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Title: Job Search Strategies that Work!
Author: Don Goodman, President About Jobs
Article:
So you took your resume and posted it on the job boards. You
also spent hours searching for the jobs that fit your background
and career goals, and you responded to a few dozen jobs. Then
you waited for the phone to ring. But it didn't. What went wrong?
Did you know that the job boards have an effectiveness rate of
less than 3% in getting people jobs? Some of the larger boards
are even worse, with less than a 1% effectiveness rate. If you
think about it, everyone is using the boards to find jobs, so
you have thrown your resume into the pile of 600-1500 resumes
employers are getting for every job posted. Not a particularly
effective way to get noticed, is it?
Consider too that approximately 87% of the open jobs are not
even advertised! The first thing that a company does when it has
an open position is ask their employees if they know anyone,
internally or externally, who can fill the job. Employers would
much rather have a referral from someone they know than go out
to the open market and hire a stranger. Many companies even
offer fairly large referral bonuses if an employee's
recommendation is hired.
Typically, companies will post a position internally for 30 days
before looking to the outside. All this means is that by the
time you see the job, if they even advertise it, they are
already interviewing recommended internal and outside
candidates. This doesn't produce very good odds for getting a
job through advertised positions on the web or in the paper.
So how do you get to the 87% of those open jobs that are not
advertised. There are 3 ways: networking, headhunters and direct
contact.
First of all you need to get organized so when you get that call
from the resumes you sent out, you know all about the company
that's calling. So keep a log detailing the name of the company,
the position advertised and the dates you contacted them along
with any notes. (Readers may request a free log by emailing
success@gotthejob.com).
Networking is still the best way to get a job with an
effectiveness rate up to 64%. Hiring managers love people who
are recommended to them since it lowers the risk of the person
not working out on the job. Aggressive networking is the key
here. For everyone you call in your inner network, you should
try to get 2-3 names of additional people you can call. Go to
trade shows, join associations and attend their meetings. Make
sure you know your "elevator pitch" - the 30-second statement
about yourself that you would make to Bill Gates if you were
with him on an elevator.
Headhunters are a favorite for many people and this route has an
effectiveness rate of 3-28% depending on the level of position
you are seeking. The higher up in the organization you are, the
better the chances that a company will be willing to pay a fee
to find you. The average headhunter fee is 20% which translates
to a $10,000 fee for every $50,000 of salary. So if you are a
staff professional, you might wonder if a company is willing to
pay $10,000 to get you, especially if they can get hundreds of
resumes through a simple ad. Some resume writing professionals
can e-mail your resume to a quality list of headhunters that fit
your criteria for as little as $97, and this could be well worth
it.
Finally, consider the direct contact method. This is where you
conduct a direct mail campaign to targeted hiring managers in
companies you have identified. A properly prepared campaign can
find the unadvertised jobs and has an effectiveness rate as high
as 50% depending on exactly how you do it. For example, sending
an unsolicited resume and cover letter has a 2-8% effectiveness
rate while better developed programs provide an effectiveness
rate over 40%. First, you need to make sure your resume is
great. These programs are probably best handled in collaboration
with a professional firm that has the database and the expertise
to put the right letters and resume together for you. Note that
these programs do not have to cost the thousands charged by some
of the firms out there. Do your shopping carefully and you can
find a cost effective program that has the highest rate of
success.
Even though today's job market is tight, companies are hiring.
Follow the steps outlined to develop an aggressive and focused
job search, and you can be in your dream job.
About the author:
Don Goodman is a nationally known career expert and President of
About Jobs (www.gotthejob.com) a Resume Writing and Job Search
Assistance firm. Contact him at 800-909-0109 or by e-mail at
success@gotthejob.com.
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