You’re probably familiar with the idea that small business is the engine of job growth. While this may well be true generally, today’s economic reality makes it difficult to wait for those new jobs to materialize. Increasingly, it now looks like the engine of job growth needs to be the individual.
In fact, in the job search strategy sessions I lead, a regular theme is the need to develop an entrepreneurial mind set in managing one’s career. For many people, this mostly means starting one’s own business. Yet, being entrepreneurial can also mean managing a portfolio of work as a contractor or part-timer.
Lately, it seems the experiences people are having at the hands of large employers support “a radical rethink of the hiring game” – according to a recent BusinessWeek article, “Winning Back a Wary Workforce.” The article states that “Many people have come to the conclusion that they don't want to work for ‘the man’ anymore.” It goes on to say that to win workers back after the current recession, “Teams will need to be smaller, organizations flatter, and the values of candor, informality, and innovation must be baked into the culture. People will need to feel that what they say matters…”
Indeed, a work climate that is built on entrepreneurial values is what has long driven people to want to work for themselves. And according to Pam Slim, author of Escape From Cubicle Nation: From Corporate Prisoner to Thriving Entrepreneur, breaking out is easier than you might think – provided you’re able to identify and build on your passions, and to create value that people will actually pay for.
Easy? Maybe. Working in a “comfort zone” provided by an employer can be a big barrier to making the leap. Even if your company has given you a push with a forced separation, your instinct is probably to find another job as soon as possible – and you’ll probably rely on a standard approach to job search to do so. Yet, we’re seeing that traditional methods of finding a job are increasingly limited in the results they produce. Yes, it is time to rethink – and you would do well to start that process for yourself.
To start driving job creation for you, start managing Brand You. Make sure you offer unique value, determine the customers you serve, and identify what sets you apart in their minds. Then, rely less on your resume and more on implementing a media plan that helps you become visible, conveying your passion and the results you can drive for your customers in the future.
Cross-posted at The Personal Branding Blog
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