• Job Search Strategies
• Power Interviewing for the 21st Century
• Resume Tips

Job Search Strategies

To make your job search more effective you will need to develop a personal marketing campaign that includes a variety of approaches to job searching and marketing.  Your goal is to increase visibility within the job search market and use as many tools and strategies as possible especially since only 20% of all available jobs are advertised!  Strategies at your disposal include:

Networking

You should contact past employers, previous co-workers, friends, acquaintances, university officials, friends of friends, and anyone else who can be a potential source of employment and / or referral.  Always give them an updated professional print of your résumé so that they will be familiar with your background.

Direct Response To Advertisements

Since only 20% of available jobs are advertised, you need to be very aggressive in your follow-up after mailing a résumé and cover letter and your response rate should be considerably improved.

Direct Mail

This technique is increasingly effective.  You should identify the companies you would be interested in working for and get the names and titles of hiring authorities (e.g., CEO, VP, Executive Director, General Manager), and write and mail a personal cover letter to each.

Recruiters

Recruiters, (a.k.a. headhunters), can be an excellent source for leads.  You should remember, however, that they are paid by a company to find a specific person to fill a specific position.  Their goal is to fill a company's need, not an individuals needs.

Specialty Job Search Publications

These are publications that include professional employment opportunities identified through contracts with employers, recruiters, and subscribers.   They can be used to apply specifically to a position or to develop a well-targeted direct mail campaign.  Subscriptions average about $95 for 6 issues.

Monthly résumé "Capsule" Publications

These publications are delivered directly to corporate hiring authorities and recruiters.  You pay a monthly fee for inclusion of your résumé "capsule".

Résumé FAX Service

You pay a basic monthly fee and dial in to have your résumé sent via fax to anywhere in the U.S.A.  Some companies offer global services as well.

Information Diskettes

Resources are available for you to purchase names, addresses, and contact information to produce a targeted direct mail campaign.

Online Résumé Databases

These are organizations offering inclusion of your résumé where corporations have online access to a résumé database that they can use for personnel recruitment.

Electronic Bulletin Boards

This is a forum based online where companies advertise available positions for recruitment.

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Conducting A Successful Interview

When you go to an interview a purchase decision is being made.  The employer is interviewing you and others to determine who they'll hire and who they won't.  The questions will be tough and personal, so you've got to be prepared with the right answers.  They want to know your analysis and strategy in solving business problems under any circumstances.  Your behavior, appearance, and mannerism's will be scrutinized from the second you walk through the door.  They want to know if you will "fit in" and be someone they'll enjoy working with.   You are a salesperson, and like any other salesperson, you've got to deliver enough persuasive information to convince the prospect that your product can do the job.   Only when they're satisfied that you are a fine person, will they concern themselves with whether they think you can handle the job as indicated by your experience and track record.  Something they'll be looking for is whether or not you are intelligent and also "street smart" with a lot of common sense.  Other characteristics they'll be looking for include:

• Analytical, logical, goal-oriented, and a planner
• A skilled communicator...good at speaking, listening, and writing
• Well groomed and healthy
• Tasteful in dress and decorum
• Poised, courteous, and cultured
• Sensitive to the feelings of others
• Honest, loyal, and straightforward
• Committed, responsible, and diligent
• Cheerful and optimistic
• And overall, an interesting person, with curiosity, enthusiasm...and maybe a sense of humor.

You've already sold yourself on paper, now it's up to you to sell yourself in person, and we hope these tips will help you accomplish that goal!   And remember, it's imperative to follow up!