from them or online. If you agree to be flexible at this stage, you’ll need to hedge that statement to protect yourself later. “I know nothing about the job, the expectations, the team, or the people I’ll be working for. In theory, I can be flexible, but I need to know more before I can commit to being flexible.” See Job Search Lesson #1.
9. Everyone lies. Many job candidates exaggerate their experience. Recruiters often exaggerate job offers. Most people forget that employers do the same. I’ve never heard a recruiting manager say, “I’ve got a big problem. We’re way behind; the team I inherited was lazy. My predecessor was fired, and hers was fired. I need help saving myself!” Instead, they talk about the great opportunity to work with a great team and how they are like family. They might be, but they might be more like the families in all the holiday movies who want to kill each other!
10. Get off the conveyor belt and be seen as an individual. The recruiting process has turned into a sausage-making process. People apply for jobs through an applicant tracking system, where they are expected to homogenize their experience in order to stand out from thousands of others. Most employers ask them the same questions until eventually they are selected and onboarded. Come off the conveyor belt where you are being processed.
There are many more things I realized, but they can all be summarized as “the skills required to find a job are different from the skills required to complete the job.”
If you don’t know how to do it differently, find a coach, mentor, or good friend who can guide you. Otherwise, you will be homogenized and commodified and end up like everyone else.
Ⓒ Big Game Hunters, Asheville, NC 2024, 2026
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