Mastering the Art of the Job Search - Beyond Resumes and Interviews

Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci

A job search is part art and part science. Most people are familiar with the science side, which involves systematic and data-driven aspects like researching employers, optimizing LinkedIn profiles for searchability, and ensuring the ATS can read your resume information.

Yet the art part of a job search is equally important and often overlooked.

Those who also focus on the art side of a job search often find more success. A piece of art like Leonardo DaVinci's Mona Lisa is successful for more than its mastery of the anatomy of the human face. We also celebrate it for its enigmatic smile and hazy, dream-like quality. It is a success because of both the art and science of it.

So what is part of the "art" side of a job search?"

• Sales

• Branding

• Storytelling

• Communication

• Negotiation

Easel with canvas that says “sales”

The Art of Sales

Many people hate the thought of "selling," but let's face it: you are selling yourself to an employer. You are selling your labor for wages.

So how best can you do that, especially if you do not want to appear "salesy?"

The first thing to do is craft your unique value proposition.

• Define your unique value proposition - what unique combination of strengths, skills, and experience do you possess? We are all different.

• Then, understand what companies are looking for. Research industry trends and identify employer issues that your skills can address.

• Then, connect the dots between what you offer and what employers want. 

You should do this before even thinking about writing a resume or updating your LinkedIn profile. 

Then, you can infuse this into not only your resume and LinkedIn profiles but also in your networking conversations and your interviews. It won't be salesy because it is true to who you are.

Various brands for cattle

The Art of Personal Branding

If you are building a house, you want a vision and style that provides the overall feel or aesthetic you are trying to achieve. That is similar to personal branding.

Personal branding is about understanding what you stand for, your values, as well as your skills and what you have experienced. This is what is authentic to you and what people think when they hear your name.

Understanding your brand helps you identify who you want to work with and the people and organizations you can best collaborate with. 

Knowing your personal brand also helps you be authentic so you don't feel salesy. When putting together your marketing materials (resume and LinkedIn profile), networking, or social media, your message about your value is clear because you understand it and consistently present it anywhere people find you or hear about you.

This greatly helps you distinguish yourself from your competition, who may not have a personal brand they can easily define for others.

Abstract art in yellow, blues, and reds with storytelling written on it.

The Art of Storytelling

From our early years, humans have loved a good story. Aesop's Fables, a classic in children's literature, tells stories of hard work, tenacity, and honesty through stories like The Tortoise and the Hare and The Boy Who Cried Wolf. You have likely not forgotten these stories, even if you last heard them decades before.

Your career stories can be like this. People can forget data, but they remember stories, especially how they make them feel. 

So, what is your career narrative? What stories can you tell to illustrate who you are and what you can do? If you are a problem solver, what stories can you tell about that? Are you a changemaker? Then, what successful experience do you have in instigating change?

Your success with your stories will also hinge on how they align with what employers want in their new hires. So make sure your stories resonate with how you solve problems or exploit opportunities your target industries or employers face.

Five people talking around a table

The Art of Communication

Hiring is a people business. People hire people, so connecting with those who can help you find opportunities or make hiring decisions is extremely important.

To build connection, lean into being a good communicator.

• Clear Communication and Active Listening

• In almost every job description, good communication skills are emphasized. That means you must demonstrate your strong communication skills throughout the job search. Your written communication needs to be concise and to the point. It means you should follow up in a cadence that is often enough but not overbearing. And it means that when you speak, you do not ramble and go off on tangents that confuse the listener.

• Epictetus, a Greek philosopher, said, "We have two ears and one mouth, so we can listen twice as much as we speak." This is still true today. When you truly listen, you will learn what is said (and what isn't) that can help you determine a person's priorities and feelings and whether you genuinely align with them.

• Building Relationships

• Look at networking as something other than a transactional exercise. Focusing on your network and being a giver rather than a taker can pay dividends now and in the future.

• Just because someone says no now does not mean it is a no forever. Continue to foster relationships with those who cannot help you now. If you do not abandon them, they could be your biggest ally in the future.

A woman negotiating with a man in the style of van gogh

The Art of Negotiation 

Job seekers are often so focused on resumes or interviews that they forget the last step in the job search process—the negotiation.

Many shy away from negotiation because they were not taught how to negotiate, fear it, or perceive a power imbalance.

Yet, when you know your worth in the marketplace and have realistic expectations, this should not feel like going into combat. It should be a conversation where you speak to your value, what it is worth, and how to reach a mutually beneficial agreement.

The art part of negotiations is having the confidence that comes with belief in your value and the positive attitude you carry into this conversation. Your storytelling can help the employer easily understand your value, and your ability to build rapport and read the room can help reduce tension and know when to push, hold your ground, or table the discussion for later.

Conclusion

Developing your skills in sales, personal branding, storytelling, communications, and negotiation is equally as crucial for your job search as a beautiful resume or a keyword-optimized LinkedIn profile.

It will help you to be the best job candidate you can be and give you a significant advantage over your competition.

The Mona Lisa is a masterpiece because of Leonardo Da Vinci's art and science. He didn't concentrate only on the science of painting; he married it with creativity, originality, and a vision that has stood the test of time for over 500 years.

Your success in your job search will be due to mastering both the art and science.

Shelley Piedmont is a Career Coach who focuses on understanding your unique skills, interests, and aspirations and provides personalized coaching to guide you toward roles where you can truly thrive. Whether you are stuck as to what your next career move should be or need help with resumes, LinkedIn profiles, or interview preparation, Shelley is here to help you. Please set up an exploratory call to find out how she can help you reach your career goals.