23 Feb 2008 01:33:19 | Jay Bauder
Another morning of job hunting lies ahead of you. You pour a cup
of coffee and open the paper to the employment section. With a
mixture of anticipation and desperation you pick up a stub of
pencil and prepare to target and identify some possible job
opportunities.
There are less ads to circle this morning and despite the
promising words and vague descriptions you have begun to believe
that none of these potential employers will seriously consider
you. Perhaps they have family or friends or maybe you'll hear
once again "I'm afraid you're overqualified for this position".
After making a few phone calls you try to get into a positive
frame of mind. You head out the door, a folder of resumes in one
hand and a list of addresses at the next. You will drop off a
few resumes and have plans for an interview this afternoon.
Maybe today will be different...
Are you or a friend looking for work? Have you heard of
acquaintances laid off from long-term employment only to find
four or five months later that they are still unable to find a
job?
If you think the only way to find a job is to have connections,
you may be partly right. With such a demand for employment many
jobs never make it to the paper. How can you compete?
NETWORKING
"Leave no stone unturned". Tell friends, family and
acquaintances of your job search. These people can give you an
'IN' to their businesses when positions come available.
They may also hear of someone who is hiring and keep you updated
on opportunities you may not otherwise have heard about. Their
personal referral can also make an impression on the employer in
your behalf.
NON-POSTED JOBS
You don't have to wait for a job to be listed in the paper, or
even posted on the company board, to apply for work at a
company.
Go through the phone book and make a list of companies you'd
like to work for. Call and ask if there are any positions
available. Ask for the name of the human resources manager or
the individual in charge of hiring for the area you are applying
to.
Send a resume and direct it to the person in charge of hiring.
Write a cover letter that expresses your interest in the company
and why you'd like to work for them. Follow up several days
later and ask for the individual. Tell them you're checking to
see that they received your resume and ask if there are any
positions that may become available.
If they are not hiring suggest you'll check back at another
time. Often positions are made available unexpectedly and by
keeping in contact (without pestering) you may be the first
person that comes to mind.
This is not a secret. If you're not taking advantage, someone
else will. You can't afford to miss out on making yourself known
to employers BEFORE the job posting is made public.
Accessing this hidden job market may open up opportunities you
never thought possible. By staying one step ahead of other job
searchers you can be sure that your new job is just around the
corner!
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