The Power of "Spot Opportunities"

by Ross Macpherson, President, Career Quest

What is a "Spot Opportunity?"

A spot opportunity is any reported news in the business world that can help you uncover and/or create your next great employment opportunity. Here are just a few samples of where you might uncover your next great lead (although the list is limited only to your imagination, creativity, and motivation):

news of a new executive being hired into a company of interest. While he or she might keep much of the existing staff, it is not uncommon for new staff to be hired within the first six months or so
news of public offerings or significant financing often indicate that a company is planning for growth or some sort of strategic restructuring. In many cases, at least part of this new financing is put aside for hiring new talent to help them reach their goals.
new buildings or office space leases often indicate business expansion, and therefore new positions to be filled

Is it worth it?

You bet. Think about it...if you can spot an opportunity, contact a key decision maker up front, and demonstrate how you can contribute, the benefit speaks for itself:

you get your face in the door before any job is even posted, virtually eliminating the competition
you take advantage of their need at the most opportune time
you are often communicating directly with the hiring decision maker, not getting lost in the routine application and human resources maze
the company saves time and considerable money by not needing to advertise a new position or go through a recruiter
you come across as showing initiative, originality, resourcefulness, a work ethic that gets the job done, and a sincere interest and motivation in contributing to their company
because the position doesn't necessarily exist yet, you have more opportunity to make suggestions and create your ideal position through open discussion

Where to Look

Newspapers - the business section of your local paper, as well as national papers such as the Globe & Mail, Wall Street Journal, and so on, are always reporting on new business developments, executive profiles and announcements, new ventures, and so on.
Magazines - news and business magazines, such as Forbes, Business Week, Canadian Business, Time, Newsweek, MacLean's, etc. also contain valuable business clues for spot opportunities.
Trade Journals - probably the best way to really focus your research into spot opportunities is to keep an eye on your industry's trade journals. Articles pinpoint key players in the industry and report on trends, new entries, and future forecasts. A great resource.
Association Journals and Newsletters - once again, if you choose to join an association in your industry (and I recommend you do), then pay attention to their magazines, newsletters, directories, etc.
Industry Seminars & Conventions - a great place to meet people and network, and but also a great opportunity to listen for spot opportunities.
Media - obviously, television and radio are also good places to start listening for opportunities.

Now is a Good Time

A new fiscal year and new calendar year (i.e. now and over the next few months) is a great time to look for spot opportunities. Companies and departments have new budgets and new strategic plans, and they might need you to help them get there.

It does take some additional work to uncover these spot opportunities, and some additional creativity and chutzpah to capitalize upon them, but the rewards can be spectacular. One key point to consider, though: BE SPECIFIC IN WHAT YOU CAN OFFER. In other words, do your homework, identify their need, and be very clear in what you are offering and how you can help. If you simply send a generic résumé and cover letter and hope that they call you (or worse yet, ask for a job), you're falling into that passive job search trap and not really marketing yourself. Take a chance, know what you can offer, keep your eyes open for your own spot opportunities, and show them what you`ve got!

About the Author

Ross Macpherson is the President of Career Quest, a Certified Professional Resume Writer, and a Career Success Coach who has helped thousands of motivated professionals advance their careers. To receive more valuable career advice, sign up to join his monthly newsletter "Career Quest Café" by visiting www.yourcareerquest.com.

NOTE: You're more than welcome to "reprint" this article online as long as it remains intact and unaltered (including the "About the Author" info at the end), and you send a copy of your reprint to ross@yourcareerquest.com