Logo

Your Job Search Mission: To Boldly Go Where No Candidate Has Gone Before

Published: May 13, 2009

 Job Search       

StarTrek is hitting the big screen once more with the prequel to the original TVseries with characters James T. Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy, Lt. Uhura, EngineerScotty, Mr. Sulu and Mr. Chekov.  Iwas a huge fan during reruns in the 70s, so I pulled some job search lessonsfrom those original 80 episodes. Use these tips and you will no doubt live long and prosper!

 

WhenCaptain Kirk needed extra power to get the Enterprise and her crew out ofdanger, it was Scotty who came through with the dilithium crystals and the shipwas quickly into warp speed and out of danger.  What dilithium crystals do you need to propel your jobsearch?  Do you have to networkmore effectively?  Does your resumeneed work?  Do some troubleshootinghere and get the gear you need to succeed. 

 

Inthe episode “Trouble With Tribbles”, something that seemed innocent enoughturned out to be a serious threat. As it turned out, Tribbles multiplied like rabbits, and if that wasn’tproblematic enough, they ate all of the “quadro-triticale” which was theprecious wheat packed away in storage. Troubleshooting your job search is critical and necessary:  sometimes it’s the most obvious thingyou are missing:  your resume hasan error in it.  Your interviewskills are not where they need to be. Sometimes, you need to consult a career coach to find out what the issuecould be.  I remember mockinterviewing a seasoned HR professional who said 2 or 3 things wrong during aninterview that would knock her out of the running immediately.  Once I pointed them out to her, shelanded a job and has been very happy since.

 

RicardoMontalban played Khan, one of the most memorable characters in the originalseries.  Khan tried to out maneuverKirk, and steal the Enterprise for his own, using his genetically enhanced,superior intelligence.  In a jobsearch, it takes more than intelligence to land a job.  In addition to having the necessaryskills and abilities, you need passion and enthusiasm.  When I headed staffing for MerrillLynch and Citigroup, I would always search for qualified candidates, and once Ifound a slate of 3 or 4, I would almost always hire the enthusiastic person –the one that had passion.  It makesall the difference. 

 

Usethe best characteristics of Star Trek’s original characters to ensure you areon track:  use Captain Kirk’screative problem solving skills to figure out what to do next.  Use the logic of Mr. Spock and thecommunication skills of Lt. Uhura. Scotty was the engineer who did his research and knew the Enterpriselike the back of his hand.  Mr. Sulu and Mr. Chekov were both steady as a rock always plotting theright course for the enterprise. And, of course, Dr. McCoy was always there to ensure people were healthyand feeling great.  These are allskills you need for your job search. Now all you have to do is stay away from anyone who can do the Vulcanmind-meld.

 

ConnieThanasoulis-Cerrachio is the co-founder of SixFigureStart (www.sixfigurestart.com),a career coaching firm that partners with individuals through every stage oftheir job search.  

***