KKBN: Creative Job Search

Creative Job Search: The Job Search

AUTHOR: Kevin McDowel

Extracted from the original version

Looking for work is a full-time job and is the hardest work a person may ever do! A serious job search requires as much time looking for work as will be spent on the job. A forty hour per week job equals a forty hour per week job search.

Every job seeker has requirements for employment and limitations on their current qualifications. Without clear job search goals the search will become aimless and ineffective.

Begin your job search by gathering and organizing all the information you need to sell your qualifications and satisfy the needs of a prospective employer. Begin by doing a thorough identification and analysis of your skills. Employers do not just want to know where you have been, your job titles or that you need a job, they want to know what you can do.

Prepare a personal data sheet with all your employment related information. This will make employment applications easier to complete. Write resumes that advertise your skills to an employer.

Experts agree that today the vast majority (80% or more) of job openings are not advertised. Most employment opportunities are hidden. (A primary reason is simply that most employers do not need to advertise; they have enough applicants without it. Another reason is that employers prefer to hire on a referral from someone they trust.)

Strategies

There are a variety of strategies that increase the chances of identifying job openings and to break into the hidden job market. These techniques include: networking, informational interviewing, direct employer contact, employment services, electronic bulletin boards and resume scanning systems.

Networking

Networking is not new, it is simply the sharing of information and resources with others. Job search networking is a targeted effort to talk to people about your job search. It should not be limited to casual conversations with people you bump into. It should be a calculated campaign to contact people for ideas, suggestions, and information.

Begin by contacting people you know well: family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Describe clearly what information you are seeking. Ask for names of others you can contact to build your network list.

Informational Interviewing

The informational interview is a networking effort targeted toward potential employers and professionals within a specific industry. This technique is used to gather information regarding skills, training, and experience needed for an occupation. It is also a method to learn about a specific company or about an industry. Never ask for a job during an informational interview.

Direct Employer Contact

Direct contact, approaching employers when you do not know if they are hiring, is essential for the serious job seeker. Direct contact takes planning and preparation. It is not enough to just walk in and ask "Are you hiring?" A successful job search is a sales campaign and your challenge is to sell your qualifications.

The first step is to develop a list of potential employers. As your job search progresses, you will continuously add to this list. Publications you want to review include the phone book, Chamber of Commerce listings, employer profiles, industry guides and newspapers.

Once you have your list then you have to plan a strategy to approach each employer. There are many approaches available and you will want to vary them depending upon the circumstances and your preferences. You can fill out an application, send a resume, call the employer directly, or arrange for an informational interview.

Follow-up and persistence are the keys to a successful job search! If you are serious about employment, plan your follow-up.

Private Employment Agencies

Employment agencies come in all shapes, sizes and prices. Some specialize in very specific occupational areas. Many employers have exclusive arrangements with employment agencies and they can be a resource for job leads. Determine what they will do for you and how much it will cost.

Temporary agencies and contract houses are another source of employment. Increasingly employers are turning to them to help manage their human resources. Temporary jobs are a way to build skills, gain experience and minimize the cost of reemployment.

If you choose to use an agency, check them out very carefully and be sure you understand all the conditions of the contract.

Job Search Technologies

There is an increase in the use of technology in job search. With the use of computers and modems a person can reach a vast world of opportunities. Many job seekers use electronic media to identify potential employers and submit their qualifications. Employers and employment agencies use scanners to enter resumes and applications into a computer that reads, summarizes and stores the information for future consideration.