Are all of your job search eggs in one basket?
I once knew a guy who applied to about 100 jobs and got two call backs.
First of all, those aren’t great odds and tells me something isn’t right. But, second, and even worse than the outcome of his odds, was that after he received the two call backs, he promptly ended his job search. He declared, “I know I’ll get one of these jobs, so I don’t have to look anymore!” Ok, maybe he wouldn’t march around, sword in hand, boldly declaring this statement; but that is essentially what he was saying by abruptly stopping his search.
This took place not that long ago, and I know you’re thinking, “Who would do such a thing is this economy?” But the status of the economy is actually irrelevant as far as search strategy goes. Here are some no-brainer tips for a successful job search:
1. Just because you receive a call back for an interview does not mean you can stop your job search.
2. Just because an interview went outstanding does not mean you can stop your job search.
3. Unless you have a firm offer on the table and you have accepted it, completed new hire paperwork and have a start date, do not stop your job search.
4. If you are unemployed, about to be laid off or in a bad situation at your current place of employment, treat finding a job LIKE A JOB! A 40-hour a week job.
How can I spend 40 hours a week looking for a job? There are ways, my friend! Contrary to popular belief, applying online is not the only way to find a job. Behold! A list of 6 other ways to find a job:
1. Broadcast letters. After staying home for the first year after my daughter was born, I needed a proactive way to find a job other than applying online. So, as a part of my search, I printed my resumes and cover letters on professional resume paper, and I sent them to every staffing agency and recruiting office within a 45-mile radius of my house. I got more call backs from this than I did from applying online.
2. Door-to-door. Albeit more time consuming, dropping off a professional resume in person still speaks volumes. (Do not attempt this if you are an executive.) Professional and entry-level job employers go wild when this happens. Even if they don’t have a “We’re Hiring” sign in the window, you would be surprised how many jobs are not posted. In fact, I recently read an interesting statistic reporting 75% of all open jobs are not ever posted! I experienced this situation when I left a full-time position to operate my current business. The Regional Vice President of the organization I was leaving asked me how we could fill my position without posting the job or dealing with a HUGE influx of applications. The process wasn’t worth their hassle. WOW, did that ever open my eyes to how things have changed. And it should yours, too.
3. Network. You always hear it – it’s not what you know but who you know. That is the truth! Prime example: When I left my aforementioned position, my sister-in-law was looking to return to work after 3 years of staying at home to raise her children. She knew nothing about Human Resources and certainly wasn’t at the HR Management level I was leaving. But, after meeting her through me, the position I was vacating was restructured to suit her – administrative vs. management – and she was offered the position.
4. Social networking. I never really believed how fruitful this could be until I got really involved on LinkedIn. Now, I’m addicted. I love the site; I am in 48 groups, and I’ve connected with professionals I otherwise never would have. In fact, because of my profile and my active participation, I’ve received multiple offers to publish my content, and you can now read my blog and career articles across the net! In addition, several organizations have contacted us about having our samples in their software programs and website databases. I’m telling you – IT WORKS! Get smart: get a facebook page, a twitter account, and a LinkedIn account. Keep them professional, and make them work for you.
5. Get your resume on the net. Not just on job boards – ON THE INTERNET! I meet clients every day who take advantage of technology by publishing their resumes and cover letters on the internet. They have their own websites and their own professional brands. This is not only forward-thinking and visionary, it’s genius, and it works!
6. Be creative! The sky is the limit. I know one person who printed up her resume on flyers and went around store parking lots putting her resume on cars. Crazy or genius? She had a job that same week.
There are many other avenues to pursue in your job hunt as well. Like I said, the sky is the limit. So, get creative! Think of finding a job like marketing a product or service. If you wanted to sell that product or service, what would you do? Now think about that in terms of what you can do to market yourself and your personal brand!
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As CEO of Great Resumes Fast, Jessica Holbrook enjoys collaborating with forward-thinking professionals and executives, identifying their personal brand and value proposition and leveraging their unique talent, passion, and vision to position them as a leader in their industry. Her passion is helping professionals and executives uncover what makes them stand out in the crowd.
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Last updated on January 28th, 2010 at 04:51 am
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