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 willa 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 currentng, 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'tattachments from anyone except those they know well and trust. And even with these
precautions there may be a hidden virus which whend 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 toit.
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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