If you missed my last blog post on job search strategies and resume formatting you can find it here: http://www.goodesolutions.com/eileens-blog/job-search-strategies-part-11
Today I’ll focus more on working with a Recruiter and networking.
Resume submittal is the first step but followup is even more critical. Corporate recruiters are very busy but a well versed phone call can cause your resume to rise in the pile. One phone call isn’t pestering, it shows persistence and I’m amazed how few folks are willing to call into companies to perform this simple task.
Step away from your computer and get out! “Network to find work” is a good motto to keep in mind. Attend professional meetings in your industry or go to chamber meetings as a guest of a colleague. Look for meetups in your industry and try them on for size. Meetups are subject matter interest groups that form online and meet in person weekly or monthly. Meetups are national so do a search in your town. Here’s a sample meetup for a Project Manager group in Madison WI: http://projectmgmt.meetup.com/
Find local consulting groups. They can be a terrific way to network with a variety of professionals. Consulting groups attract folks in transition. These same people are willing to help you in your job search. For example, MABC Madison Area Business Consultants www.madisonconsultants.com meets monthly and has a very low cost of entry at $20 per year. Have your 30 second elevator speech ready to go for these types of meetings. Practice at home in front of a mirror or rehearse with your spouse/SO before you attend any networking meeting.
Work pro bono. Job searching takes time but you also need a break and some positive feedback. Volunteering with key industry organizations or non-profits can be a great way to let more folks know that you’re in the job market. Doing volunteer work for others always pays big dividends later and you feel good doing it! Don’t be afraid to let people help you, you just need to ask.
Now I’ll focus on working with recruiters which is my area of specialty. Recruiter or no recruiter? Do you have good connections to Hiring Managers, a deep professional network and the drive for this important task? You may not need a recruiter. A good recruiter is a connector that gets candidates talking to key decision makers/hiring managers. Getting traction for your resume at a large company can be difficult. I’m able to help my candidates navigate and make sure your resume gets the Hiring Manager’s attention rather than sitting in the “inbox” unnoticed.
Smaller companies without a recruiting staff depend on 3rd party recruiters (like me) for key searches, hiring bursts or confidential hiring needs. If you decide to work with a recruiter
(no more than two max) make sure you keep track of your job submittal history using Excel or another tool. Avoid double submittals of your resume to the same company by being honest and forthright about where your resume is submitted. You're in a partnership for your next dream job.
As a recruiter, I offer suggestions on resume formatting and cover letter submittals.
I help you prep for an interview since I know the company’s culture and organizational style. I work as a liaison between you and the Hiring Manager and facilitate the recruiting process efficiently. I can help you network and make connections to other influential people in the community leading to jobs that aren’t advertised. Practice one or all of the above tips and your success rate with job searching will be greatly improved. The key is to cast a wide but targeted net when you’re in job search mode. Remember it’s a numbers game, happy job searching!