Be a Consultant, Not a Job Seeker

Be a Consultant, Not a Job Seeker Be a Consultant, Not a Job Seeker 3Looking for a simple way to energize your search for a new position? Try to be a consultant rather than a job seeker. By changing your perspective, you could open yourself to new opportunities. Here are three reasons why you should be a consultant and not a job seeker! Job seekers make people uncomfortable. Look up the word seeker in the dictionary and you’ll find a definition such as “someone who is looking for or trying to get something.” Sounds needy, right? Neediness often scares people off because they fear not being able to help, and that makes them feel bitter. Now think about the word consultant, which means “a person who gives professional advice or services.” Others like people who give- they benefit from their generosity and knowledge. People will be curious what you have to offer, leading to longer, more productive conversations. Consultants meet more people. Everyone has heard about the power of networking. While job seekers often feel at the mercy of whatever positions are open, consultants are actively cultivating relationships and putting their skills on display. There’s no waiting; you can make things happen. As this Forbes article puts it, “You can start consulting tomorrow. You can consult for your neighborhood association or at your place of worship. You can build a website for your cousin’s home-based business, or you can write an eBook with 40 tips for people with some kind of problem that you understand better than most folks.” Unsure where to start? Try this strategy suggested by Darrell Gurney, founder of CareerGuy.com and author of Never Apply for a Job Again: Break the Rules, Cut the Line, Beat the Rest: I advocate discovering for yourself what youre really fascinated by in your field or industry (or, if you want to make an entire career change, in some other industry) and then putting together a research project. Ive had clients write whitepapers or articles for professional journals as the basis of their reason for getting out to meet experts, industry thought leaders, and corporate executives. Its the exposure and getting known that allows opportunities to come to you . . . not wearing your I need a job! on your sleeve. This kind of backdoor or stealth approach, coming from the fact that youre truly wanting information (as the consultant you are) and needing it from them as the expert (people like to be seen as experts), will have doors open and always have you knowing and known more by the people in the know. You’ll feel better about yourself. Lastly, despite the fact that many folks find themselves without a paying job at some point in their lives, unemployment has a way of making a person feel inadequate. But as the Forbes article notes, “As a consultant you’re driving your career. One of your consulting projects in the near future might take the shape of a full-time job. That’s okay. It’s just another consulting project!” Taking on a positive identity rather than feeling stuck with a negative label not only makes you see yourself differently, it can influence perception by others. Gurney notes that he often coaches his new clients who are going in for interviews to get themselves into the mindset of being a “consultant having a meeting with a potential client” vs. “a job seeker being interviewed for a job.” “They will come off completely different: confident, engaging, probing, and authoritative,” Gurney says. And wherever your career path leads, those are great traits to display. Readers, which would you prefer to be: a consultant or a job seeker? Does a different perspective help to energize your job search? Share your experiences with us below!