No one likes to be in a position where they need to look for a job. Whether you are freshly out of college, in need of a job change, or were recently lost a job, it is not fun and can be a pain staking process. I assure you, you are not alone. The current unemployment rate is almost five percent, and there are millions of people out there who are not satisfied with their current career.
Although there are no guarantees, I can confidently say, based on personal experience, being on both sides of the fence, there are many things you can do to improve your chances of landing a quality position.
Resume
This is where it all starts. A resume is usually the first thing a hiring manager reviews when deciding if you qualify for a position. You need to be impressive and you need to sell yourself. You do not get a second chance to make a first impression, so make sure you represent yourself in a manner that makes your potential boss take notice. There are lots of free web sites out there that give examples of quality resumes and formats. I suggest looking up a few.
Here are some basic guidelines:
- Touch upon the most important skills, tasks and responsibilities
- Do not make the resume too long. An accepted length is three pages or less.
- Be clear and concise; do not be too wordy
- Try to keep the responsibility descriptions short enough to fit on one line
- List major accomplishments. Every hiring manager wants to know what you can bring to the table.
- List skills that can possibly set you apart from your competition. Example: speaking a different language;
References
Have a list of personal and professional references ready to go. Recruiters and companies usually won't ask for these right away, but you want to be ready. Make sure the list is professionally written and in the same format as your resume. Include such critical data as:
- Title
- Company
- One or more phone numbers
- Type of relationship (co worker, boss, friend)
- Length of relationship
Contact everyone you are going to use as a reference before you send it out. You of course want their permission, and you want to give them the professional courtesy that a phone call may be coming. This will also give you the opportunity to discuss the call before hand.
Use a variety of contacts as references. It is impressive to have VP's, and CEO's as references, but sometimes including someone that worked under you gives a much-needed different perspective.
Network
It's all about who you know. There is no shame in making phone calls and sending emails to all of the people you built relationships with over the years. If you were good at your job and met quality people, I am sure they will be willing to help you in any way they can. Most successful professionals love the opportunity to give back.
If you are seeking your first job, reach out to professionals that your parents or friends know. Did you perform an internship or work a part time job while in school? I'm sure you came in contact with folks that would be willing to help you. You'll be surprised how many professionals you know. You never know unless you ask. So do not be too proud to ask for help.
Career Websites
There are tons of reputable web sites, like monster and career builder, that allow you to fill out a profile, post your resume and search for jobs. These are good starting points for your journey. There are four basic reasons for using these sites.
- Job search
- Apply for jobs
- Potential Employers can find you
- Recruiters can find you
To be quite honest the most valuable uses are the first and the fourth. I tell you why further down in this piece. However, I do highly recommend posting on as many sites like these you can find. Look for career sites specifically geared toward your industry of expertise. For instance, if you have a logistics background, there are several logistics career web sites. The same thing goes for trucking, railroading, food etc.
Recruiters and Headhunters
I strongly suggest working with several recruiters. The main reasons are:
- Their services a free
- They can help market you
- They usually have established relationships with companies as well as a direct line to hiring managers
- They can do the work for you
- They will push for the highest salary possible. The higher your pay the more they make on commission.
If you are posted on career web sites, headhunters and recruiters will likely find you. If they do, do not reject their help. The more people you have working for you, the better chance you have of landing a quality job. If recruiters are not calling you, then find some yourself. Just do a google search.
