Seth Godin’s guest post, Don’t Try and Get a Job, on GL Hoffman’s What Would Dad Say blog suggests that you are better off starting your own business than trying to get a job. And this is exactly the advice I would expect from this unconventional marketing guru and author of such great books as Purple Cow and Small is the New Big. And I think the post contains sound advice for some. But I think there is a much bigger message in his post and my interpretation of it is that everyone in a job search needs to be either an entrepreneur or an “intrapreneur” and everyone needs to control their career destiny in order to achieve the best results. Since I advocate for job seekers looking to find their place inside a company, here are my observations on being a successful “intrapreneur” and better managing your career.
- “Intrapreneurs” know that job search is an entrepreneurial venture. Everyone who is in a job search is the owner of a company called I Need a Job, Inc. And you need to run your search campaign like a company. In this scenario you are the product and your customer is the hiring manager. You need strong marketing collateral (resume and branded bio), an online presence (LinkedIn, Zoom Info and other identity and networking tools), and a sales force (people who advocate for you including your network and recruiters).
- “Intrapreneurs” know the best jobs do not have a job spec. The best jobs are created by the job seeker. Savvy job seekers make their own opportunities and convince hiring authorities that they don’t need to fill a job spec but rather they need them. They prove to employers how they can do things smarter, faster, or more efficiently and they showcase how they support organizational goals to make money, save money, save time, grow the business, or keep the business.
- “Intrapreneurs” solve business problems. They don’t talk about their competencies and their job tasks. They pinpoint an employer’s needs and talk about how they can deliver results.
- “Intrapreneurs” recognize that they ultimately control their career. Yes, this is a tough market, but people are landing great jobs every day. People who are continuously managing their careers consistently seek out opportunities to control their career destiny. They create a strategic networking plan that increases their visibility, builds credibility, and positions them to be found by key decision makers. They don’t wait for stuff to happen…they make stuff happen.