3 Played Out Career Strategies You Can Drop Today

​You’ll boost your career plan and receive more employment offers if you get rid of old, "played out" strategies that might be holding you back. Yes I'm talking about strategies that are just simply too old school to even be respectable. I'm talking about "diamond in the back, digging the scene with a gangsta lean" old.  I mean Madonna "Like A Virgin" old. (You can fill in the blank "___________ Old.") 

While some career advice, like showing up on time and proofreading your materials, never goes out of style, there are other tactics that just no longer work.  If you’ve been out of the job market for a while or you just want to maximize your opportunities, consider my advice to address the top 3 outdated career strategies I've seen lately. They’ll help you up-level your game in no time.

Played Out Strategy #1: You Still Talk about Career Objectives
Try This Instead: Sell Your Value With A Powerful Brand Statement

• Update your resume. What’s the first thing on your resume? Replace any description of your career objectives with a summary of your background and accomplishments. Make sure this summary is packed with action words and result-focused lingo. No more "My career objective is to be a Social Media Manager." More like "Social Media expert with extensive experience increasing brand awareness and customer engagement." BOO-YAH! (That's Andrala speak for now you're talking!)

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• Focus on adding value. Change your thinking as well as your words. Begin to think of yourself as the CEO of your own career. What is your product? YOU! Emphasize what you would contribute instead of what you want to get out of any job.

Played Out Strategy #2: You Apply for Anything (The Pray and Spray Method)
Try This Instead: Get Clear on Your Career Goal

• Set priorities. Please stop the "pray and spray" method of job search. Just. Don't. Do. It. I've had so many former clients tell me their stories of sending the same exact resume to 20 different positions on USAJobs. Then they pray for a call. Umm...you're a social worker so how do your qualifications match the Accountant V position at that federal agency? Before Google, you might not have been able to find many job openings, and hiring managers received a lot fewer applications. Today, you need to take a more targeted approach in order to stand out. Otherwise, you will get lost in the masses.

• Customize your approach. Sending out fewer applications means you can devote more attention to each one. Research companies or organizations thoroughly and adapt your cover letter and resume according to the specific qualifications of each job. A good career coach or certified resume writer can help you here.

Played Out Strategy #3: You Wait Until You Need A Network to Build A Network
Try This Instead: Always Be Networking!

• Build Contacts Continuously. There may be fewer advertised vacancies these days, but most agencies and nonprofits are hiring. For example, the nonprofit job site, Idealist.org had 8,000 jobs available as this post was published. So, make sure to take advantage of gatherings and other networking events to warm up old contacts and make new ones.
  
  
• Pace yourself. It’s more effective to offer help or ask for information rather than asking contacts directly if they know about any jobs. Most of your colleagues may not be able to hire you immediately, but they may be happy to perform other favors. Try to build authentic and genuine relationships with people in your industry or career niche. Share information. Become a go-to person or influencer. Guess who will be the first person who comes to mind when an opportunity comes up? Why, you, of course!

Let these new career strategies show your future employers that you’re skillful and up to date. If you've been using any of these outdated methods, you now have NO EXCUSE!

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​What other outdated career strategies have you seen or (gasp) used lately? Don't fret! If you need support to move ahead in your career, don't hesitate to set up your Dream Career Breakthrough Call today!

Andrala Walker is the Chief Career Whisperer at Envision Career Success. To learn more about her signature career coaching systems, go to www.envisioncareersuccess.com.