Tip No. 208
Q. I am sending out at least 15 resumes a day, but have not been called for even one interview. This has been going on for three weeks…what am I doing wrong?
A. Wouldn’t it be great if all we had to do was send in a resume and sit back and wait for the offers to come rolling in? Yes, it would! However, it is not a good idea to assume that you can count on somebody appreciating your talents and skills just because you put yourself out there with a spiffy resume. We need a set of proactive strategies to market ourselves actively, rather than just exhibiting passively. Let’s look at two styles of search strategies. 1. Reactive Strategies – this is where we “respond” to others rules, ideas, parameters. Fewer than 10% of job hunters who use the “classic” markets get a job. What are these “classic” markets? • Want Ads -many people fool themselves into thinking that want ads are the door to a job. While some people do get hired this way, the large majority of responses to want ads do not result in a job. • Trade Journals – these are want ads, not listed in the newspaper. Generally, you will fare better with this route than just devoting your time exclusively to the want ads. • Internet – keep in mind that information is gold – unless everyone has it. At one time this avenue might have yielded relatively positive results, but today, everyone knows how to access the job banks. Also, most people who download these resumes are recruiters. • Recruiters and Agencies – bear in mind that they find jobs for about 5 percent of their clients and do not work exclusively for you. Any and all of their client’s which fit the job posting will be sent for the interview. 2. Proactive Strategies – The above referenced methods of job hunting are reactive. They allow you to react to whatever circumstances may develop. Keep in mind that your job search is YOUR’s. It is your life and livelihood at stake. Not all reactive methods come up a dead end. However, we believe that it is more effective to develop a set of proactive ones as well. By being proactive, you have the opportunities to get in on the ground floor. • Tap the “hidden market” – using your vast list of contacts to assist you in your job search. On the average, each of us knows 200 people. Think about how many doors could open for us if we enlisted our contacts! This is called networking. Companies network, as well. They would much rather interview a candidate who has come recommended by an employee. It is reported that 40—50% of employees were referred by a staff member. Once a job has been posted, the competition greatly increases and your chances greatly decrease. • Identify target companies you have an interest in. More than likely, if you really understand your abilities, qualifications, and transferable skills, it is a safe bet that you will interest the company. Try and find people you know who work for these companies. Use your networking list to get in the door. If you know no one, your research on the companies you are interested in will more than likely turn up the names of the individuals you need to reach. Do not spend a lot of time on those “shots in the dark” we mentioned earlier. However, mailing a resume and well-crafted cover letter addressing the needs of that particular company, may produce an interview.
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