What is influence and how does it pertain to your job search? If you are looking for ways to stand apart from the over crowded human capital pool, consider your abilities to influence others. In today’s job market, winning that coveted interview leading to a job requires the job seeker to become a target marketer.

But even with the best research, including desired companies and hiring managers, job seekers must be able to influence people in order to capture the interview leading to that desired position.

What is Influence?

In his interview for Guy Kawasaki’s fantastic must read “Reality Check”, Dr. Robert Cialdini PhD, Professor of Psychology at Arizona State University, and one of the world’s leading experts on persuasion, compliance, and negotiation defines influence:

“Influence means creating change in some way. Change can be in an attitude, it can be in a perception, or a behavior. But in all instances, we can’t lay claim to influence until we can demonstrate we have changed someone.”

Influence a “Science” for All

According to Dr. Cialdini the good news about influence is that it is no longer just for certain “gifted” individuals. Instead Cialdini insists:

“For centuries, the ability to be influential and persuasive has been thought of as an art, but there’s also a science to it. And if it’s scientific, it can be taught. It can be learned. So we all have the potential to become more influential.”

Influence Your Job Search

With the trend for job search turning to proactive target marketing and social media tools within an employment campaign, the natural progression for a job seeker is influence. How to influence hiring managers and persuade companies to give you a interview is the ultimate goal.

If you want to understand the importance of being influential in your job search, come back for my next installment in the series: “Job Seekers: Utilize 6 Ingredients of Influence.”

I spent the most pleasant evening tonight with a wonderful group of women who gathered for the Flourish book club meeting to discuss my book, Inner Architect. Flourish is the vision of Anne Marie Engel, whose mission is to support women in navigating the challenges of balancing career and life.

Pursuing your passions in your work was a thread that weaved throughout our discussions. These accomplished, well-educated women shared their thoughts about leaving a secure, established career to pursue their passions. When you have built a level of success in a profession, letting go comes with its share of angst.

• What will other people think about my decision?
• How do I let go of being one role to move into another?
• How will I survive the early times of making a lot less money?

Having done so myself three years ago, I could relate to these questions they shared. Looking back now, I can see that the answers didn’t come until I took steps forward. And the good news is that dealing with these questions has been so much easier than I anticipated.

Lesson: We tend to give more power to our fears than they deserve.

Put your toe in the water. Take tiny steps towards the career you want and see what happens. Chances are the very things you worry about the most turn out to be more manageable that you would have thought possible.

“It is that American spirit, that American promise, that pushes us forward even when the path is uncertain; that makes us fix our eye not on what is seen, but what is unseen, that better place around the bend. That promise is our greatest inheritance.”

— Senator Barack Obama, National Democratic Convention 2008

These sentences inspired me to leap off my bed to grab a pen so that I could scribble words that would later remind me of a message I did not want to forget. How often we take for granted the most valuable benefit of being a United States citizen—our freedom to strive for a better life.

I speak to so many people who are afraid to make a new choice; afraid of taking a risk, afraid of taking steps backward in order to move forward, and afraid of making a big mistake. As someone who has been there, too, I’ve learned that the one thing that keeps me pushing forward is believing that the better place does lie around the corner and that I can get there if only I keep doing the necessary work.

How to move forward through uncertainty and risk:

1. Believe that the achievement you want is possible for you.

2. Acknowledge that what you have to gain is far greater than what you have to lose.

3. Begin every day focusing on a vision of your success.

4. Don’t allow yourself to dwell on thoughts of failure.

5. Believe in your ability to stay committed to the necessary work.

6. Hold yourself responsible every day to take the necessary steps.

“Wachovia plans to cut 600 more jobs than previously expected; total now 11,350.” -Yahoo.com August 11, 2008

“Looming job cuts march on-report: The number of job cuts announced in July jumps 26%. Airlines and financial firms top the list, according to monthly study.” -CNNMoney.com August 4, 2008

“Deepening Cycle of Job Loss seen lasting into ‘09.” -New York Times July 2, 2008

Economic change and political transition are everywhere in America right now. Looming layoffs, election hopes, and uncertainty of our country’s direction have produced a paranoia amongst Americans for the health and welfare of their futures.

Make Yourself Invaluable

1. Your work ethic is the best way to keep your job, if you really enjoy your work, by making yourself an asset that your company can not live without. Be invaluable.

2. Be versatile to the point where you can do your job with a high level of expertise as well as other valuable jobs within your organization. If layoffs come, the person with the largest skill set is often in the best position to remain unscathed.

3. Ask for more responsibility, more work, and do it now. Make sure your positive attitude is seen as a benefit to the organization. Don’t remain undercover; instead be your own PR person.

Increase Your Expertise

4. Read cover-to-cover your industry trade publications, online resources, and niche blogs within your industry.

5. Read as many books as possible about related subjects.

6. Take classes and workshops for hands-on training and comprehension.

7. Utilize the Internet search engines for extensive research.

8. Attend trade shows and industry conferences.

9. Join organizations, professional associations, and niche specific networking groups.

Q: What one thing can you do to enjoy success in all aspects of your life?

A: Hold yourself personally responsible for your success.

Personal responsibility is one debilitating obstacle that gets in the way for many of us. We recognize that unwanted pounds don’t melt away on their own, the love of our life isn’t delivered to our front door and our dream career doesn’t materialize overnight. Yet while we act responsibly to promote our employer’s success and our family’s well being, we often don’t maintain the same standards in pushing forth our own desires and dreams.

Consider these reasons to hold yourself responsible for your success:

· Control: You shift from a mindset of “I want greater success” to “My actions will create more success.”

· Opportunities: You recognize that it is your role to initiate your opportunities. You are not passively waiting for opportunities or good luck to land in your lap.

· Accountability: You see that the only thing standing in your way of creating success is yourself. You recognize that external challenges can be overcome with your focus and dedication to doing what it takes.

Steps to take this week to take responsibility for your success:

1. Consider your desires and dreams at the same priority level as your family responsibilities and job. Just like you wouldn’t ignore requests from your boss or fail to provide your child with health or school needs, don’t allow yourself to slack off on the steps you need to take to create your success.

2. Schedule time for the building of your success. You are in control of how you spend your time; don’t let it be your excuse. Put your necessary steps on your calendar and commit to them. Think of time as being the most important asset you have and invest it wisely. Always ask yourself if what you are doing is leading you to where you want to go.

www.innerarchitect.com