Applying Lean Principles to Your Job Search
Posted November 19th, 2014
“Lean principles” are synonymous with efficiency. They are a broad set of strategies designed to deliver more with less by reorganizing and streamlining efforts for maximum efficiency. The concept has typically been used in a business context but is increasingly being applied elsewhere, including to the job search process. As most job seekers know, looking for employment can be overwhelming, disorganized, and hugely inefficient. Here’s a few ways you can use lean principles to fix that:
Analyze How You Work
One of the most basic lean principles is the idea that we are often oblivious to our own systems of work. Basically, we accomplish things without fully understanding how they get done. Over a few days of job searching, keep a careful record of how you spend your time, when you work/don’t work, how much you get done and what you leave for tomorrow. Put your assumptions aside and take an honest look at how you really work at your job search.
Identify What Creates Value
Now that you know how you work, identify the actions you are taking that create value and those that don’t. Actions that create value could include reaching out to people in your professional network or writing a customized cover letter. Actions that don’t create value could include searching for jobs across the country when you have no desire to move, or writing emails to professional contacts who don’t work in your industry.
Revise and Track Your Efforts
As much as possible, eliminate the actions that don’t create value, and multiply/emphasize the actions that do. Then track the results in numbers. Are you sending out more resumes, getting more interviews or hearing about more opportunities? It’s important to be able to demonstrate improvement though real data rather than assumptions or emotions. If you’re not seeing improvement, it’s time to rethink the process again.
Consult with an Expert
Another of the core lean principles is the idea that closed systems don’t have enough perspective to clearly observe themselves. Simply put, they are too close to the problems to actually recognize them. That’s why it is common practice for companies applying learn principles to work with outside consultants. The benefits are the same for the job-seeker. Partnering with someone who can give you an honest assessment of your job search techniques while providing services to help you improve the overall process is often the help you need that you couldn’t provide yourself.
If your job search is proving frustrating and unsuccessful, contact a professional at Bayside Solutions. Our technical, data-driven approach to staffing for technical and manufacturing professions is based on a version of the lean principles. We are pioneering a new, streamlined approach for connecting employers and job seekers. Eliminate the inefficiencies keeping you from finding your next job by working with us.
