An American zoologist named Marston Bates (no relation to Norman of “Psycho” fame) once said that research is “the process of going up alleys to see if they are blind.” If you are an industrious job seeker, you have probably found yourself at some point mired along the job search way, and may have secretly hoped for something magical to come along and get things moving again. No magic carpet here; research will get you there, albeit not without work, but it WILL get you there.
Whatever do you mean, you may ask. Well, first of all, don’t think of research as a tedious chore that must be done. Learn to think differently about research and it will give you an unexpected edge over your competition, no matter who they may be. Whatever phase of the search cycle you may be in (rinse, dry, second rinse, etc) or defining, interviewing or negotiating, it is likely that you may need fresh questions to ask others and fresh answers to the same old questions others ask you.
You may not realize it, but that is the crux of research; finding the fastest way to turn a dull job search into a powerful proactive campaign. Research is the vehicle that will drive your search to its destination. It is both the map and the gas, if you wish to take this analogy one step further. It will “unstick” you from a stalled or stagnating search (motor) by infusing you with new information (batteries).
There are two types of research: primary and secondary. Simply put, primary means talking to people while secondary refers to reading material in print. It is usually more effective to do the secondary part first because that will make your questions much more detailed and focused. This approach will give you confidence and it is well worth the time involved. It is a way to take the information you have learned and use it in conversations with people who can move you closer to your goal of obtaining the job that is right for you.
So read and talk, talk and read.
Good luck!
Related Reading:
“What Are Hard and Soft Skills?”
http://forums.families.com/jobs,f122