27 Rules For Your Job-Search
Posted by Matt LeBlanc on June 9, 2009 on Recruiter's Guide to the Universe.
There are an infinite number of things to consider when searching for a new job - here are 27 that are worth looking at.
1) Network, network, network and then network more.The
less time you spend reaching out to others to connect to those that
they know the longer your search will take. Don't make the Internet the
focus of your search - a successful search is all about people.
2) Be SELECTIVE on what you apply for.
If you start applying to everything under the sun (especially at the
same company) you will be black listed because you are wasting the
recruiters/hiring managers time and will appear desperate. If you don't
meet 70% of the requirements you need not apply.
3) Utilize all of the resources out there.
Local career centers, college career centers, local career groups, etc
are there to help you. If none exist where you live, create one.
4) Find a professional association in your niche and geographic area. They are great for networking and information.
5) Your email address might be killing your job-search! Your email address should be PROFESSIONAL (john.doe@comcast.net) and NOT include the year of your birth. hotchick@hotmail.com, utfan@bellsouth.net, etc are UNACCEPTABLE!!!
6) Don't count on anyone else to do your job search, it is a YOU project! You are responsible for you!
7) Things are changing - utilize LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com), Facebook (www.facebook.com), MySpace (www.myspace.com), and Twitter (www.twitter.com) in your search. Employers are on all three - why aren't you. If you have any questions on how to use them Google a "how-to" on each.
8) Have a plan for your job search and work that plan.
Those without a plan get frustrated and don't have the success that
those with a plan have. After you put your plan together find someone
to hold you accountable to it.
9) Your voice-mail could be killing your search. The out-going message on your phones should feature you and be professional.
10) If Oprah and Dr. Phil are part of your daily job-search routine you are in trouble. Enough said.
11) If you have one ounce of poison in your system because of your current situation people will not touch you with a ten foot pole. Attitude is HUGE!!!!! If you have a bad attitude nobody will want to be around you.
12) You need to be able to articulate what it you want to do. Nobody else will try to figure it out for you.
13) You need to speak the same lingo that companies are speaking for your job function. If you and a potential employer are speaking a different language about the position you have no chance.
14) Have you done any market research on what employers are really looking for in your job-function? If not - you are DEFINITELY missing the boat!!
15) What value do you bring to an employer? How can you impact their bottom line? No one is going to figure it out for you!!
16) If you need a contact at a company do some research (remember it is a YOU project).Call
those you know to ask, look on LinkedIn, Facebook, and MySpace, and
then Google the department and company. If those don't work, keep
looking.
17) Everyone should get a handwritten thank you note that has been a part of your search.
That includes receptionists, administrative assistants, friends who
bake you cookies, etc. You need to show appreciation to those that help
you.
18) The more you prepare for an interview the better it will go. Preparation breeds confidence and confidence equals success.
19) Job-search is a numbers game. The more you put yourself out there and hear "no" the closer you are to a "yes."
20) Get creative in your job-search.Have
you put a YouTube video resume up? Have you started a focused
networking group? Have you created a website about you? Have you gone
outside your box to try to make things happen?
21) Are you realistic in your job-search (salary, location, job function desired, etc)? If not, you need to be.
22) If you are making a complete career change you will take a salary cut 9/10 times. You are not as valuable in that new area.
23) Acting desperate will kill your chances!It is OK to be desperate - just don't let networking contacts and potential employers see it.
24) Don't get stuck.Have multiple things
going on at any given time so that if you don't get a callback you
expected you don't have to start over again.
25) Volunteer! Volunteering is a great way to keep your skills current, expand your network, and help others out.
26) Post your résumé on the job-boards.
Employers and recruiters search the job-boards so why aren't you on
there? You can leave off your last name, address, and phone number to
give yourself some confidentiality - just make sure you check your
email!
27) Be strong and courageous! Be not afraid nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go! Joshua 1:9
After reading this list what ‘rules' would include in order to be
succesful in looking for a new opportunity? I look forward to hearing
your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions.
Until next time, good hunting and good luck!
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This entry was posted on June 9, 2009 at 10:34 am and is filed under Job Search.
Tagged: career, email, Facebook, interview, job, LinkedIn, network, opportunity, resume, twitter. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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20 Responses to "27 Rules For Your Job-Search"
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Gary Buckles said
June 9, 2009 at 10:53 amI
just found a new position after being laid off 2 months ago. The
position I utimately took was one I found by networking. The position
was not even available at the time of the first interview, so obviously
not posted. Networking is very, very important if not the most
important. However, I did find success in using http://www.indeed.com.
This is a great site because it includes all of the other sites in one
place and can be sorted by date. This was a great tool as well. I would
include this site in your number 7.Thank you,
Gary Buckles
Reply-
Lisa said
June 9, 2009 at 12:59 pmI do agree, http://www.indeed.com and http://www.simplyhired.com are two great sites that pull jobs from every avenue. They are great resources.
Networking is very important. It has taken me three months to gain
employment and I accepted an offer today. I found my job on Indeed. The
copany I interviewed with only posted their job on their company
website for 1 day and pulled it. Indeed.com saw it and added it to my
daily list.
Reply
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Amy said
June 9, 2009 at 10:54 amI
disagree with Rule #5 because who has the time to create and check on
another email account? My personal email address just has the first
letter of my name, my full last name, and showing that I'm a fan of a
local sports team. What is wrong with that? In my opinion, it shows
that I have a life that is not illegal...just a fan of my favorite team,
that's all. Sometimes, during the interview, it works as an
"icebreaker".Also, I agree with Rule #17 but does that include talking to a
recruiter from an employer agency such as Staffmark, etc.? I am so
confused on that.There is one rule that I would love to see about in terms if your
last employer has either giving out a bad reference on you or gave the
reason on why she/he was letting you go that was "pretty shady" (ie:
not giving out a legit reason why upfront and when talking to a
potential employer). Now, I know that I'm not the only one who is in
the same boat but what it is effecting on my job search? Should I
remove them as a professional reference? Try to make a positive spin
from it? What do I need to do on handling this? The reason why I'm
asking is because in my opinion, it's really effecting my job search
pretty much.
Reply-
Lisa said
June 9, 2009 at 1:00 pmAmy,
It is hard to check a lot of emails, however, if you set up all of
yoru accountsin one email system, then you only have to go to one area.
I use Windows Live mail to check all of mine.
Reply -
Matt LeBlanc said
June 9, 2009 at 1:11 pmHey Amy -
It is fine to advertise who your favorite sports team, etc is in
your email address but you have to realize (if your luck is like mine)
you will send an email to the one hiring manager who hates that team
and won't want to speak to you.I have seen people get weeded out of the process for less than that, especially in a market like we have right now.
Matt
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Natalie said
June 9, 2009 at 1:54 pmHi Amy -
On the subject of references, if your last employers is giving bad
ones, you can be sure it is affecting your job search. Here are two
ideas:
1) I would never list references on a resume - that comes later after an interview or two and
2) I wouldn't just give the company name and phone number - give the
name and phone number of someone who will give you at least a neutral
reference. (Yes she worked here those dates, this was the job she did.)
An immediate supervisor is always a great reference, but if you didn't
have a good relationship with him/her I think it's fine to give a
colleague's name instead (after checking with the colleague, of
course). If you can't do that, I would use the HR director as he/she is
more likely to know that saying the wrong thing can land the company in
legal problems.Good luck!
Natalie
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Susan said
June 9, 2009 at 6:54 pmHaving
been a recruiter for a staffing agency in a past life, I say, "Yes!"
send each recruiter a hand-written thank you note the first time you
meet them, and any other time you think appropriate (after you have
gone to an interview they arranged, or especially after you accept a
position through them). Recruiters, just like hiring managers, are
inundated and need something that makes you stand out. And showing your
gratitude just helps people be willing to go an extra step for you. Be
as professional with them as you are with anyone else, and if they're
not being professional with you don't just not send a thank you note,
find a different recruiter.
Reply
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Kevin Atkinson said
June 9, 2009 at 10:56 amGreat
tips Matt. One addition I would make is to ensure a job-seeker tailors
their resume to the specific position to which he/she is applying. For
example, if an applicant is applying for an IT position with a
hospital, their chances of scoring the interview would be increased if
the resume highlights similar experiences. Same with the objective
portion on a resume. I see a ton of resumes come my way where the
person lists an objective to work in an industry totally unrelated to
the one for which they are applying.
Reply -
Lisa said
June 9, 2009 at 1:02 pm17)
Everyone should get a handwritten thank you note that has been a part
of your search. That includes receptionists, administrative assistants,
friends who bake you cookies, etc. You need to show appreciation to
those that help you.Enough Said... Don't just send an email. Take time and send the hand
written thank you note. It will be remembered. Maybe not now, but when
it is needed it will be remembered. And above all...Thank God daily for
what he has given you.
Reply-
Diane said
June 9, 2009 at 4:58 pmI
definitely agree with Lisa on the handwritten note, and if you can hand
delivery the note to reception, whereby they get it first thing in the
AM, even better.
Reply
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conservative tradition » Professional Networking On (& Off) the Web said
June 9, 2009 at 3:39 pm[...] 27 Rules For Your Job-Search « A Recruiters Guide to the Universe [...]
Reply -
Laura C said
June 9, 2009 at 7:35 pmGreat
tips Matt. Thanks. Another addition may be to take a fresh look now and
again at your resume. I was laid off at the end of October and am still
not in a permanent new role. I revised my resume a month ago and got it
to one page with highlights, used my network for edits/feedback and
have a new look, new energy and new interests in the search. I also
have networked through my own contacts, recruiting agencies, and
followed up with companies I've tempted for in the interim.
Reply -
Jenny Weigle said
June 9, 2009 at 8:53 pmGreat article! I just sent the link out via Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Thank you!
Jenny
Reply -
27 Rules For Your Job-Search « A Recruiters Guide to the Universe « Job Search Techniques said
June 10, 2009 at 6:15 am[...] More here: 27 Rules For Your Job-Search « A Recruiters Guide to t... [...]
Reply -
Steve Dill said
June 10, 2009 at 9:09 amI
totally agree with using good job boards in your search.However, there
seems to be a plethora of new "linked job boards", which do nothing but
scrape job listings from many other sites and display them on their
site. The result is that a job seeker looks at the same job listing
over-and-over on many different job boards.On our medical sales job board, http://www.gorillamedicalsales.com
, we never link our medical sales jobs to other boards. Therefore, many
of the jobs listed on GorillaMed are unique to our board.The point is that some of the pay-to-view job boards have jobs which
you will never see on the generalist boards. If you are serious about
finding a job, paying a nominal fee to access these jobs may be the
best investment you can make in your search.
Reply -
Danielle Schmidt, Denver, CO said
June 10, 2009 at 9:54 amThis
is a great list. I would add that if you are in a specialized field
find a reputable recruiter that places people in your field. Also
consider working with a Job Search Coach to help you stay accountable
to your job search goals.
Reply -
Sara Bradley said
June 10, 2009 at 11:24 amGreat thoughts and I agree with them all. Here are 5 I would add:
- Take no for an answer when someone tells you a position is not a
fit for you. This advice is contrary to our instincts. We are taught
that giving up is what "quitters" do. The reality is that a handful of
people are more qualified. We want to hang in there and state our case,
but resist the urge to go into selling mode. Most people don't have
enough information about the position to overcome the objections and be
perceived as argumentative. The alternative is asking, in a
non-confrontational way, ‘what experience you lack that is important
for the role'. Let the hiring manager know that if you run across
anyone with that experience, you will refer them. Conclude the
interaction by thanking the hiring manager for his or her time and
candor. You will be remembered in a positive way. - Do not use a completely functional resume. When a resume comes
across as vague/unfocused, it throws up red flags. Your recent
experience is most relevant. Being vague is not an effective strategy. - Be prepared to discuss salary. Compensation is a "level setter"
and most compensation levels are in line with the experience sought.
It's okay to skirt the salary question when asked the first time ("I'm
sure if you made me an offer, it would be fair", etc...). But if someone
comes back with the same question again, you need to answer. Even if it
is something like "My base and bonus have been in the $75,000 range. Is
that in line with this position?" A candidate who is upfront and
realistic is refreshing. - Leave the cologne in the bottle! Do not run the risk of offending
someone's sense of smell or aggravating someone's allergies. Candidates
have had interviews cut short because the person they were meeting with
could not be in the same room. - Job seekers have tradidionally been told to get as many
face-to-face meetings as possible. Even networking or informational
meetings could turn into something, right? That is true, but as
unemployment rises, people are getting increasing numbers of requests
for meetings, while also being tasked with doing more with less on the
job. I hear job seekers ask all the time, "Why can't people just return
my call or take 15 minutes to meet with me?" It seems like a reasonable
request and we hear more frustration from job seekers on this topic
than anything else. We agree that getting in front of someone is better
than sending a piece of paper, but people are swamped. Your approach
should be one of consideration that the hiring executive may have a lot
on his or her plate, especially if the call is unsolicited. It also
doesn't hurt to mention you are not asking for a job [and mean it] but
would appreciate the opportunity to learn about the company and
introduce yourself. If that person does not feel put on the spot, it is
more comfortable for him or her.
Reply - Take no for an answer when someone tells you a position is not a
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27 Rules For Your Job-Search « A Recruiters Guide to the Universe « Technopodge said
June 10, 2009 at 1:00 pm[...] 27 Rules For Your Job-Search « A Recruiters Guide to the Universe. [...]
Reply -
Kate said
June 10, 2009 at 1:00 pmI
find this article a great resource. Today makes 7 months that I have
been unemployed. I feel like I have been doing most, if not all, of the
rules. I send hand written thank you's, I am a member of several
associations in my field, attend networking funcitons, the list goes
on. My biggest issue is that I was laid off from my first job out of
college (economical cut backs, not performance related in any way). I
have a four month internship and 9 months of work experience. I'm
looking for something entry-level or something that requires minimal
experience. Having such a large gap-in relation to amount of time I
worked-is killing me. I am looking for a marketing/communiations
assistant type position, but I'll accept anything at this point.
Any pointers, commnents, hints, tips or tricks would be very much appreciated!!
Thank you!
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Sara Bradley said
June 10, 2009 at 1:31 pmHi Kate,
One of the hardest hit job families in this economic downturn is
Marketing. I think most recruiters/hr people know this and will not
hold it against you. But not working can feel non-productive. Couple of
ideas, if you haven't already, get to a temp service and register or
start filling that gap with volunteer work. Be careful of saying "I'll
take anything at this point" like you did above (relates to rule 23
above). What you want to articlualte is: ‘because marketing positions
are not readily available, you want to look at being productive and
building your skills where there is opportunity.'The hesitancy with people that appear desperate is that they can
make bad decisions because of their immediate needs. Recruiters and
employers always appreciate objectivity with regard to positions and
mutual long-term fits.Good luck!
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