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Network
Tell anyone and everyone from friends and family
to select co-workers, just what you are looking for in a job or new
career, being as specific as possible. You never know who will open
a door for you. You need as many eyes, ears, and minds to work for
you. The more specific you are with others about what you are looking
for, the greater the odds are that they will be able to provide you
with the leads and tips you need. Just saying, "I'm looking for a
job", doesn't cut it. Whereas telling an old friend that you want
to get into producing television newscasts may prompt them to put
you in touch with a childhood friend of theirs who does the weather
at a local station. Cast aside shyness. Send out e-mails to old friends.
Do what ever you can to get the word out.
Make Business Cards
Most people wait until they're employed to
get business cards. Just doing what most other people do is not the
way to land your dream job. Whether you want to be an engineer or
a web designer, while you're job-hunting you are a marketer. Your
product is yourself. Go out and get a simple card made with your name,
phone number and e-mail address. That way when you're out and about,
if you meet a great contact and you don't have a pen or paper, you
can hand them your card. Some people advise including a photo of yourself
on your card. I don't. If you're movie star stunning or leading man
handsome, your photo will make others think you're vain and conceited.
On the other hand you may not photograph particularly well. Either
way I believe it's safest to 86 the photo idea. I don't recommend
putting your home address on the card either. It's not necessary for
job-hunting purposes. More
Voice Mail
If you have roommates I suggest you set up
a separate voice mail number. Put it on your business cards and resume.
You don't want your roommate to make the first impression for you.
(" No dude he's out, who's this?" is not a great first impression)
Setting up a separate mailbox costs only a few dollars a month. Then,
potential employers can't catch you off guard at home. Let them leave
a message. When it's quiet and you're composed, you can call them
back.
Old Stand By
Don't forget newspaper classifieds. With the
advent of internet classifieds, they're not thought hip any more,
but many great companies still spend thousand of dollars on newspaper
classifieds. Check out your local paper to see if they run a career
section. Most do so on Sundays. I found my first two jobs straight
out of college through ads in a local newspaper, and no, this didn't
happen in 1952. More
Working With Recruiters
Because I'm a recruiter myself, I could sit
here and blow sunshine up your know where by telling you that all
recruiters are honest and ethical, but that wouldn't be the truth.
Unfortunately, as in all industries, there are good recruiters who
will listen to your career goals and try to find a good fit, and there
are bad recruiters whose only goal is to turn a quick buck. If it
sounds too good to be true, it probably is. That said, ask questions:
get a job description, get the name of the firm that has the current
opening, and, if the recruiter has placed anyone previously at this
firm.
Stay Positive
Searching for a new career is hard work so
allow yourself some down time. If you don't land your dream job in
two days don't beat yourself up. If after a few weeks and a few initial
interviews you are not getting called back for second interviews or
getting job offers, think about how you can improve your approach.
Think about the impression you make during interviews. If you are
not getting the results you want, change your approach and, based
upon the response that you get, keep changing your approach until
you get the results that you desire: a fantastic offer of your dream
job. Now go kick some butt! More
Be Aware Of Attachments
Though attachments seem like the simplest,
easiest solution for transmitting your resume electronically, the
fear of viruses has made many employers and recruiters so skittish
that they won't open attachments from anyone except those they know
well and trust. And even with these precautions there may be a hidden
virus which when opened will destroy your database. With this said
I still think it is important to have your resume in a word doc so
you can forward it on request. However, just be aware some people
may choose not to open it.
Then Bam!
Make sure that each claim you advance in your
cover letter is backed up by an item on your resume. Point it out
explicitly. Think of this as a series of one-two combinations. If
you know what the companies in your targeted industry want in an employee,
and what in your experience shows that you can be that employee and
do that job well, then these one-two combinations delivered clearly
and concisely can make your Rez&Cov a knockout. Among a dull pile
of resumes and covers, nothing will win more call backs and interviews
than a Rez&Cov chock full of claims backed by clear, concise, relevant
statements delivered as a welter of one-two combos. More
Do You Homework
Most firms have web sites. All of the hot high
tech companies in Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area do.
In addition to the other research you will do, if you want to play
- to be in the running - you better plan on thoroughly checking out
the web sites of any company or firm with which you are going to interview.
If you don't take the time do this research, it will show in an initial
interview. I have clients who ask the question "Have you reviewed
our web site?" and if the answer is no, they will say "That's the
end of the interview, have a nice day." and leave the room.
Follow up-Say And Send A Thank You
Learn to say: e-mail, thank you, and especially
snail mail thank you cards. When was the last time you sent a thank
you card? Was it to your grandma thanking her for the pink bunny slippers
she gave you for Christmas? Or was it to your mom for the care package
she sent during your last round of final exams at college? Resurrect
the lost art of the thank you card. Send them to those with whom you've
had interviews. More
Second Interviews
If you get called back, that means that on
the basis of your credentials the firm considers you hirable. You've
passed the first test. The second interview is the time when the firm
is measuring the fit - that is, whether you're the kind of person
that they want to have around. It's also the time in which they're
measuring you against your competition. So you want to be very, very
sharp, primarily very, very enthusiastic, and you want to focus on,
again, what I would consider the higher level questions, not the simplistic,
sort of informational questions. You want them to know that you have
done your homework and have a high level of comprehension concerning
their business. Those are the questions you should be asking: the
ones that showcase your knowledge of what they do and the skills you
have that will help them do it.
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