Job Search Tools: Are stuck in your job search? Perhaps the list of tools in the article will help you land the job you deserve.
Powerful Resume
Powerful Resumes: Are you sending out dozens of resumes and not getting job interviews. You might find the suggestions in my article “Powerful Resumes: The Critical Details for Getting Job Interviews” helpful.
In my “See All Posts” archives, you will find close to thirty articles on how to write a resume that will get you interviews.
Research Tools
Research gives you a critical advantage over people who don’t research companies, contacts, and job opportunities.
Before approaching a company directly, research it thoroughly. How is it structured? Bottler, distributor, direct, or broker sales? Public or private? Do you have a referral to help you get your foot in the door? Who are the key managers for the job you are seeking? To whom do these people report?
I remember driving to the main library in Houston. This library had the information I needed to identify companies to pursue. With further research, I could learn what types of jobs these company offered and the products and services they produced. I could learn information about the key officers in the company. Often, I could find the addresses to send resumes.
With the Internet, I can get so much more information without leaving my desk.
I can still use the library. I signed up for a library card. Now I can read library books on line.
With a little bit of effort, I can uncover information about companies to show the recruiter why I am the most qualified person for a job.
Job Search Tools
Read the want ads in the local newspaper, national publications, and especially trade journals. Job search engines and job boards will have job opportunities all over the country. Become an expert on what is in the job market.
Lay out your goals as specifically as you can but be aware that the more flexible you are in terms of money, location, and opportunity the more opportunities you will have available to you. Understanding your goals will make you more effective in identifying job opportunities.
Recruiters
Types of recruiters: Contingency recruiter or retained recruiter? Contingency recruiters work under contract for payment and successfully filling a job. A retained recruiter works under a contract that pays the recruiter a retainer fee to initiate a search and complete payment after the new hire starts to work.
Typically, contingency recruiters work on middle management searches. On the other hand, retained recruiters are conducting searches where the compensation is above $250,000.
In practice, how a recruiter is compensated is not important. The key information for you to know is whether the recruiter has contracts (contingency or retained) for conducting a search assignment.
Before you call a recruiter, be aware of the limitations that working with a recruiter might place on you. On the other hand, you should know the services that recruiters offer job applicants.
Do reference checks on recruiters. Recruiters are humans. Some you will like. Others you may not like.
Network Building Tools
Start with a list of all the people you believe can help you. These are people you know well enough that they will need no reminder of who you are. From there, make a list of everyone you have met since beginning your career.
In creating your list, include the phone number, email address, and mailing address of each of these people.
Ask for referrals of every person you contact.
From there, begin to use social media to identify people who can help you.
- Create a Free Blog on WordPress.com or Google Blogger
Be Organized
Make a list daily of your contacts, what you discussed what action you have taken and what action needs to be taken. You might create a status board similar to the one in my article titled “Status Board.”