Strategies for an Effective Job Search to Get You the Job or Career You want
At this point you have posted your resume online and even applies for a few of
the positions you have seen listed. You are also scouring the online classifieds
postings as well as the newspaper classified ads. You have of course been
sending off cover letters and resumes by email, fax and snail mail for the
entire job opening that seem appropriate for you.
Is there anything else that you
can do to look for that job you wish? You bet! In fact, the more diverse and
wide spread your job hunting strategies, the more effective it is likely to be.
First you should contact the
professional organizations in your chosen field or wide scope of employment
area.
National. Regional and local
professional organizations exist in a great part to help their members with
career development as well as employment search. Many of these organizations
include field specific job listings on their web sites or in their printed
publications. Check out the career contact and alumni network which is composed
of alumni, employers, students as well as friends and patrons of the
organization who have offered to share their career experiences with alumni and
students.
Next Visit Company and
organization web sites.
Many companies and
organizations post their job openings right on their websites. Often it is the
“Employment “or “Career Opportunities “Links. If it doubt check the site map. Or
as another resort actually contact the webmaster of the site.
A more direct tack is to
apply directly to the organizations that actually interest you. What a
compliment it is for a firm for an applicant to be able to appreciate their hard
work and focus. You can send a well written cover letter directly to the human
resources department or even the direct person who is most likely to initiate
hiring decisions. Your research skills may be necessary to find that vital
information. The entire better to demonstrate your research skills which are
actually hard to come by and very valued by many current employers.
Networking is key to
effective job hunting strategies.
It is often said that close to
85 % of jobs are filled through networking. Talk to your contacts. Always
remember when one door closes often another opens. You never know where even a
failed interview will lead.
The one contact you make
there or in your research travels can easily lead to another contact. Sometimes
even name dropping can have great results so says Layton Mancini an expert in
the field.
Make a list of contacts you
know in the field.
You most likely know “lots of
people “or know people who do.
Sit down with them. Take them
for lunch coffee or a donut. But do it sincerely not like an aggressive
insurance salesman.
If there is a
professional organization in your field, join it and start participating in its
meetings and other events so that you can get to know people in your area of
interest ? Work with a career counselor at your college or school to both tap
his or her contacts and learn of alumni who might be willing and able to lend
you a hand. Do not forget your supervisors or instructors connections as well.
You can consider using either a
placement agency or recruitment agent now often called a headhunter. It is often
very expensive for companies to conduct hiring.
Companies incur not
unsubstantial costs as well as time to research, screen, conduct initial
interviews as well as travel and hosting costs. As well they may not want to
make to known that they are hiring either to their industry or employees
including the one that they are planning on replacing. For these reasons as well
as the fact that the management of the firms may already be short of time many
progressive firms will employ the services of headhunters.
You can avail yourself of the
services of these headhunters or placement organizations.
You can do an initial search in your
local phone book. Follow this up with contacts in your networks and at
professional organizations. It is amazing how helpful people can be with a
simple phone call with well prepared specific questions. As well as the posting
that are prominent in local, national and industry newspapers and publications.
Note that most of the headhunter
firms are paid by the employers. They are generally paid a percentage of your
projected earnings. Basically they are paid on a commission basis remember that
they have a vested interest in placing you. Often these firms are even paid a
percentage of projected “ future bonuses” or in the case of sales “ projected
commissions” However be very wary headhunting firms that try to charge you fees
or send you on courses supplied by their very firm or a sister company. As said
many good employers use reputable head hunters and consider the money they spend
as very good value and an ultimate saving of both money and time
Lastly consider a temporary or
fill in job and the firm of your choice. You will make valuable contacts.
Perhaps even the firm will consider you such a valuable addition to their
organization that they will determine it is best to continue to have you around
as you are an asset to their organization.
Remember the more diverse and
planned your job hunting methods are the more opportunities and ultimately the
greater the chances you will have of landing that job and that career you really
want.
William
Piker .
Senior Job Placement and Employment Advisor.
Experience in the financial field.
Ace Employment Agency
www.winnipegjobshark.com
www.aceemploymentservices.net