Top 10 Job Search Tips
1. Network - The number 1 source of hires in any industry is employee referrals. Use your network to have your friends submit your resume for you.2. Maximize your visibility on job boards - every time you make a change to your resume on Monster, Career Builder, HotJobs and other job boards, your name goes to the top of the search results for recruiters. Try to make a small update to your resume first thing in the morning before recruiters start their searches, and you will show up on top.
3. Don't rely too heavily on job boards - Job boards are the low hanging fruit of job search, but they are responsible for less than 1% of hires in the US.
4. Talk to a person - Don't simply leave messages and apply online. Voice contact is essential to begin building a relationship with a recruiter or hiring manager.
5. Don't rely on an online application - Applicant tracking systems that receive online applications are like black holes. If your resume isn't obviously relevant to a search, it will be overlooked.
6. Be wary of headhunters - Headhunters make money by filling jobs, not finding you a job. They are a valuable resource for assisting in a job search, but you should know who they work for. The company that is paying them is the client. You are just another candidate.
7. Get to the decision maker - Hiring Managers often have a better understanding of their needs than recruiters. Find a way to talk directly to the hiring manager as soon as possible.
8. Don't over-apply - This is a recruiter per peeve! Don't apply 15 times the same position. If the recruiter thought you weren't a match the first time, they most likely won't change their mind because you send your resume again. This is a waste of your time and theirs.
9. Treat your job search like a job - Set business hours for yourself and use discipline in your search. Time is always working against you, and you have to take advantage of what little you have. If you are not currently working, the longer the gap in your resume, the more wary a recruiter will be of you. They start to wonder why you haven't been able to find a job.
10. Find a job you love - This may seem trite, but the bottom line is that you will enjoy life much more and be far more successful doing a job you love. Passion is obvious, and recruiters can smell it a mile away.
posted by Jason Roberts @ 9:08 AM
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