Applying for Your Next Job? Prepare For Your Long Game, Jenel Scherrer’s Job Search Story

Do you have a long game, or a broad vision for where you want your career to go? Janel Scherrer used her skills as a marketing strategist to pinpoint goals in her job search, and it’s paying off. Janel also advises job seekers to be generous and to mentor others. True to form, Janel shares several useful tips for job seekers in her job search story below!

What do you do for a career? Who do you work for?

As a senior digital and social marketing strategist for Pinnacle Marketing Group (PMG), my work includes managerial and leadership experience integrating strategies across digital domains. My primary expertise is in B2B for deep technology and SaaS solutions – where technology intersects to improve lives from healthcare to wearables to a wide swath of retail verticals. I also characterize my expertise as “B2B2C,” with a strong connection to consumer engagement.

How long did it take you to find this job?

My job search lasted 8 months with sabbatical activities and contract work woven in.

I’d advise to always be ready to work your craft as a consultant/contractor. Understand your core offering(s). Understand the implications, set-up and responsibilities of being a sole proprietor in advance.

How did you find your job? What resources did you use? What tool or tactic helped the most?

LinkedIn is an immensely valuable resource to have a platform to connect with other professionals worldwide with common and peripheral interests and objectives – cultivate it as an ongoing practice, optimize your profile with relevant keywords to your objectives and industry, and request and provide recommendations. I would also recommend signing up for a LinkedIn Premium account to position yourself competitively and have access to recruiters and potential connections.

Additionally, get a professional headshot, sign up for webinars, certifications, events not only to network, but sharpen skills, and volunteer to be a mentor. And don’t forget to make time for non-job search activities to stay balanced and fresh!

What was the most difficult part of your job search? How did you overcome this challenge?

I worked at staying productive and assessing each interaction for learnings to strengthen my candidacy opportunities. I continually asked myself: how does my resume and background resonate? What questions can I anticipate? How are my strengths or tiered skill sets landing?

What is the single best piece of advice you would offer other job seekers?

For job seekers and others:

• Keep your resume updated. Review/refresh every six months. Upload supporting project documentation as work examples.
• Identify 3 success stories that you could tell in 60- 90 seconds showcasing your experience in action, including quantifiable success metrics.
• Request and give recommendations. Be a resource.
• Stay focused; be methodical; keep the pipeline full; stay positive.
• Take on projects to keep your skills current and relevant, and you marketable. This will be ongoing for all generations in the workforce.
• Gain visibility in your work in a way that isn’t promotional. Nurture your credibility and reputation. Add value.
• Understand the playing field and create your personal brand and career strategy accordingly through each phase. Understand and prepare for your long game.
• Be deliberate and strategic about jobs you apply for and accept, with an understanding of next steps in your career path.

Why do you love your job?

I’m incredibly fortunate to be welcomed into an agile and collaborative agency team with strong leadership and a clear vision where I can apply and grow my expertise and passion for marketing strategy across domains with exciting B2B2C clients, and to be in a position to mentor, and be mentored; PMG has a solid reputation as a nimble team producing caliber work, and I’m thrilled to assist in taking this well-positioned team to the next level with emerging marketing strategies and technology.