There are four core methods involved in a
successful job search, and I encourage candidates to use all of them. When
you're in search mode, looking for a job is your full-time job and you should
plan to dedicate 35-40 hours per week to your search if you're currently
unemployed, or a smaller percentage of that if you're searching while employed.
Here's a quick rundown of the four proven job search methods.
Job Boards
When using the boards, you need to be as strategic as possible in your
approach, because there's an enormous amount of information posted on the
boards and employers receive multiple responses for each position they post.
One of the best strategies for managing your presence on the job boards is to
stick with niche boards that best match your professional level, industry, or
job function. Spend time on a board that claims to be all things to all people,
and you risk losing valuable time.
Targeting niche boards allows you to be a "big fish in a smaller
pond" and may help garner more immediate recognition from a hiring
authority. For example, a senior-level executive is generally better off creating
a presence on a six-figure job site than on a general job board that posts jobs
at all professional levels. Another way to optimize your time spent on the
boards is to set up job alerts based on keywords and geographical preferences
to streamline the amount of time spent on the boards, and optimize the amount
of relevant leads.
Recruiters
A recruiter can be a great ally during your search, but keep in mind that
recruiters are generally only going to be interested in your candidacy if your
skill set matches a position in their current job requisition portfolio. In
addition, executive recruiters can only expose you to
the positions from the companies that are willing to pay a recruiter to manage
the search process. When you partner with a recruiter, you only get to see a
small percentage of the available jobs in the market. However, the job leads
that you do find through your work with recruiters may be more targeted and
suited to your goals and experience.
Cold Calling
Successful job seekers often find their next job by cold calling potential
decision makers in companies for which they'd like to work. You may also send
an unsolicited letter to these people. By creating a marketing letter that
communicates your skills, accomplishments, and value-add, you can attempt to
forge relationships with key people in your target companies. The goal of the
letter is to build a relationship with people in companies where no
relationship existed before. If you can create and nurture a relationship
before there is a need to fill a position, you are much more likely to be
considered as a candidate when an opportunity becomes available, because you're
now part of the inner circle of contacts within the company. This method takes
work and time, but may not yield immediate results. However, if these new
relationships are nurtured over time, they can grow into great opportunity.
Need assistance with your career endeavors?
Resume Writing, Cover & Thank You Letters, Job Search &
Interview Coaching, Recruiter and VC Distribution
Contact Marty Weitzman, NCRW, CPRW, PBC, JCTC
Gilbert Resumes
"Your Career Partner"
800.967.3846
resumepro@gmail.com
