Job Search Tactics & Strategy

	How to Follow-up After Applying Online
	Create Your Perfect Job
	Passive Job Hunting
	What to Do When Nothing Happens
	Beating Stress

How to Follow-up After Applying Online

By Kevin Donlin

The Web is a great place to find and apply for jobs. You can send your résumé to a dozen companies in just minutes. But what comes next? Is it just a waiting game, or are there follow-up methods you can use to increase your response rate?

Steve Kobs, a human resources manager at Hanley-Wood Custom Publishing, a Minneapolis-based marketing communications firm, offers this advice: "If you'd like to follow up with a company after submitting your résumé, one week later is a reasonable time to do it," he says.

And the best way to follow up?

"I prefer e-mail," says Kobs. "If you call me on the phone and ask if we've made a hiring decision, you put me in an awkward position if I have to tell you bad news … or if I've forgotten who you are. Candidates who follow up by e-mail show respect for my time, which I appreciate," he says.

Andrea Hoover, CEO of JobLynx Online, offers additional ways to set yourself apart when applying for jobs online.

"First, when submitting résumés online, be sure to use a professional-looking e-mail address, not the one at work or a cutesy one like ilikebowling@gutterballs.com."

Her follow-up methods, which are more aggressive than what an HR professional might suggest, include the following:

• The day after you submit your resume to a company, e-mail them a quick note asking if they received and were able to read your resume, or if they require a different format for their database.
• The day after that, print and send a stationery version of your resume by U.S. Mail to the hiring authority, along with a copy to any other company contacts, for review and filing for future opportunities.
• One week after your initial contact, send an e-mail to the hiring authority inquiring if you can supply any further information not included in your original resume.
• Finally, around 10 days after your online application, send another e-mail asking for the phone number of the hiring authority, since you are considering several other offers. Attach your resume to this e-mail so they won't need to hunt for it. And ask for a convenient time to contact them for a brief phone interview.
• Whatever method you use, your goal in following up aggressively is to sell your abilities and experience. Push for the face-to-face interview as soon as possible. And get that job!

Best of luck to you!

-- Kevin Donlin is the author of "Resume and Cover Letter Secrets Revealed," a do-it-yourself manual that will help you find a job in 30 days ... or your money back.

Create Your Perfect Job

By Kevin Donlin
Looking for the perfect job? Create it!

Rather than spending hours and days combing the classified ads or online job postings for your ideal job, you just might find it with your current employer.

I've done it. My clients and old co-workers have done it. You can, too.

To illustrate, here's an example from my career.

Eight years ago, I worked as an English teacher and teacher trainer for an international firm. I was fairly happy, but always yearned for a job as a writer.

One day, I was at headquarters and met up with a textbook writer who had observed my classes the month before. She was doing exactly what I wanted to do, so I questioned her about how I might land a similar job. After a 10-minute conversation (which turned out to be a job interview!), she asked me to proofread some revisions for a new textbook. I happily accepted.

That proofreading project led to another, which led to a writing assignment, which led to a full-time writing position within weeks. I had created exactly the job I wanted, by finding a need and proving I could fill it.

It happens every day. Like the client of mine who went from package courier to sales rep. Or the cashier who became a buyer. Or my friend, who went from receptionist to graphic designer.

To create your next job with your current employer, remember these three points:

• The job you seek may already be available internally. But you'll never know unless you ask!
• If the right job isn't available, it can be created, if you prove to management that you have the right skills and determination.
• Every conversation you have at work is a potential job interview. If enough people in your company know what you want to do, and think you can do it, you just might get the chance ... sooner than you think.

Best of luck to you!

-- Kevin Donlin is the author of "Resume and Cover Letter Secrets Revealed," a do-it-yourself manual that will help you find a job in 30 days ... or your money back.

Passive Job Hunting

By Kevin Donlin, Guaranteed Resumes

How safe is your job? Could you be the next layoff victim on your block?

These days, "there's almost a layoff panic," says Mark Oldham, co-founder of Vault.com, a job-research site.

Perception, as they say, is 9/10 of reality. And today, many people perceive the economy to be slowing down. That translates into corporate downsizing and layoffs.

Here are four ways you can avoid -- or rebound from -- a layoff, by conducting a never-ending, passive job search.

Plug into your network.

Think of every person you know -- and the people THEY know -- as a potential job lead.

Make sure your friends and acquaintances know what you do, what you can do and what you'd be happy doing in a new job. It's your job to make sure others are aware of your skills, not vice versa.

Arm yourself with an updated resume.

Revise your resume every three to six months with your latest achievements and awards. And review your career objective to make sure it's in line with your current goals.

You should be able to print your resume on a moment's notice, because the best jobs go fast.

See and be seen.

To land a trophy job, keep a baited hook in the water -- consider posting and reposting your resume on job sites every 30-60 days. Concerned about your boss finding out? Check a site's privacy statement before posting, or just use a fake name.

In addition, you can register at most job sites to be notified by email whenever suitable openings pop up. The jobs come to you, like the classified ads in reverse.

Interview yourself.

You can never be too comfortable talking about your skills and achievements. Example -- what's your answer to this question: "Why should I hire you?" Don't have an answer? Start practicing.

Use time in the car, or even the shower, to actually interview yourself and polish your delivery. Do so until you can easily rattle off your best three or four achievements at every job you've had.

The best way to prepare for adversity is ... to prepare! By conducting a passive job search while still employed, you can avoid a career wrong turn amid any economic downturn.

Best of luck to you!

-- Kevin Donlin is the author of "Resume and Cover Letter Secrets Revealed," a do-it-yourself manual that will help you find a job in 30 days ... or your money back.

What to Do When Nothing Happens

By Kevin Donlin

What do you do when you've created and sent out the "perfect" resume ... and nothing happens? No calls for an interview. No form letters in the mail. No feedback of any kind.

If nothing is happening in your job search, remember the three "Re-s" and do the following:

• re-post your resume online;
• re-examine and revise your resume;
• redouble your overall efforts.
  
  

Let's take a look at each of these in detail.

1) Re-post your resume online.

If you've posted your resume to such sites as CollegeRecruiter.com, Monster.com or HotJobs.com, you may notice a drop in the number of employers contacting you after two or three weeks.

For best results on Web sites like these, re-post your resume every 30 days. Why? When your resume is "freshly posted," you appear as a candidate who's actively pursuing a new job, which makes you more attractive to employers.

2) Re-examine and revise your resume.

If employers aren't beating a path to your door, re-examine your resume with a critical eye. Ask yourself these questions:

• "Does my resume focus on a specific job or career path?" (You can't hit a target you don't aim at. Revise or remove anything that doesn't prove you're the best choice for the exact job you want.)
• "Does my resume contain errors in grammar, spelling, etc.?" (When in doubt, show your resume to at least two friends for proofreading.)
• "Is my resume concise and to-the-point?" (You won't bore anyone into hiring you. Limit yourself to two pages of tightly focused text.)

When you re-examine your resume and revise accordingly, you can remove limitations that may have kept the phone from ringing.

3) Redouble your efforts.

Try to talk to at least three people every day about your job search, and ask them to pass your name along to anyone who might be able to help. This is incredibly powerful.

Here's why. Let's assume every person on earth knows at least 100 people (this is a conservative guess). By talking to 90 people this month, you'll expand your network of contacts to 9,000 pairs of eyes and ears ... or more. If that doesn't shorten your job search, nothing will!

Finally, remember that anything worth having is worth working for. If you keep the three "Re-s" in mind, you can make a fresh start today and jumpstart your job search.

Best of luck to you!

-- Kevin Donlin is Managing Editor of 1 Day Resumes. The 1DR writers provide same-day, one-on-one resume writing assistance. He is also author of "Resume and Cover Letter Secrets Revealed," a do-it-yourself manual that will help you find a job in 30 days ... or your money back.

 

Beating Stress

All around you, there are jobs waiting to be filled. According to figures in the book, Who's Hiring Who? by Richard Lathrop, there are anywhere from one to three million new job openings in the U.S. every month. Every MONTH. So, where in the world do you find those jobs?

Want ads. While this is a popular job search technique, don't rely solely upon the Sunday classifieds to find work. Statistics show that a mere five percent of all job openings are filled this way. To avoid wasting your time, respond only to those ads you closely fit.

Ads in professional journals. Check your local library for journals related to your industry or profession. While there are fewer employment ads in such magazines than in a typical Sunday newspaper, they are more specialized, allowing you to focus your search.

Trade associations. Professional or trade associations can be a valuable source of job leads. Conventions, both national and local, are excellent places to build a network of people who may know of openings. Check your local yellow pages, or go to the library and consult the Encyclopedia of Associations for more information.

Other job hunters. There's always safety in numbers. Sometimes there's a job there, too. Many cities have job clubs or support groups where people can meet, network and share tips with others seeking work. You'll find out about who's hiring locally and who isn't. You may even get a referral from someone, which may lead to another referral . . . or a job interview. To find a job club near you, call your local library.

Networks. This is the most effective (and under-used) job search technique. Tell everyone you know that you are looking for a job. Call every friend, relative and acquaintance in your address book. Perhaps one of them may be able to put you in touch with a decision maker in your line of work. Even your former employers can help. If you parted on good terms with your last boss, he or she might be able to refer you to other supervisors who can help.

Your goal is to get on the phone with someone who can hire you, schedule an interview, then meet to discuss their needs. An information interview such as this may lead to a job, if one is available. If your talents are impressive enough, a position may be created for you. Or, you may be referred to someone at another company. In any case, expanding your network circulates your name among people who can hire you, greatly increasing the odds that somebody will.

-- Kevin Donlin is the author of "Resume and Cover Letter Secrets Revealed," a do-it-yourself manual that will help you find a job in 30 days .... or your money back.