Looking for a Job? Think Like a "PI"

Have you considered a career as a private investigator (PI), private detective, or private eye? Maybe you have; maybe you haven't, however, as it relates to you and your job search, I would encourage you to tap into your PI skills and put them to work pronto!

What is a private detective, anyway? According to Dictionary.com, private detective is a noun, originating in 1865 - 1870, that means "a detective who is not a member of an official force but is employed by private parties." (Translated: in a job search, you are the private party hiring your PI self -- pro bono at that!)

When it comes to looking for a new job, have you considered applying your PI skills to solve the case? What, if any, PI skills do you possess? (Go ahead and make a list.) Recently, I asked a "real" private detective to share some thoughts on looking for a job: think like a detective. Listed below are a few ideas shared from the detective's perspective:

• Emphasize active listening. Listening is really important to understanding. The main thing is to "seek first to understand...then to be understood" as in Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Candidates who listen well will observe well and can figure out how they fill a niche.
• Use a problem-solving approach to solve someone else's problem. Ask -- how can I do that? If you solve problems for the boss and for the organization, all will go well. Don't create problems, solve them.
• Keep an open mind. Don't get locked into narrow thinking in the early stages. That said, once you know the truth, stay focused and follow your instincts. Pursue every detail in a methodical, persistent manner, and with determination.
• Take necessary educated risks. Take risks that you can justify. Make sure you can justify your thoughts and processes to an independent third party so that person would understand.
• Always sell yourself. Maybe most important is this point of sell yourself. Build a trusting relationship. Be human, be real and let them see your strengths. Let them see you as a reasonable person.

So, how about it? Are you ready to put your Sherlock or Magnum or Miss Marple skills to work? Are you ready to go solve the job search mystery that may have others stumped?

posted by: billiesucher

Comments

[Twitterman]

heres 3 jobsites chosen by about.com as getting the best results for job seekers -

www.linkedin.com (professional networking)
www.indeed.com (aggregated listings)
www.realmatch.com (matches you to jobs)

good luck to all.