| Topic Name: |
"Hardcore" Unemployable? |
| Message Name: |
One little problem... |
| Date Posted: |
03/14/2002 |
| In Reply To: |
Have you really exhausted all available resources to finding a job? Are you going about your job search in a realistic and intelligent manner?
Let's review the checklist, shall we?
1. You are spending the majority of your time networking, building relationships and doing research.
2. You are not relying solely on shooting your resume off to job postings on electronic job boards. You are selectively targeting your companies/industries of choice.
3. You are not ruling out any avenue of approach, including contacting the company's recruiting dept. After all, they know where all of the jobs are and which ones are coming up. Be politely persistent and you will eventually get their personal attention.
4. You have contacted all of your previous managers and colleagues - for whom you did a great job - they like you and know you are talented, and you have enlisted them in your job search efforts.
5. You have contacted all of your friends, family members, classmates, professional acquaintances. alumni associations, and let them know you are seeking employment. You have asked them if they have any contacts inside your desired company.
6. You have relentlessly researched a company that is particularly attractive to you, and you have found an inside person who will help you out. Anybody inside will do - it does not have to be a big name or an executive.
7. You are not setting yourself up for failure. You are applying for positions for which you have a fighting chance of getting an interview.
8. You are keeping scrupulous contact information in a rolodex or e-organizer, and you are keeping in touch with everybody who might possibly be able to help you find work.
9. You are working at your job search as if it is a full time job - 8 hours a day at least. You are doing productive networking and research.
10. You are getting out and meeting new people and attending any events and gatherings that will help keep you sane and part of the mainstream: job fairs, alumni get-togethers, chairty events, volunteering, taking classes, christenings, bar/bat mitzvahs, weddings, funerals, reunions. And you are letting eveyone know you are looking for a job. (you have had business cards made up especially for this purpose, right?)
Good luck and power to all the job seekers! |
| Message: |
I know networking is one (or only) most important thing in finding a job, but it's damn hard when you've moved 2500 miles from your colleagues and don't know more than 2-3 people in a 300 mile radius. Volunteer work (by the way, unrelated to my career) can only do so much to keep the spirits up. Any other advice?
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