Put Your Purpose Out There!
#opentowork – pity post or purpose statement?
Many job-hunters I mentor are reluctant to put themselves out there. I have sadly heard a few people describe #opentowork posts on LinkedIn as “pity posts”, which I think is both cruel and completely misses the point – because they work. Several people I’ve mentored have landed jobs, directly or indirectly, with such posts. The record is a post leading to a conversation and converting to a job within a week.
I get it, shouting about yourself on LinkedIn can feel desperate, but suspend your skepticism for a second and reframe those feelings. Think about a prospective employer and the valuable skills, experiences and attributes you have to offer them. If you don’t put that out there, they might never know you exist. They might miss out on making the perfect hire, because you were afraid to share a few facts from your CV. Networking is by far and away the best approach to landing a job in this market.
But shouldn’t I just apply to their job posting? Yes, you should, but what if:
The role isn’t listed publicly yet, or ever – you may miss the opportunity.
The hiring manager isn’t the one sifting the applications, and you’re filtered out by an AI-driven process, a recruiter, or a junior HR person with no experience.
Your CV doesn’t resonate on an emotional level, because who loves anyone’s CV?
The more touch points you have with a company, the more times they see your name and face, the more likely you are to land the job – I’ve seen it time and again. Crucially, the more personal these touch points are, the better. Sharing an authentic expression of your next career goal, even in a public forum, can spark personal connections.
All that said, I do have some tips to ensure sure your post doesn’t come across as a desperate “pity post”; rather, you can position it as a bold purpose statement:
Open with a future-facing summary of your goal e.g. making a career transition, then go on to explain how your current/recent role and past experience have furnished you with the requisite skills, experiences and attributes to succeed. In essence this is a storytelling exercise, where you are the hero of your story.
Avoid talking about your growing debts, your turbulent romantic life, or needing to feed your kids – I’m all for honesty but you also need to act professionally.
Don’t just ask for any old job, explain you’re exploring opportunities in a specific geography/sector/industry/function/role – be focused and confident.
Demonstrate your genuine passion and interest for the role you’re seeking, by referencing projects, research or networking you’ve done in that space.
Attach a photo, which is both professionally appropriate and shows some character – hiking gear on a mountain top is fine, Speedos in a tub not so much.
Turn on your #opentowork banner, to make it obvious you’re available – anyone who judges you for that in this job market is an idiot you don’t want to work for.
Give it a go, I promise you won’t regret it. If people aren’t interested, they’ll scroll on by – nobody’s going to laugh at you. Don’t ask, don’t get has never been more relevant to the new paradigm of work. If you need some help drafting your purpose statement, reach out, I’ll happily give you some pointers to maximise the effect.
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