Saturday, July 2, 2011

Go Find Work!

Finding a job is your job right now. For those of us that are unemployed, we do not need to take a “vacation” or “holiday break” because that’s what we do Monday thru Friday. Well, you need to work 8 hours a day doing something relating to your job search and self-marketing. The more you put yourself out there, the higher the chances of being seen and the better odds on landing more interviews.

Ways to make your job search a full-time job, even when everyone else is relaxing during the holiday:

1. “Stick to a daily schedule. Create a to-do list and cross them off as you go; this gives you a sense of accomplishment even during down times. This includes Monday, even if it’s July 4th. Feel free to enjoy yourself in the afternoon at the barbeque or at night during the fireworks, but set your alarm and get up and get working for the entire morning. I usually check my emails during the holidays and weekends, because it allows for me to get to candidate’s emails.” – HR Manager at a tier one automotive supplier.

2. “Check job boards daily and see if any new jobs were posted, in case your alert notification service missed anything.” – Recruiter at Manpower

3. “Send printed resumes in the mail. Few people do this any more, which is why it is effective for you.” – HR Director at Johnson Controls

4. Target companies you want to work for and know where you can add value, then network or market yourself into an interview. I once had a client that specifically networked herself into employment because she decided to meet every hiring manager in her department.

5. Contact recruiters and temporary work agencies. Recruiters work for you and the good ones do not charge you to help you find employment. However, do not bug recruiters constantly. If they need someone with your skills, they will call you. They might not have an opening right away that fits your qualifications, but if they do, they will call you. Almost 80% of the positions I have found in HR have been through recruiters.

6. “Only apply to the openings that fit within your realm. Recruiters do get the ‘jack of all trades’ candidates who, in actuality, only fit the bill for one or two jobs at most. So be aware of your resume submissions. Do not market yourself as a ‘jack of all trades’ or a ‘fast learner’. Market yourself as an expert in a certain industry/field. Hiring managers are not going to figure out where you might fit, they want to know if you fit their immediate need.” – Hiring Manager at Dealer Tire

7. “Follow the job posting directions and make sure you do what they tell you to do, if you want to apply to their job. They implement rules for a reason.” – Recruiter at Aerotek

8. “Read industry magazines. Keep up with trends and developments in your field.” – HVAC Instructor at Los Angeles Trade & Technical College

9. “Network with industry experts and other people that can help you find a job and create your own advisory board to consult with when you need information or assistance.” – COO at a Fortune 500 Company

10. “Create an online presence. Sign up for industry blogs, social networking sites and career sites. Just make sure you keep it professional” – Recruiter at Volt

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