The best method for getting a job is identical to the sales process followed daily by millions of people in the sales profession. Learn from them and get yourself a great job (Sale!).
Prospect, Approach, Present, Close, Follow up
Before we get into the exact steps to finding a new job, there are two important keys to success that may not fall into everyday job seeking tasks, yet are critical to a successful outcome. If you have read part one of the new job plan, some of the information may look familiar, but in any case, it is worth repeating.
Mental Preparation: Whatever the reason is that currently puts you in the situation of looking for a new job, an appropriate mental mindset towards the process is crucial. Here is why. Ask yourself, which of these scenarios puts you in a better situation to find a job or make a sale more quickly? A person that is angry, blaming, feeling sorry, desperate, and depressed or someone who is ready for a fight, sees possibilities, feels challenged, believes it is a growth process, likes the learning involved, and has an abundance mentality (enough opportunities for everyone). We are going to assume that because you are reading this, you fall into the latter, but if you are not quite there, work it out before proceeding. Going into a job search, or trying to maintain a successful campaign, with a poor mental mindset will waste a significant amount of your time and will ultimately lead to a lot more effort and work. Go through the steps of grief (denial, anger, etc.) if need be, as this is normal, but the quicker you get through to acceptance, the better off you will be. Just remember that you are not the first, last, or only person to have looked for and found a new job. Millions of people find new jobs and change jobs every year. It is normal, natural, nothing to fear, and it can certainly be done. Think about it. There are hundreds of thousands of employers in the U.S. and over 143,000,000 employed individuals. Part of your mental preparation is to also prepare for hard work. Finding a good job in a timely manner is hard work. Below are some tips on how to work smart, but only investing an hour or two per day, is not going to get it done.
Self Assessment: A key reason why it is essential to do some soul searching before you begin your job search is that the time involved to locate a new job can be very short or very long. One important influence on the time involved is how often you change your new job parameters. Decide early on what types of positions, titles, companies, pay ranges, locations, etc. will work for you or that you can live with. If you change these parameters too often during the process, you will probably miss opportunities early on in your search. There is little doubt that people will not necessarily find a comparable position in terms of level and pay. This is annoying and frustrating, but not necessarily unfair, as you are not guaranteed a job or paycheck. You need to see yourself as a product. Improve the product, and you may increase the amount someone will spend. If you do not like what someone is willing to spend, you do not have to sell, but make sure you have priced the product correctly based on market conditions, supply and demand, competition, etc. But you are a good product! Then you may need to work harder at finding a buyer. You may have to work your way back up in many respects with a new company. You may have to adjust your standard of living. You may, in fact, need to change numerous things. In many cases there really is no alternative. What you do not want to do is have such narrow search parameters that you just never find anything. There are a fair number of stubborn perpetually unemployed people in this category. You do not want to become Cousin Eddie from the movie Vacation who is on his seventh year of holding out for a management position. Grow where you are planted, and remember, nothing has to be forever.
Prospect:
A good salesperson will use a multitude of avenues to prospect and make a sale. Each has its pros and cons, but one of them will eventually come through, every time. Even poor products in a down or competitive market get sold every day. You should take the same diverse prospecting approach with your job search.
Research Employers: This is the number one prospecting method that is not adequately utilized by job seekers. Job seekers often believe that all jobs must be on job boards, but they are not. It is a very small percentage of employers in the U.S. that use job boards. You need to search everywhere for possible companies and employers to approach, and then keep searching some more. A big mistake is to think that because a company, especially a large one, is based somewhere else that it does not have a location near you. Companies often have a presence in multiple locations. To find companies to research and send your resume to visit places like: The Better Business Bureau, associations and organizations, online yellow pages, financial websites, local / city government offices and sites, and even drive around an area and write down company names to look into. Get creative.
Network: You have heard this advice before, and it is the case that networking can produce. A typical network includes: Family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, industry colleagues, people you met at industry events, trade shows and conferences, and former co-workers, bosses, teachers, recruiters, and just about anyone. You can locate an amazing number of names and companies by joining networking sites like linkedin, Plaxo, myspace, facebook, etc. There is a multitude of ways to extract useful information from these sites. Do not be shy while networking. Let people know you are looking and available for a new opportunity. Like all prospecting methods, networking may not come through on the first attempt, so you need to keep on trying.
Job Boards: We estimate there are 2.3 million job boards, okay maybe not, but it seems like it. You need to get very good at using job sites efficiently, considering there is a large amount of garbage on them that will waste your time. A good way to eliminate many bad job boards is to not use those that require you to create an account or give your resume in order to search jobs or see the results. Never apply for a job through a job board, to a job board. You need to apply directly to companies. Stick with a handful of sites like ours, which uses a top rated job search engine, and which searches multiple job boards and employer's sites directly. Sort through two or three of the other large sites as well. You will rarely miss a job opening by not searching 20 to 30 job boards considering most are just reposting positions.
Resume Posting: You need to find employers yourself, and not rely on them finding you. Resume posting can work, but know that an overwhelming majority of employers do not pay for resume databases. It is like telemarketing prospecting in sales. It is somewhat inefficient with a low conversion rate, but sometimes it does come through. In general, do not invest your time posting your resume to obscure job boards. And, only posting on one or two large sites will not be enough if you want to make a big impact. We give a more in-depth assessment of resume posting here.
Recruiters: Executive and Direct hire type recruiters can be a good option in the appropriate situation. If you have a unique skill set, valuable experience, and a strong work history, then this may be a possibility. However, you can have all of these, but if you do not work in the type of industry that utilizes recruiters, then do not invest your time with them. Temporary Staffing type recruiting firms are an option for almost all industries, but you need to be interested in that type of employment. A large percentage of job postings are from all types of recruiting firms. Some listings are real and some firms are just trying to attract candidates. It is tempting when you see recruiting firm postings, but be wise when applying and do not expect too much. Remember the primary goal of applying to companies directly if possible, but never "go around" a recruiter when they disclose a company name. If you would like more details on working with recruiters, please visit "Working with Recruiters".
Approach:
Sales and job seeking is a numbers game. The more prospecting you do, and the more places you find to approach and present your product offering (you), the greater the chance for a successful sale / new job. In sales, who do you think will be more successful, the person who spends an hour or two per day, like many do, or the person who spends eight hours per day prospecting and approaching potential customers? You are not doing something correctly if you run out of places each day to approach after an hour or two. It is endless, but you need to dig and dig and dig. Part of the approach process is to ensure that the sales material (your resume, email correspondence, etc.) you are approaching employers with is beyond exceptional.
Who gets the invitation to present their product to a company in-person? A person that has sales material that is old, worn out, not catchy, unprofessional, missing things, or the salesperson who approaches with highly polished first class material? Salespeople know that without top notch ads, brochures, and other product introduction material, they will not be as successful in getting appointments. Even a so-so product can do well if the marketing material is exceptional and presented to enough prospects. Where do sales people get this material? Not always, but often from the marketing department. An efficient salesperson knows they should be prospecting, approaching, and presenting, and not working on busy tasks like marketing material. We have seen thousands of poor resumes and believe you should consider outsourcing your marketing material as well. More resume information is available at resume tips and resume don'ts.
Present:
At the risk of wearing out the sales analogy, this is often where sales people fall short. Sometimes, there is so much time and effort involved in getting a sales appointment, that the tendency may be to think, “ahhh, I did it”, and then get lackadaisical. Big mistake! You are just getting going at this point. You need to treat interviews like a sales presentation and over prepare. You also cannot stop prospecting and approaching just because you have an interview or two set up. There is a tendency in sales to stop doing the difficult tasks that got you the meeting, and so appointments and sales decrease. You must make time for prospecting and approaching every day. Discussing the particulars of interviewing is too important of a topic to cover in a paragraph, so we refer you to the endless amount of literature available, including Interview Don'ts, Interview Secret, and Interview Refresh. Read everything you can on this topic and write out and practice answers. A poor interview will not always cost you the job, but it will often enough. So, do not chance it by being under prepared. Afterwards, review how an interview went – what worked and what did not? Never beat yourself up or dwell on the things that did not go well. Just ask, what did you do well and what would you do differently? This will help you to improve.
Close:
Closing involves asking for or making it be known that you want the job and it involves handling all of the paperwork / offers correctly. Depending on the position, there may not be much to do on your end. If it is not that easy, then you need to become knowledgeable on the important steps of closing a sale when two parties agree to do business. Sales do get lost during this stage, so it is no time to let your guard down or get sloppy. You should brush up on your negotiation skills so you do not make any common errors. A successful salesperson will tell you that the close is often done throughout the presentation, so hopefully at the end it will just be a matter of wrapping up the details. Sometimes though, the presentation may not have gone as well, so you need to close creatively or possibly a bit more aggressively. If you believe an interview went well, liked what you heard and saw, make sure to wrap up your meeting by letting the interviewers know that you see a good fit and that you would definitely like to go on to the next step. Do not assume that the interviewers know that you are interested. Be sure to ask them something along the lines of, “what stage of the hiring process are you in?” “What kind of timeframe are you looking at in terms of making a decision on this position”? Do not be afraid to ask what their thoughts are on you as a potential candidate and how you may stack up against others they have met.
Follow Up:
Smart salespeople follow up on all meetings with a thank you note. The note should not be a novel, but one that says thank you, expresses your interest, and highlights one or two points as to why you believe your product (you) is a good match. Not doing so is a huge mistake and should be done either through email or by mail. You should get email addresses, business cards, and correctly spelled names of everyone you meet. You should send this personalized note to everyone, including the HR person. You may be surprised, but the non-management people you meet have an enormous impact on whether an offer is made. Make a friend and be sharp with everyone. By the way, the best way to find out what a hiring manager or company is looking for in a new employee is to ask. Ask early on in your interview “What would make an ideal match for this position, or what kinds of things are you looking for in the person you want to hire?” Once you find out, you have the advantage of being able to include these items throughout your presentation! As in sales, you are trying to find out the customer's hot buttons that will cause them to purchase. Remember this information when you send your thank you notes as well.
Also, it is extremely important in terms of follow up to keep in touch with the company until you either get a definitive “no”, or until you know the position is filled. Many people get hired long after the interview has taken place. It may be because there are more candidates to interview, the hiring process just started, or they want to see more candidates before making a decision. Hiring managers also get busy and sidetracked, and not everyone is on the same time schedule as you. Sometimes it may take a week or two to get all of the signatures for an offer. Do not make assumptions that the hiring manager and company are not interested in you or that the position is filled. Top salespeople will tell you that a sale is often made long after the initial presentation. Just like many salespeople do not always follow up well, candidates often do the same, so you will have a nice advantage over the competition if you do. However, following up does not mean calling and emailing the company and hiring manager every other day.
In summary, how well and often you do each stage of the process – Prospect, Approach, Present, Close, and Follow up – will determine the success of your job search. There is only a lack of jobs, or a lack of good jobs, by the effort someone puts forth and how well they have prepared. Need some luck? Make some... Preparation + Hard Work = Good Luck.
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Top 10 Job Seeking Time Wasters
1. Not keeping track of when, where, and to whom you sent your resume. After a while it is not possible to remember everything, so you spend valuable time trying to figure out what you have already done. You will, for example, want to resubmit your resume to companies again at some point, but not every other day. An easy solution, which also helps you to not become overwhelmed, is to keep a log. Keep track and log other items as well, such as certain websites and other things you did during the day as you looked for a job. You do not want to duplicate tasks and waste mental energy trying to remember.
2. Getting online and being sucked into reading the negative stories the media is selling about the economy, unemployment, and the overall end of life as we know it. Resist the temptation to let them reel you in so you hopefully click some ads. Focus on YOU, your job search, and something positive instead. Avoid the temptation to participate in online negative discussions about who is to blame. That is not going to help you get a job. If fact, it will certainly make it more difficult. There are no jobs, or only bad jobs, for you if you make a mediocre effort to find one, or if you do not prepare appropriately.
3. Submitting your resume for a job through a job site and not directly to the company. You need to avoid the temptation to apply for a job through any other means except by sending it directly to a company. It is very tempting. If a job board tells you who it is, then go directly to the company's website. If they do not tell you, do not spend your valuable time applying. If it is a real job, you can figure out who it is with a little effort. Copy and paste a partial description or a unique sentence into a search engine and see what it produces. You will often be surprised with what you find.
4. Waiting for a recruiter to come up with a position for you. Recruiters are great, but many things have to take place for you to be placed by a recruiter. It is not that easy. Not all, but many, do a lot of "trolling" on job sites by posting jobs that are not exactly real in the hopes that they can find a great candidate to shop around. Even actual companies do this on occasion when no confirmed or approved opening exists. Also, if a company is going to pay a recruiting fee for someone, it is because the candidate has something unique or valuable to offer in terms of skills, experience, etc. Even if you do have that kind of background, it is certainly no guarantee that they will be able to help you. Utilize when appropriate, but do not waste all of your job search time dealing with recruiting organizations.
5. Having a weak resume, which means your job search is likely going to take longer. There is just no excuse for a less than perfect resume. HR, Hiring Managers, Staffing, and Recruiters give preferential treatment to someone with an exceptional resume. It is your ad, your brand, and your selling tool, so it better be outstanding. Poll Human Resources professionals and almost all will tell you that the resumes they receive are usually somewhere between poor and brutal. It is kind of like the Idol contestant who cannot sing, but thinks they can, and really believes it. It is often hard to critique or do an accurate self-assessment.
6. Posting your resume to the wrong sites, and to too few sites. If you feel compelled to post somewhere, only do it with brand name organizations. Posting to only one or two will not be worth the effort since no job site has the market cornered on employers. If possible, go in and refresh your resume once in a while so it does not sink to the bottom of the list. Posting to an endless number of obscure job boards is certainly not advisable. Do not "sign up" for a job board with your resume in order to apply for or search jobs. Most of these job boards push posting a resume, or creating an account, so they can bombard you with useless information.
7. Blowing an interview by not being thoroughly prepared, arriving late, not researching the company, forgetting a resume, dressing poorly, or any one of a number of careless things people do while job searching. Focus on what you are doing, and if need be, make a checklist of what you must do to prepare. You need to treat interview opportunities like gold. Not following up on interviews, including a thank you note to the hiring manager, interviewers, recruiter, and everyone else involved, is also a big mistake. Take the time to do it. During the interview get business cards and email addresses. If you know that a position is still open, occasionally stay in touch with the company and hiring manager. Do not make assumptions about the status of a position, or anything else. MANY candidates are hired long after the interview has taken place.
8. Going it alone and failing to engage friends, networks, associations, and anyone else you can think of to find a job. This may involve joining professional sites like LinkedIn and Plaxo and, if you feel it appropriate, MySpace, Facebook and others. You do not need, or want, a fancy profile, just the basics. Search past companies, associations, and places you may have went to school within these services. Be aggressive, but not obnoxiously aggressive, in terms of your networking. Hey, I lost my job, I really need a job, do you have any jobs available, is probably not the best approach.
9. Relying on one or two job sites to search for jobs. You know all of the big boards, but do not forget the "all in one search" job search engines like Indeed (that is who we use). These job sites search and index jobs directly from company's websites and many other sources. You can often find a job that is open on an employer's website, but not posted on a pay site. You need to get very skilled at using all job boards efficiently because there is a lot of garbage on them that will steal your time. Doing searches specifically on a company name may help because you will hopefully, but not always, avoid one of the thousands of job boards that troll for advertiser clicks, on other job boards. Again, only apply to companies directly.
10. While important, you need to do more than rely on career sites. Spending countless hours sifting through 20 job boards is not how you get a job. Pick a few and stick with them. It is very unlikely that you are going to miss a job listing on some obscure job board, considering many are just re-posting positions. There are 100's of thousands of employers in the U.S., but there are not 100's of thousands of them using job sites. What most of them are using, however, is their own company's website for recruiting. Searching for companies directly needs to be part of your plan. Keep in mind that the overwhelming majority of employers (85%) in the U.S. are considered small companies. Large companies can be nice to work at, but it cannot hurt to keep your options open. There are an endless number of places to research companies so you can apply directly. These include the Better Business Bureau, associations and organizations, online yellow pages, financial websites, local / city government sites, etc. The key to a new job is to utilize many avenues. One of them will come through.
2. Getting online and being sucked into reading the negative stories the media is selling about the economy, unemployment, and the overall end of life as we know it. Resist the temptation to let them reel you in so you hopefully click some ads. Focus on YOU, your job search, and something positive instead. Avoid the temptation to participate in online negative discussions about who is to blame. That is not going to help you get a job. If fact, it will certainly make it more difficult. There are no jobs, or only bad jobs, for you if you make a mediocre effort to find one, or if you do not prepare appropriately.
3. Submitting your resume for a job through a job site and not directly to the company. You need to avoid the temptation to apply for a job through any other means except by sending it directly to a company. It is very tempting. If a job board tells you who it is, then go directly to the company's website. If they do not tell you, do not spend your valuable time applying. If it is a real job, you can figure out who it is with a little effort. Copy and paste a partial description or a unique sentence into a search engine and see what it produces. You will often be surprised with what you find.
4. Waiting for a recruiter to come up with a position for you. Recruiters are great, but many things have to take place for you to be placed by a recruiter. It is not that easy. Not all, but many, do a lot of "trolling" on job sites by posting jobs that are not exactly real in the hopes that they can find a great candidate to shop around. Even actual companies do this on occasion when no confirmed or approved opening exists. Also, if a company is going to pay a recruiting fee for someone, it is because the candidate has something unique or valuable to offer in terms of skills, experience, etc. Even if you do have that kind of background, it is certainly no guarantee that they will be able to help you. Utilize when appropriate, but do not waste all of your job search time dealing with recruiting organizations.
5. Having a weak resume, which means your job search is likely going to take longer. There is just no excuse for a less than perfect resume. HR, Hiring Managers, Staffing, and Recruiters give preferential treatment to someone with an exceptional resume. It is your ad, your brand, and your selling tool, so it better be outstanding. Poll Human Resources professionals and almost all will tell you that the resumes they receive are usually somewhere between poor and brutal. It is kind of like the Idol contestant who cannot sing, but thinks they can, and really believes it. It is often hard to critique or do an accurate self-assessment.
6. Posting your resume to the wrong sites, and to too few sites. If you feel compelled to post somewhere, only do it with brand name organizations. Posting to only one or two will not be worth the effort since no job site has the market cornered on employers. If possible, go in and refresh your resume once in a while so it does not sink to the bottom of the list. Posting to an endless number of obscure job boards is certainly not advisable. Do not "sign up" for a job board with your resume in order to apply for or search jobs. Most of these job boards push posting a resume, or creating an account, so they can bombard you with useless information.
7. Blowing an interview by not being thoroughly prepared, arriving late, not researching the company, forgetting a resume, dressing poorly, or any one of a number of careless things people do while job searching. Focus on what you are doing, and if need be, make a checklist of what you must do to prepare. You need to treat interview opportunities like gold. Not following up on interviews, including a thank you note to the hiring manager, interviewers, recruiter, and everyone else involved, is also a big mistake. Take the time to do it. During the interview get business cards and email addresses. If you know that a position is still open, occasionally stay in touch with the company and hiring manager. Do not make assumptions about the status of a position, or anything else. MANY candidates are hired long after the interview has taken place.
8. Going it alone and failing to engage friends, networks, associations, and anyone else you can think of to find a job. This may involve joining professional sites like LinkedIn and Plaxo and, if you feel it appropriate, MySpace, Facebook and others. You do not need, or want, a fancy profile, just the basics. Search past companies, associations, and places you may have went to school within these services. Be aggressive, but not obnoxiously aggressive, in terms of your networking. Hey, I lost my job, I really need a job, do you have any jobs available, is probably not the best approach.
9. Relying on one or two job sites to search for jobs. You know all of the big boards, but do not forget the "all in one search" job search engines like Indeed (that is who we use). These job sites search and index jobs directly from company's websites and many other sources. You can often find a job that is open on an employer's website, but not posted on a pay site. You need to get very skilled at using all job boards efficiently because there is a lot of garbage on them that will steal your time. Doing searches specifically on a company name may help because you will hopefully, but not always, avoid one of the thousands of job boards that troll for advertiser clicks, on other job boards. Again, only apply to companies directly.
10. While important, you need to do more than rely on career sites. Spending countless hours sifting through 20 job boards is not how you get a job. Pick a few and stick with them. It is very unlikely that you are going to miss a job listing on some obscure job board, considering many are just re-posting positions. There are 100's of thousands of employers in the U.S., but there are not 100's of thousands of them using job sites. What most of them are using, however, is their own company's website for recruiting. Searching for companies directly needs to be part of your plan. Keep in mind that the overwhelming majority of employers (85%) in the U.S. are considered small companies. Large companies can be nice to work at, but it cannot hurt to keep your options open. There are an endless number of places to research companies so you can apply directly. These include the Better Business Bureau, associations and organizations, online yellow pages, financial websites, local / city government sites, etc. The key to a new job is to utilize many avenues. One of them will come through.
Job Search Action Plan: Mental Prep
You have heard the saying, getting a new job needs to be your full-time job. While that is true, especially if you do not have a job, you most likely have found ways with past jobs to get your work done more quickly and efficiently, which lead to more free and fun time. After all, without some form of pleasure in our life once in awhile, we all suffer mentally.
With that in mind, our goal is to help you do your new full-time job of getting a job in a way that leads to you being able to enjoy yourself more, which will help you to be more motivated, if having no income is not motivating enough. When we are good at something, we are motivated. We know you did not go to school for job searching, develop a job searching trade, or gain significant job searching experience in an occupation. You are not expected to be expert job seekers, just like we are not experienced in your field. You may believe you know a lot about job seeking, and you may, but like other topics such as sports, gardening or cooking, you are really not an expert like a Trained Chef, Professional Coach or Paul the Gardner Guy. You can learn from others, and keeping an open relaxed mind while searching for a job is paramount for success.
In between the basics... prepare, apply, interview, follow up, there are a whole host of things you can do, and do better, that makes finding a job easier. With experience in Corporate HR, Staffing, Internet recruiting from the beginning, and other closely aligned career experiences, we think we can offer a hand. While the goal is to make the process of finding a job more efficient, it is still hard work. Although important, logging onto your favorite job board each week for an hour or two, and applying to a few jobs, is not job seeking or hard work, and will rarely lead to good results.
Job seeking is much like being in sales as a Salesperson. Successful salespeople utilize a sales life cycle; prospecting, approaching, presenting, closing, and following up. The better the salesperson, the more they have master each area of the life cycle. For example, salespeople utilize a number of avenues to prospect, such as cold-calling, networking, advertising, etc. Each relates very well to job seeking, and each has its pros and cons. Doing a combination of all of these tasks well and often will lead to a sale / new job, even if you are not a very good salesperson.
Here is a secret. Hard work in sales beats selling abilities / smoothness every time. Keep in mind, you only need ONE sale, and that is a new job. You absolutely can get one sale selling anything, and the economy, which by the way shows 95% or so employed, has nothing to do with your success, NOTHING. A great salesperson will be successful no matter what the conditions are perceived to be. That is a fact. Negative conditions actually motive the top salespeople and it should motivate you. They are fighters. You have to always remember the concept of sowing and reaping. You reap what you sow, but you must sow first. Meaning, great results never come without persistent hard work first.
Like any successful salesperson will tell you, you need to "fill the pipeline", meaning you need to get some things going in the direction of a sale. You need to create energy and build momentum. While filling the pipeline, never expect instant results. A professional salesperson will also tell you that after a truly concerted effort to prospect and approach potential customers; it is ALWAYS the case that you will be immersed in new sales, or a new job in this situation. This is the case whether it is in a competitive industry or a down economy. Again, it takes time to fill the pipeline, and you must sow in order to reap. You need to do a lot of research, prospecting, applying, etc. You need to develop some new sources for a sale (job) by being creative. Sales is very rarely an instant success process, although sometimes salespeople get lucky. Don't count on luck though. It is not an original thought, but I like the equation: Preparation + Hard Work = Good Luck.
As well, a salesperson does things to increase his odds of being successful, such as developing strong collateral material (resume), developing a winning presentation (interviewing), keeping in touch with potential prospects (follow up), etc. Some of you, although probably not you since you are reading this, do not want to work very hard to get a new job and would rather work hard at excuses as to why you cannot get a job. That is your right. I suggest clicking over to Perez Hilton or TMZ and do not waste any more of your time here.
Who knows maybe you find you like the job seeking sales process and decide to explore the selling profession. There are many sales positions that are open to entry level people with no sales experience, such as financial services sales. As mentioned, a slick talking personality is not what makes a successful salesperson. A little side note that relates well to sales and job seeking, and something every salesperson will tell you, is that if you show desperation to get a sale with a prospect, it will not happen. With your job search, it is the same thing. Remain calm and do not be obnoxiously aggressive in your closing and follow up. Don't let them see you sweat as they say. You can control these emotions by visualizing and with positive affirmations. There is a whole theory, which is not this simple, but it has to do with the harder you try for something, the more it will elude. Basically, you need a relaxed mind.
You need to know that no matter how worried and concerned you are, there is a job out there for you. Not just any job, but a great job. The pie is enormous and there are 100’s of thousands of potential employers. That is a fact and never let yourself think any differently. If you find yourself thinking negatively, stop yourself and think of what you do want for yourself instead. It is a fact that you can only hold one thought at a time in your mind, negative or positive. Catch negative thinking and stop it in its track. It takes practice.
Needless to say, during your job seeking downtime, read something positive, like "Think and Grow Rich” or research the "The Law of Attraction". Do not read the newspaper, participate in online negative discussions, or watch the morning, lunch, nightly, or 24 hour per day news bombardment shows while looking for a job. It is all negative and will do nothing for you. Being "informed" about the negative topics the media is selling you, does NOTHING but harm to you and your mind. Unfortunately, we humans seem to have a tendency to be drawn to stories of negativity and hardship, probably because that is all we are being sold, and of course misery loves company. If you really need the weather or sports, go to a weather or sports website. Watch out though. Even they are often selling negativity. If you need the latest celebrity happenings, well, try to work on that. :)
See part two: The job seeker action plan.
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With that in mind, our goal is to help you do your new full-time job of getting a job in a way that leads to you being able to enjoy yourself more, which will help you to be more motivated, if having no income is not motivating enough. When we are good at something, we are motivated. We know you did not go to school for job searching, develop a job searching trade, or gain significant job searching experience in an occupation. You are not expected to be expert job seekers, just like we are not experienced in your field. You may believe you know a lot about job seeking, and you may, but like other topics such as sports, gardening or cooking, you are really not an expert like a Trained Chef, Professional Coach or Paul the Gardner Guy. You can learn from others, and keeping an open relaxed mind while searching for a job is paramount for success.
In between the basics... prepare, apply, interview, follow up, there are a whole host of things you can do, and do better, that makes finding a job easier. With experience in Corporate HR, Staffing, Internet recruiting from the beginning, and other closely aligned career experiences, we think we can offer a hand. While the goal is to make the process of finding a job more efficient, it is still hard work. Although important, logging onto your favorite job board each week for an hour or two, and applying to a few jobs, is not job seeking or hard work, and will rarely lead to good results.
Job seeking is much like being in sales as a Salesperson. Successful salespeople utilize a sales life cycle; prospecting, approaching, presenting, closing, and following up. The better the salesperson, the more they have master each area of the life cycle. For example, salespeople utilize a number of avenues to prospect, such as cold-calling, networking, advertising, etc. Each relates very well to job seeking, and each has its pros and cons. Doing a combination of all of these tasks well and often will lead to a sale / new job, even if you are not a very good salesperson.
Here is a secret. Hard work in sales beats selling abilities / smoothness every time. Keep in mind, you only need ONE sale, and that is a new job. You absolutely can get one sale selling anything, and the economy, which by the way shows 95% or so employed, has nothing to do with your success, NOTHING. A great salesperson will be successful no matter what the conditions are perceived to be. That is a fact. Negative conditions actually motive the top salespeople and it should motivate you. They are fighters. You have to always remember the concept of sowing and reaping. You reap what you sow, but you must sow first. Meaning, great results never come without persistent hard work first.
Like any successful salesperson will tell you, you need to "fill the pipeline", meaning you need to get some things going in the direction of a sale. You need to create energy and build momentum. While filling the pipeline, never expect instant results. A professional salesperson will also tell you that after a truly concerted effort to prospect and approach potential customers; it is ALWAYS the case that you will be immersed in new sales, or a new job in this situation. This is the case whether it is in a competitive industry or a down economy. Again, it takes time to fill the pipeline, and you must sow in order to reap. You need to do a lot of research, prospecting, applying, etc. You need to develop some new sources for a sale (job) by being creative. Sales is very rarely an instant success process, although sometimes salespeople get lucky. Don't count on luck though. It is not an original thought, but I like the equation: Preparation + Hard Work = Good Luck.
As well, a salesperson does things to increase his odds of being successful, such as developing strong collateral material (resume), developing a winning presentation (interviewing), keeping in touch with potential prospects (follow up), etc. Some of you, although probably not you since you are reading this, do not want to work very hard to get a new job and would rather work hard at excuses as to why you cannot get a job. That is your right. I suggest clicking over to Perez Hilton or TMZ and do not waste any more of your time here.
Who knows maybe you find you like the job seeking sales process and decide to explore the selling profession. There are many sales positions that are open to entry level people with no sales experience, such as financial services sales. As mentioned, a slick talking personality is not what makes a successful salesperson. A little side note that relates well to sales and job seeking, and something every salesperson will tell you, is that if you show desperation to get a sale with a prospect, it will not happen. With your job search, it is the same thing. Remain calm and do not be obnoxiously aggressive in your closing and follow up. Don't let them see you sweat as they say. You can control these emotions by visualizing and with positive affirmations. There is a whole theory, which is not this simple, but it has to do with the harder you try for something, the more it will elude. Basically, you need a relaxed mind.
You need to know that no matter how worried and concerned you are, there is a job out there for you. Not just any job, but a great job. The pie is enormous and there are 100’s of thousands of potential employers. That is a fact and never let yourself think any differently. If you find yourself thinking negatively, stop yourself and think of what you do want for yourself instead. It is a fact that you can only hold one thought at a time in your mind, negative or positive. Catch negative thinking and stop it in its track. It takes practice.
Needless to say, during your job seeking downtime, read something positive, like "Think and Grow Rich” or research the "The Law of Attraction". Do not read the newspaper, participate in online negative discussions, or watch the morning, lunch, nightly, or 24 hour per day news bombardment shows while looking for a job. It is all negative and will do nothing for you. Being "informed" about the negative topics the media is selling you, does NOTHING but harm to you and your mind. Unfortunately, we humans seem to have a tendency to be drawn to stories of negativity and hardship, probably because that is all we are being sold, and of course misery loves company. If you really need the weather or sports, go to a weather or sports website. Watch out though. Even they are often selling negativity. If you need the latest celebrity happenings, well, try to work on that. :)
See part two: The job seeker action plan.
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Relocation Essentials, What it may be like to make a big move.
Everyone at some point in their life, whether just day dreaming or by necessity, has pondered the idea of packing up and moving to a new location. The reasons are plentiful. Besides the obvious, you need or were offered a job, it may be personal. It could be for a fresh start, a new life, warmer weather, more excitement, rejuvenation, a gal or guy friend, or just a strong need for adventure.
Whatever the reason, they are all legitimate. Below is what we hope is an objective look at some of the decisions and questions that should be answered before embarking on such a life changing journey.
The decision...
There are many reasons for considering a move, including the aforementioned. For decision making purposes, it may be a good idea to separate the reasons into a few camps, including, personal, career and by necessity.
Career:
• Certain locations are well known for your specialty, education or experience, and may offer more choices and career advancement opportunities, e.g. Biotech / Boston, Semiconductor / SF Bay area, Hospitality / Las Vegas, and Finance / New York.
• You may be receiving a promotion from your current company and this would be a good career move. Keep in mind, nothing has to be forever. Many people have relocated with a company, and after a few years, moved back to their home state. Take away the - every decision is permanent mentality - and you may be more amenable to the idea of a move.
Necessity:
• There are no suitable employment opportunities for your background in your current area. You have made a concerted effort, not just blasting off an occasional resume to a company once a week, and there just are not any real options for you.
• Based on the pay for your occupation, your expenses are greater than your income in your current location. You may be able to live with a much better standard of living in another location. A better quality of life and standard of living is a powerful reason for moving.
Personal:
• If you know that you will be happier, you are adventuresome, it is your calling, you have friends or family in another area, than let these be positive factors for a change. You should consider the negatives to a possible move, but do keep your thoughts balanced with all of the positives as well. Negative thoughts tend to overrun the positive ones. Be prepared for various reactions to your announcement, including; negative, positive, and even jealously. If it helps, the Henry Ford II quote, "Never complain, never explain" may help the situation. Remember, nothing has to be forever, and you know what is best for you.
Ponder further...
o The cost of living in the new location. You need to research this thoroughly and we suggest not relying on cost of living calculators, although they are very useful. It would be helpful to actually write out your current and possible new expenses. Most people have not relocated to a new area, so be aware that the cost of living is significantly different (many time for the better) in various locations. Housing / renting costs, sales tax, real estate taxes, car registration / insurance, fuel costs, food, etc. should be researched thoroughly. There are many good relocation websites, including city and county government sites that can give you details.
o If you are relocating without a job lined up, how easy is it going to be to get one, and do you have enough capital on hand to live for a while? How long can you go without a paycheck? Would you be able to get by with a lesser job temporarily? Can you stay with a friend or relative? If it does not work out, do have an exit strategy?
o Crime: It is everywhere of course, but it is certainly worse in certain locations, and not always just in areas of a large city. You do not want to show up somewhere and be blindsided by a less than desirable area. This is the type of stress you do not need. There are some very nice crime map websites that you can explore. Often, the police or sheriff's department website will have a crime map search feature. As well, take a frequent look at the online newspapers for the locations you are considering. You rarely hear about local events outside of a particular area.
o Interview considerations. While it is the case that for certain positions companies will fly someone to their location, it is often not their first choice. Companies tend to try and find local candidates due to the extra expense. If you have unique enough skills and experiences for a job, many companies will bring someone in for a meeting. Be prepared though that the first question they will ask you is… Are you sure relocation is not a problem? You do not what to have a company invest time and money unless you are 110% sure you are ready to relocate.
o Can you break a lease or sell your home easily? Depending on your situation, relocation packages offered by companies will provide for temporary housing, and they will often pay for you to break a lease. Even though you may have heard stories that an apartment will break a lease for a job change, you should really find out the rules ahead of time. It does not usually work this way.
o What about the people you may be leaving behind? This is often the prime reason people do not relocate, and sometimes the reason people do! Would you be able to afford vacations back to this area? Will they be able to visit you? Will you be miserable not being around these people? Like anything, time changes things. Initially, it will be hard, but after a while it will be a little easier. Some say that it makes the time they do spend with family and friends even more valuable and precious.
o If you have a spouse or significant other that needs to work, will they be able to find employment? Would they would be willing to take a position not necessarily in their chosen field if need be?
o How much will a move cost? When relocating on your own, it would be wise to calculate ahead of time the cost to move you and your belongings. This is an expense you cannot escape. There are various new options these days, including U-pack and Pods type services that can save money. When you are ready to move this needs to be an area that you research thoroughly, considering the costs vary greatly. Needless to say, always get multiple quotes if using a moving company.
o Is the new school system going to be suitable? It may be slightly difficult for you to assess this, but there are plenty of school rating related websites that can provide decent information. Often it will be one of three situations; rural, suburbs or inner city. Each has its pros and cons and each can be researched.
o What will the new commute be like, if you will have a job ahead of time? Often times the miles calculators are not a true gauge as to how long a commute will be. Ask around if possible. Ten miles in Los Angeles may require you to bring a lunch.
o If considering moving into a large city, are you prepared for a different culture, possibly much faster paced, than what you are used to? Some say that city living is often cold and impersonal, or that rural living is slow and boring. Is your personality the type that can deal with either of these scenarios? If you are fortunate enough to interview and get a job before moving, ask as many questions as possible to the people that work there.
o Have you done the Ben Franklin decision making method? Draw a line down the middle of a piece of papers and write PROS on one side and CONS on the other. If the pros win, go for it. Many people have had outstanding experiences relocating to a new area.
Relocation Packages...
Relocation packages from companies offer various components. This is often something that is negotiable with a job offer. Instead of three months temp living, ask for six. Ask for extra miscellaneous expense money. Ask for a point to buy a new house or other real estate expenses. Everything is negotiable, although relocation packages have suffered the last few years. Often, a large company will utilize an outside relocation service to help coordinate and work with you during your move. Take advantage of this service. Some standard items that you will typically find in a relocation package include:
- Temporary Living - Anywhere from one month to six months usually.
- Moving expense (often based on weight). Sometimes you can get the company to pay to pack your goods, do not count on it though.
- Storage (again based on weight, and may range from one to six months)
- Vehicle moving expense.
- Meals and travel expenses for you and your family.
- One or two house hunting trips for you and your family.
- Mortgage points, new home down payment, and closing costs, to help buy and sell a home.
Often times a company will just give you a flat amount for relocation and let you work it out on your own. Many people actually profit from a relocation package, which is nothing to feel guilty about. If a relocation package is essential for you to join a company, be sure to discuss this topic before getting too involved in the interview process. You may not get specific details on the amount, but at least you know the basics and that it is offered.
Like anything, nothing worthwhile is ever easy, especially long distance job searching. It requires a lot of research and diligence to make it happen. It is usually the case that unless the opening is a hard to locate skill set, or a top level position, you may run into relatively few companies willing to bring someone in for an interview or help with relocation. If you are wondering why you are not getting any calls for positions you are clearly suited for, this is possibly the reason.
Even for companies willing to look outside of the area, it is not uncommon these days for them to leave the relocation expense up to the person moving. It may help your cause to indicate on your resume or other correspondence that you are very willing to relocate, and if it is the case, pay for it on your own. If your situation allows, your best bet is to move to your location choice and then get a job. You will be pleasantly surprised just how many more calls you receive when you are actually living in the new area. The key is to have some money saved and to go on an all out assault to find a new job. No playing, not yet anyway.
Whatever the reason, they are all legitimate. Below is what we hope is an objective look at some of the decisions and questions that should be answered before embarking on such a life changing journey.
The decision...
There are many reasons for considering a move, including the aforementioned. For decision making purposes, it may be a good idea to separate the reasons into a few camps, including, personal, career and by necessity.
Career:
• Certain locations are well known for your specialty, education or experience, and may offer more choices and career advancement opportunities, e.g. Biotech / Boston, Semiconductor / SF Bay area, Hospitality / Las Vegas, and Finance / New York.
• You may be receiving a promotion from your current company and this would be a good career move. Keep in mind, nothing has to be forever. Many people have relocated with a company, and after a few years, moved back to their home state. Take away the - every decision is permanent mentality - and you may be more amenable to the idea of a move.
Necessity:
• There are no suitable employment opportunities for your background in your current area. You have made a concerted effort, not just blasting off an occasional resume to a company once a week, and there just are not any real options for you.
• Based on the pay for your occupation, your expenses are greater than your income in your current location. You may be able to live with a much better standard of living in another location. A better quality of life and standard of living is a powerful reason for moving.
Personal:
• If you know that you will be happier, you are adventuresome, it is your calling, you have friends or family in another area, than let these be positive factors for a change. You should consider the negatives to a possible move, but do keep your thoughts balanced with all of the positives as well. Negative thoughts tend to overrun the positive ones. Be prepared for various reactions to your announcement, including; negative, positive, and even jealously. If it helps, the Henry Ford II quote, "Never complain, never explain" may help the situation. Remember, nothing has to be forever, and you know what is best for you.
Ponder further...
o The cost of living in the new location. You need to research this thoroughly and we suggest not relying on cost of living calculators, although they are very useful. It would be helpful to actually write out your current and possible new expenses. Most people have not relocated to a new area, so be aware that the cost of living is significantly different (many time for the better) in various locations. Housing / renting costs, sales tax, real estate taxes, car registration / insurance, fuel costs, food, etc. should be researched thoroughly. There are many good relocation websites, including city and county government sites that can give you details.
o If you are relocating without a job lined up, how easy is it going to be to get one, and do you have enough capital on hand to live for a while? How long can you go without a paycheck? Would you be able to get by with a lesser job temporarily? Can you stay with a friend or relative? If it does not work out, do have an exit strategy?
o Crime: It is everywhere of course, but it is certainly worse in certain locations, and not always just in areas of a large city. You do not want to show up somewhere and be blindsided by a less than desirable area. This is the type of stress you do not need. There are some very nice crime map websites that you can explore. Often, the police or sheriff's department website will have a crime map search feature. As well, take a frequent look at the online newspapers for the locations you are considering. You rarely hear about local events outside of a particular area.
o Interview considerations. While it is the case that for certain positions companies will fly someone to their location, it is often not their first choice. Companies tend to try and find local candidates due to the extra expense. If you have unique enough skills and experiences for a job, many companies will bring someone in for a meeting. Be prepared though that the first question they will ask you is… Are you sure relocation is not a problem? You do not what to have a company invest time and money unless you are 110% sure you are ready to relocate.
o Can you break a lease or sell your home easily? Depending on your situation, relocation packages offered by companies will provide for temporary housing, and they will often pay for you to break a lease. Even though you may have heard stories that an apartment will break a lease for a job change, you should really find out the rules ahead of time. It does not usually work this way.
o What about the people you may be leaving behind? This is often the prime reason people do not relocate, and sometimes the reason people do! Would you be able to afford vacations back to this area? Will they be able to visit you? Will you be miserable not being around these people? Like anything, time changes things. Initially, it will be hard, but after a while it will be a little easier. Some say that it makes the time they do spend with family and friends even more valuable and precious.
o If you have a spouse or significant other that needs to work, will they be able to find employment? Would they would be willing to take a position not necessarily in their chosen field if need be?
o How much will a move cost? When relocating on your own, it would be wise to calculate ahead of time the cost to move you and your belongings. This is an expense you cannot escape. There are various new options these days, including U-pack and Pods type services that can save money. When you are ready to move this needs to be an area that you research thoroughly, considering the costs vary greatly. Needless to say, always get multiple quotes if using a moving company.
o Is the new school system going to be suitable? It may be slightly difficult for you to assess this, but there are plenty of school rating related websites that can provide decent information. Often it will be one of three situations; rural, suburbs or inner city. Each has its pros and cons and each can be researched.
o What will the new commute be like, if you will have a job ahead of time? Often times the miles calculators are not a true gauge as to how long a commute will be. Ask around if possible. Ten miles in Los Angeles may require you to bring a lunch.
o If considering moving into a large city, are you prepared for a different culture, possibly much faster paced, than what you are used to? Some say that city living is often cold and impersonal, or that rural living is slow and boring. Is your personality the type that can deal with either of these scenarios? If you are fortunate enough to interview and get a job before moving, ask as many questions as possible to the people that work there.
o Have you done the Ben Franklin decision making method? Draw a line down the middle of a piece of papers and write PROS on one side and CONS on the other. If the pros win, go for it. Many people have had outstanding experiences relocating to a new area.
Relocation Packages...
Relocation packages from companies offer various components. This is often something that is negotiable with a job offer. Instead of three months temp living, ask for six. Ask for extra miscellaneous expense money. Ask for a point to buy a new house or other real estate expenses. Everything is negotiable, although relocation packages have suffered the last few years. Often, a large company will utilize an outside relocation service to help coordinate and work with you during your move. Take advantage of this service. Some standard items that you will typically find in a relocation package include:
- Temporary Living - Anywhere from one month to six months usually.
- Moving expense (often based on weight). Sometimes you can get the company to pay to pack your goods, do not count on it though.
- Storage (again based on weight, and may range from one to six months)
- Vehicle moving expense.
- Meals and travel expenses for you and your family.
- One or two house hunting trips for you and your family.
- Mortgage points, new home down payment, and closing costs, to help buy and sell a home.
Often times a company will just give you a flat amount for relocation and let you work it out on your own. Many people actually profit from a relocation package, which is nothing to feel guilty about. If a relocation package is essential for you to join a company, be sure to discuss this topic before getting too involved in the interview process. You may not get specific details on the amount, but at least you know the basics and that it is offered.
Like anything, nothing worthwhile is ever easy, especially long distance job searching. It requires a lot of research and diligence to make it happen. It is usually the case that unless the opening is a hard to locate skill set, or a top level position, you may run into relatively few companies willing to bring someone in for an interview or help with relocation. If you are wondering why you are not getting any calls for positions you are clearly suited for, this is possibly the reason.
Even for companies willing to look outside of the area, it is not uncommon these days for them to leave the relocation expense up to the person moving. It may help your cause to indicate on your resume or other correspondence that you are very willing to relocate, and if it is the case, pay for it on your own. If your situation allows, your best bet is to move to your location choice and then get a job. You will be pleasantly surprised just how many more calls you receive when you are actually living in the new area. The key is to have some money saved and to go on an all out assault to find a new job. No playing, not yet anyway.
Your Resume: To Post, or Not To Post. That is the question.
Have you ever noticed that virtually all recruiting websites these days are trying to get you to post a resume, or create a very thorough account with all of your personal information, right from the start? It is often the first thing they hit you with on their home page. There is no hello, welcome, how are you, please come on in. It is, we need your resume and information, or we are not dealing with you, so give it to us NOW. A little exaggerating, but that is how many of us feel when we show up to one of these sites.
Interestingly enough, many sites these days actually require you to give your resume and information just to do a job search, and many require this information in order to apply for a job! Hmmm, I am giving my personal information to some website and they aren't even the company with the job? If a site is making you register to use them, move on. There are too many excellent sites with job openings posted from multiple sources that you can visit. If you see the name of a company posting a job to a recruiting site, but the site requires you to register in order apply, just go directly to the actually employer.
There are some other things to think about with recruiting sites, namely, is it worth your effort to post your resume. You have seen the ads "post a resume, get a job"? What they are actually saying is to post with us and maybe you will come back and click some ads, or maybe we can sell our database to employers. Since we know that recruiting sites benefit monetarily from you including your resume, and since everyone is begging you for it like never before, let us see if there are any real benefits for you the job seeker. Is it really the case...post a resume, get a job, or is it...post a resume, waste your time.
You probably fall into one of two camps, those that would definitely post a resume to a job board, and those who would never think of it. It may surprise you, but there are millions of people who have never even been on a job board. If only these sites could tap into this resource.
Here are some of the reasons why resume posting results might be suspect.
1. Many employers do, and many do not, pay for resume database access. Database access can costs many thousands of dollars, and is sometime hard to justify if your company does not do much hiring. For the companies with big budgets, they may pay for it, but it is rare that they would pay for more than one or two. Consider too that the companies who pay for resume databases often have Recruiters with many openings. I am fairly confident that many recruiters would prefer, or have to for efficiency sake, go the easier route by having you find them (job postings) versus them finding you (resume databases).
2. With resume databases, you may run some risks posting to them, one being the perceived diminishing of your value to a perspective employer. This is especially true if you have a very unique or hard to locate skills and experience. This may often be a type of technical or senior level person in a particular field. Many employers and recruiters will tell you that it is fairly rare to find a really difficult to locate candidate in a resume database, as in certain types of technical professionals. Also, your resume can possibly get harvested by just about anyone in a public resume database, so be aware that it can end up all over the place without your permission. I have seen ownership problems of a resume/candidate more than a few times between an employer and an agency Recruiter.
Reasons for posting:
If you decide to post, do it in conjunction with other means of prospecting for a new job, and post to as many real sites as possible, such as the ones you know to be legitimate. Posting to just one site is not worth the effort. Stay away from sites that just look like a mess, or require you to sign up on page one. No company is paying them for their resume database. It is likely they are using your information for other self-serving purposes. If you leave your name, number, email and current employer off of your online resume, you will not be helping your cause. This is key information for an employer/recruiter. Your resume is your ad, so make sure it is perfect, and be sure to understand each resume database thoroughly so you can be found very easily.
If you do post, try to refresh your account often if possible. Again, for those sites that require you to register to view jobs or apply, move on. There many outstanding sites that do not require this step, and as mentioned, no one website has the market cornered on a particular company's job listings. Keep in mind too that while it may seem like every company must be posting their jobs, the percent of companies doing so is also relatively small. There are millions of companies (potential employers) in the U.S. Many people have had outstanding success utilizing resume databases, and some have not.
Interestingly enough, many sites these days actually require you to give your resume and information just to do a job search, and many require this information in order to apply for a job! Hmmm, I am giving my personal information to some website and they aren't even the company with the job? If a site is making you register to use them, move on. There are too many excellent sites with job openings posted from multiple sources that you can visit. If you see the name of a company posting a job to a recruiting site, but the site requires you to register in order apply, just go directly to the actually employer.
There are some other things to think about with recruiting sites, namely, is it worth your effort to post your resume. You have seen the ads "post a resume, get a job"? What they are actually saying is to post with us and maybe you will come back and click some ads, or maybe we can sell our database to employers. Since we know that recruiting sites benefit monetarily from you including your resume, and since everyone is begging you for it like never before, let us see if there are any real benefits for you the job seeker. Is it really the case...post a resume, get a job, or is it...post a resume, waste your time.
You probably fall into one of two camps, those that would definitely post a resume to a job board, and those who would never think of it. It may surprise you, but there are millions of people who have never even been on a job board. If only these sites could tap into this resource.
Here are some of the reasons why resume posting results might be suspect.
1. Many employers do, and many do not, pay for resume database access. Database access can costs many thousands of dollars, and is sometime hard to justify if your company does not do much hiring. For the companies with big budgets, they may pay for it, but it is rare that they would pay for more than one or two. Consider too that the companies who pay for resume databases often have Recruiters with many openings. I am fairly confident that many recruiters would prefer, or have to for efficiency sake, go the easier route by having you find them (job postings) versus them finding you (resume databases).
2. With resume databases, you may run some risks posting to them, one being the perceived diminishing of your value to a perspective employer. This is especially true if you have a very unique or hard to locate skills and experience. This may often be a type of technical or senior level person in a particular field. Many employers and recruiters will tell you that it is fairly rare to find a really difficult to locate candidate in a resume database, as in certain types of technical professionals. Also, your resume can possibly get harvested by just about anyone in a public resume database, so be aware that it can end up all over the place without your permission. I have seen ownership problems of a resume/candidate more than a few times between an employer and an agency Recruiter.
Reasons for posting:
If you decide to post, do it in conjunction with other means of prospecting for a new job, and post to as many real sites as possible, such as the ones you know to be legitimate. Posting to just one site is not worth the effort. Stay away from sites that just look like a mess, or require you to sign up on page one. No company is paying them for their resume database. It is likely they are using your information for other self-serving purposes. If you leave your name, number, email and current employer off of your online resume, you will not be helping your cause. This is key information for an employer/recruiter. Your resume is your ad, so make sure it is perfect, and be sure to understand each resume database thoroughly so you can be found very easily.
If you do post, try to refresh your account often if possible. Again, for those sites that require you to register to view jobs or apply, move on. There many outstanding sites that do not require this step, and as mentioned, no one website has the market cornered on a particular company's job listings. Keep in mind too that while it may seem like every company must be posting their jobs, the percent of companies doing so is also relatively small. There are millions of companies (potential employers) in the U.S. Many people have had outstanding success utilizing resume databases, and some have not.
Be successful and a great employee. Try these!
Having worked at some very large and very small companies, I have observed some activities that I believe employers find appealing, and that will help you in your career. If you do not work for yourself then it is imperative that you learn to be a good employee. Although, we all really work for ourselves since we sell our services and skills to companies. Just doing some little things can lead to a better position, or put you last on the list if there is a cut back. Here is what comes to mind.
1. Be very helpful and nice to new hires. It will get back to the people up top.
2. Always be positive in your interactions with co-workers. Don't complain or be negative.
3. Make friends and hang around with the people who are thought to be the leaders. Don't be the king of the dipshits, as one former boss so aptly put it.
4. Have an opinion, but don't overdo it. Keep discussions like politics and religion to a minimum.
5. Get in earlier than your boss, at least once in a while. For that matter, stay later than your boss, at least once in a while.
6. Volunteer to take on an additional task or more work. You have time.
7. Comfortable or not, force yourself to speak in front of others in meetings. If nothing else, just ask a decent question. This is critical for success.
8. Don't be defensive or make excuses. If you’re getting less than desirable or unwanted feedback, take it.
9. Be pleasant, likable and optimistic. Be a good listener and show an interest in others by asking questions versus speaking all of the time. The more you try to impress others, they less impressive you are.
10. You don't have to participate in all of them, although you probably should, but do participate in company events and activities, off site and on site. Don't skip the birthday celebrations.
11. Do your job well, get your work done quickly, and take ownership if you make a mistake.
12. Don't take mini-vacations with others throughout the day.
13. Never call in sick on Fridays, and Monday if you can avoid it.
14. And the number one thing you can do to win friends and influence people at work??? Bring in donuts or bagels once in a while, and spring for some flavored cream cheese! It’s really a small investment in the scope of things.
1. Be very helpful and nice to new hires. It will get back to the people up top.
2. Always be positive in your interactions with co-workers. Don't complain or be negative.
3. Make friends and hang around with the people who are thought to be the leaders. Don't be the king of the dipshits, as one former boss so aptly put it.
4. Have an opinion, but don't overdo it. Keep discussions like politics and religion to a minimum.
5. Get in earlier than your boss, at least once in a while. For that matter, stay later than your boss, at least once in a while.
6. Volunteer to take on an additional task or more work. You have time.
7. Comfortable or not, force yourself to speak in front of others in meetings. If nothing else, just ask a decent question. This is critical for success.
8. Don't be defensive or make excuses. If you’re getting less than desirable or unwanted feedback, take it.
9. Be pleasant, likable and optimistic. Be a good listener and show an interest in others by asking questions versus speaking all of the time. The more you try to impress others, they less impressive you are.
10. You don't have to participate in all of them, although you probably should, but do participate in company events and activities, off site and on site. Don't skip the birthday celebrations.
11. Do your job well, get your work done quickly, and take ownership if you make a mistake.
12. Don't take mini-vacations with others throughout the day.
13. Never call in sick on Fridays, and Monday if you can avoid it.
14. And the number one thing you can do to win friends and influence people at work??? Bring in donuts or bagels once in a while, and spring for some flavored cream cheese! It’s really a small investment in the scope of things.
Interview Day, a Secret Tip
It's interview day. You have researched the company, prepared a few questions, printed a few copies of your resume, ironed your clothes, found a pen, have something to take notes in, have good directions, etc. You should be happy. It's not always an easy task getting an interview.
If you think about it, it's a major accomplishment! A combination of numerous happenings, possibly over your entire career and lifetime, have got you to this point. Nice job!
Now since you have done what it takes to get here, let me share a couple of proven ideas that will help you seal the deal on your interview. Let me warn you that you need to keep an open mind as you read this and you probably need to read it again. You may even want to print it out and use it as a guide. This system works wonders.
The basic idea is that what you say to yourself with feeling and conviction programs your subconscious and then gives you the attitude, demeanor, confidence, etc. of what you have just told yourself, whether it is true or not. Your subconscious takes it literally and as a fact what you say to yourself. But you have to say it with meaning and conviction. Just saying it won't work, but I guess that would be better than nothing. Let me repeat. What you say to yourself, with meaning, has an enormous impact on everything about you. I'll admit that I did not invent this and it is well documented. I have personally used this technique 100's of times and each time the results amaze me. You will know what I am talking about if you try it.
Here is how you do it, and the early you get started the better, but I like to do it on my drive to an interview, sales meeting, etc. I've found that 15 minutes will do the trick nicely. As you do it, your going to get sidetracked with something, so you have to refocus and keep doing it. Of course, turn off the radio, get off of your phone, etc. as you're heading to the interview. You need to PREPARE your mind. Does an athlete warm up before taking the field? Of course, and you should to with something as important as an interview. Keep in mind, this works for interviews, speeches, sales presentations, before you go into a meeting, even for a party you are attending.
Start out like this and repeat it over and over and over and over again. All the way to your interview. Remember, you are programming your subconscious, so say it with conviction, over and over again. If your mind wonders, refocus.
I like myself, I like myself, I like myself, I like myself, I like myself, I like myself...
I am confident, I am confident, I am confident, I am confident, I am confident...
I am the best, I am the best, I am the best, I am the best, I am the best, I am the best...
I can do it, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it...
I'm a great communicator, I'm a great communicator, I'm a great communicator...
I do the best interviews in the world, I do the best interviews in the world...
I ask great questions, I ask great questions, I ask great questions, I ask great questions...
I am a great listener, I am a great listener, I am a great listener, I am a great listener...
I look great, I look great, I look great, I look great, I look great...
Now go back through it again, and keep repeating, with conviction. You will think of new things to say as well which is great.
So lastly, you show up at the company. DO NOT jump out of your car and rush on it. You need to stop, close your eyes, and visualize every step of the process. You greet the person at the desk pleasantly, you sit confidently waiting, you greet the interviewer with a smile and a proper handshake, you build rapport with this and everyone you meet, you sit with each interviewer and have a great conversation, you don't interrupt, you answer all questions brilliantly, you wrap it up nicely with a handshake, you thank them for their time and express your interest in the position and company. Visualize everything going perfectly.
Please, just try this one time. You will be amazed. I was each and every time I did it before a sales meeting. You will notice a huge difference in you, but you have to do it ALL of the way to the interview and while sitting in the lobby, not out loud of course.
One last thing. Read anything for at least 15 minutes the day of your interview. It will literally make you articulate words and sentences better. I'll give you more on that topic later. Bye
If you think about it, it's a major accomplishment! A combination of numerous happenings, possibly over your entire career and lifetime, have got you to this point. Nice job!
Now since you have done what it takes to get here, let me share a couple of proven ideas that will help you seal the deal on your interview. Let me warn you that you need to keep an open mind as you read this and you probably need to read it again. You may even want to print it out and use it as a guide. This system works wonders.
The basic idea is that what you say to yourself with feeling and conviction programs your subconscious and then gives you the attitude, demeanor, confidence, etc. of what you have just told yourself, whether it is true or not. Your subconscious takes it literally and as a fact what you say to yourself. But you have to say it with meaning and conviction. Just saying it won't work, but I guess that would be better than nothing. Let me repeat. What you say to yourself, with meaning, has an enormous impact on everything about you. I'll admit that I did not invent this and it is well documented. I have personally used this technique 100's of times and each time the results amaze me. You will know what I am talking about if you try it.
Here is how you do it, and the early you get started the better, but I like to do it on my drive to an interview, sales meeting, etc. I've found that 15 minutes will do the trick nicely. As you do it, your going to get sidetracked with something, so you have to refocus and keep doing it. Of course, turn off the radio, get off of your phone, etc. as you're heading to the interview. You need to PREPARE your mind. Does an athlete warm up before taking the field? Of course, and you should to with something as important as an interview. Keep in mind, this works for interviews, speeches, sales presentations, before you go into a meeting, even for a party you are attending.
Start out like this and repeat it over and over and over and over again. All the way to your interview. Remember, you are programming your subconscious, so say it with conviction, over and over again. If your mind wonders, refocus.
I like myself, I like myself, I like myself, I like myself, I like myself, I like myself...
I am confident, I am confident, I am confident, I am confident, I am confident...
I am the best, I am the best, I am the best, I am the best, I am the best, I am the best...
I can do it, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it...
I'm a great communicator, I'm a great communicator, I'm a great communicator...
I do the best interviews in the world, I do the best interviews in the world...
I ask great questions, I ask great questions, I ask great questions, I ask great questions...
I am a great listener, I am a great listener, I am a great listener, I am a great listener...
I look great, I look great, I look great, I look great, I look great...
Now go back through it again, and keep repeating, with conviction. You will think of new things to say as well which is great.
So lastly, you show up at the company. DO NOT jump out of your car and rush on it. You need to stop, close your eyes, and visualize every step of the process. You greet the person at the desk pleasantly, you sit confidently waiting, you greet the interviewer with a smile and a proper handshake, you build rapport with this and everyone you meet, you sit with each interviewer and have a great conversation, you don't interrupt, you answer all questions brilliantly, you wrap it up nicely with a handshake, you thank them for their time and express your interest in the position and company. Visualize everything going perfectly.
Please, just try this one time. You will be amazed. I was each and every time I did it before a sales meeting. You will notice a huge difference in you, but you have to do it ALL of the way to the interview and while sitting in the lobby, not out loud of course.
One last thing. Read anything for at least 15 minutes the day of your interview. It will literally make you articulate words and sentences better. I'll give you more on that topic later. Bye
Working through Recruiters
Before investing a moment of your time, determine if a recruiting or headhunting service is a real option for you. While it is the case that recruiters make money placing candidates into their client companies, recruiters are usually of no value to entry level, junior, fresh graduates, etc. The reason for this is that companies will only pay a fee for someone they believe they cannot locate efficiently on their own. The general thought with employers is that new graduates and junior candidates can be found without incurring an extra cost to the company.
After you have determined that a recruiting service could offer you value, follow a few guidelines and the process can be a rewarding experience.
After you have determined that a recruiting service could offer you value, follow a few guidelines and the process can be a rewarding experience.
1. You should be able to clearly and concisely explain to a recruiter why you would be a valuable employee.
2. Be upfront and do not lie about anything to a recruiter.
3. Be realistic and educated regarding salary norms in your specialty.
4. If you are going to demand an urealistic increase in your present grade or level, such as going for a manager to a VP, you would be best going it alone.
5.When sending your résumé to recruiters, you may request that your résumé not be sent to prospective employers or other recruiters without discussing it with you.
6. Applying directly to an employer after hearing about a position through a Recruiter is very risky and unethical.
7. Do not be upset if a Recruiter does not respond to you. If they have a position that is good match, and you are clearly qualified, then the odds are favorable. A lot goes into all of these factors working together.
8. For non-executive and managerial level job seeking, your best bet is to approach a company directly since companies in general try to avoid fees.
Lastly, we again emphasize that that you use many methods for locating a new position. One of them will typically work. Good luck!
It is also of no value for you to engage a recruiter in order to change professions. Recruiters are only able to place you into a very similar position as to your current or last position. Companies will pay a fee for very recent and very relevant experience. If you have been out of work for a long length of time, or working in a non-relevant position, do not expect much help from a recruiter. Companies will usually only pay a fee for someone currently in the position for which they are seeking.
Overall, utilize recruiters when you can and if it makes sense, but don't expect great results. This is not a knock on recruiters. There are just many factors that go into the process of you, the employer, and a recruiter all being successful in your search. This should be one of various avenues you are engaged in with your job search, along with applying directly to a company, networking, utilizing the Internet, referrals, and making sure your resume and interview presentation is outstanding.
While job postings serve a purpose, be wary of them and try not to be frustrated with the lack of response. If there is no response to your resume from a recruiting company posting, ask yourself? Am I a new graduate or junior candidate? Do I need to relocate? Do I need a Visa? Have I been out of work a long time?
After you have determined that a recruiting service could offer you value, follow a few guidelines and the process can be a rewarding experience.
After you have determined that a recruiting service could offer you value, follow a few guidelines and the process can be a rewarding experience.
1. You should be able to clearly and concisely explain to a recruiter why you would be a valuable employee.
2. Be upfront and do not lie about anything to a recruiter.
3. Be realistic and educated regarding salary norms in your specialty.
4. If you are going to demand an urealistic increase in your present grade or level, such as going for a manager to a VP, you would be best going it alone.
5.When sending your résumé to recruiters, you may request that your résumé not be sent to prospective employers or other recruiters without discussing it with you.
6. Applying directly to an employer after hearing about a position through a Recruiter is very risky and unethical.
7. Do not be upset if a Recruiter does not respond to you. If they have a position that is good match, and you are clearly qualified, then the odds are favorable. A lot goes into all of these factors working together.
8. For non-executive and managerial level job seeking, your best bet is to approach a company directly since companies in general try to avoid fees.
Lastly, we again emphasize that that you use many methods for locating a new position. One of them will typically work. Good luck!
Negotiate, after you get the job!
Do not negotiate or discuss pay too early. Until you have gone through the complete interview process, determined that you want to work at this company, and they have given you a written offer, do not negotiate or discuss pay. In fact, do your best to avoid the topic, even if it is brought up by the company during the interview process, which it probably will be. When asked what pay are you looking for, keep your answer simple. I am flexible, I am open, would like to learn more about the position, etc.
Turn the question around by saying that you would consider all competitive offers, and then ask what the range is. They may or may not tell you, but either way that will usually end the pay topic for now. There is basically no upside in having in-depth pay discussions with anyone at this company until both sides want each other.
You may have the philosophy, because you read it somewhere, that you will never tell a prospective employer your current pay situation. This approach will backfire, or make you not look very good. Be up front and share your current pay, but only if asked. You may say, well that is not their business. Like it or not, and whether it is technically the company's business or not, you need to share this information. Not sharing, and being untrusting to a future employer and hiring manager, will often end or hinder future discussions, or at least drop you down a few notches since most people will disclose this willingly.
Remember, you can ultimately, if you get the job, turn the offer down or negotiate it. At least put yourself in the position to negotiate. The key, which will be repeated, is to make them want you first. So if you take the hardball approach about not writing in your application or not telling them your situation when asked, don't expect a positive outcome. Think about it this way. If you tell them your situation, the company will now have some idea if they will be able to compete for your services. Let them end it, not you. Think about it from the hiring manager's perspective. You have someone who is not open and trusting enough to share their current pay. Is that kind of employee they want on their team? Probably not.
Mostly, the people who are adamant about not sharing their current pay believe they are paid too low, or they have heard a story about a guy making such and such doing the same thing at XYZ company. This may be true, but you must have some trust that employers in your industry have an idea as to what the current pay standards are. If not, you will have plenty of time to educate them after they offer you the job. You may say, well won't I be wasting my time if I do not know upfront what the pay is. Do not worry about wasting your time if you do not know exactly what the current pay is prior to an interview. Often you will know, sometimes you will not. That is the risk you take interviewing and trying to better your current situation. There is no plug in formula for pay, and many factors discussed later cause it to vary.
You may notice that the advice we are offering has to do with you GETTING THE JOB FIRST, before making pay an issue. This is the best negotiation tip we can give you. You are in a position to negotiate and make demands only when the company and hiring manager wants you. Of all of the things to be concerned with during the interview process, pay should be towards the bottom. Focus on skills that make the the company and hiring manager like you. Could you possibly see a situation where a hiring manager offers a job to someone that they do not like? Make them want you badly, because if you do not accomplish this, pay is irrelevant.
Even if you know the pay range and think it is too low, nothing is set in stone. You may really like the company, industry, market, etc. We have witnessed numerous occasions where a pay range is known, and the company goes way beyond it. Why? Because the really wanted this person.
When the offer arrives, review it thoroughly. Make sure you truly understand all of the terms and conditions. Do not react, but study and let your mind absorb it. Ask yourself what your initial thoughts are. Too high? Low? Seems fair? Wish this was in it? You need to be clear about what you really want and are willing to ask for in addition. Also, do not feel like the negotiation Gods are going to strike you down if you just decide just to accept it. If you factor in the position, company, pay, etc., and it all seems like a nice deal and you feel good about everything, go for it.
If there is a component missing that you were hoping for, then ask for it, but do it professionally. Stay calm. There is absolutely nothing wrong with negotiating an offer. You will not offend and most companies expect it. You can do this informally, by letting the hiring manager, HR person or recruiter know specifically what you would like changed. If they require a formal response, or if you would feel better doing this in writing, then go that route. Ask the employer how they would like you to respond.
Keep this in mind, studies have shown that the a high percentage of offers would be negotiated on the employer's end, yet only 1/3 of candidates ever ask for more or better terms. You will benefit yourself immensely long-term if you get better terms now. Find a simple future value of money calculator and you will see just how important it is.
Turn the question around by saying that you would consider all competitive offers, and then ask what the range is. They may or may not tell you, but either way that will usually end the pay topic for now. There is basically no upside in having in-depth pay discussions with anyone at this company until both sides want each other.
You may have the philosophy, because you read it somewhere, that you will never tell a prospective employer your current pay situation. This approach will backfire, or make you not look very good. Be up front and share your current pay, but only if asked. You may say, well that is not their business. Like it or not, and whether it is technically the company's business or not, you need to share this information. Not sharing, and being untrusting to a future employer and hiring manager, will often end or hinder future discussions, or at least drop you down a few notches since most people will disclose this willingly.
Remember, you can ultimately, if you get the job, turn the offer down or negotiate it. At least put yourself in the position to negotiate. The key, which will be repeated, is to make them want you first. So if you take the hardball approach about not writing in your application or not telling them your situation when asked, don't expect a positive outcome. Think about it this way. If you tell them your situation, the company will now have some idea if they will be able to compete for your services. Let them end it, not you. Think about it from the hiring manager's perspective. You have someone who is not open and trusting enough to share their current pay. Is that kind of employee they want on their team? Probably not.
Mostly, the people who are adamant about not sharing their current pay believe they are paid too low, or they have heard a story about a guy making such and such doing the same thing at XYZ company. This may be true, but you must have some trust that employers in your industry have an idea as to what the current pay standards are. If not, you will have plenty of time to educate them after they offer you the job. You may say, well won't I be wasting my time if I do not know upfront what the pay is. Do not worry about wasting your time if you do not know exactly what the current pay is prior to an interview. Often you will know, sometimes you will not. That is the risk you take interviewing and trying to better your current situation. There is no plug in formula for pay, and many factors discussed later cause it to vary.
You may notice that the advice we are offering has to do with you GETTING THE JOB FIRST, before making pay an issue. This is the best negotiation tip we can give you. You are in a position to negotiate and make demands only when the company and hiring manager wants you. Of all of the things to be concerned with during the interview process, pay should be towards the bottom. Focus on skills that make the the company and hiring manager like you. Could you possibly see a situation where a hiring manager offers a job to someone that they do not like? Make them want you badly, because if you do not accomplish this, pay is irrelevant.
Even if you know the pay range and think it is too low, nothing is set in stone. You may really like the company, industry, market, etc. We have witnessed numerous occasions where a pay range is known, and the company goes way beyond it. Why? Because the really wanted this person.
When the offer arrives, review it thoroughly. Make sure you truly understand all of the terms and conditions. Do not react, but study and let your mind absorb it. Ask yourself what your initial thoughts are. Too high? Low? Seems fair? Wish this was in it? You need to be clear about what you really want and are willing to ask for in addition. Also, do not feel like the negotiation Gods are going to strike you down if you just decide just to accept it. If you factor in the position, company, pay, etc., and it all seems like a nice deal and you feel good about everything, go for it.
If there is a component missing that you were hoping for, then ask for it, but do it professionally. Stay calm. There is absolutely nothing wrong with negotiating an offer. You will not offend and most companies expect it. You can do this informally, by letting the hiring manager, HR person or recruiter know specifically what you would like changed. If they require a formal response, or if you would feel better doing this in writing, then go that route. Ask the employer how they would like you to respond.
Keep this in mind, studies have shown that the a high percentage of offers would be negotiated on the employer's end, yet only 1/3 of candidates ever ask for more or better terms. You will benefit yourself immensely long-term if you get better terms now. Find a simple future value of money calculator and you will see just how important it is.
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