Trish’s Jobsearch Tips

Job Search Tips and what to do when no one is calling!!!

Today I will cover some additional tips to assist in your job search, which includes a more focused job search. So what tools are you using to increase your chances on landing that perfect job? Keeping all your options open, don’t limit your job search to just one place.

How many different Job alerts do have coming directly to you? When you go to most Job Search websites, they give you the option to set up Job Search Alerts, I suggest that you setup as many as you can, it will shorten the time you need to surf the web. If you want to keep your personal email private, as I have stated in earlier posts set up email address just for your job search. Gmail, Yahoo, Aim all offer free email. Google also has many tools you can use to keep track of your appointments, tasks and calendar and these are all free.

If your search is not bearing fruit, you may not be looking in the right place. Where are you looking for that perfect Job?

• Newspapers- Most Newspapers now also have online Job postings/classifieds.

• Pennysaver-Local jobs in your area

• Websites-Search engines like Indeed

• Monster/ NY Times

• Yahoo

• Career builder

• Dice

• Employer Job boards-go directly to employer sites-look for career section, post your resume, for example American Express, Mastercard-many of these employers also allow you to setup job search alerts as well. Many of the positions on the employer boards may not be posted anywhere else on the web so this gives you a way to expose your resume to the companies recruiters and find suitable positions that match your skills. Even if you don’t get a call they keep resumes usually for up to six months.

• Recruiting Firms-many firms offer free service to the Job seeker since their clients are the employer, this allows the employer to have the job seekers pre-screened prior to scheduling an interview. Just remember they are representing the company. This will give you exposure to positions that also may not be on the web, they may even contact you about other positions that you haven’t applied for.

• Temporary Agencies-Many companies hire from the temp pool, so if you think you want to work at a certain company, you can start as a temp. I have actually used this tool several times to get my foot in the door in a company that wasn’t hiring. It usually takes about six months of dedicated service before they will even consider hiring a temp, but it can be worth the wait.

• Networking- Don’t forget to let everyone you know you are looking for a new opportunity, you may be able to tap in to the unpublished job market, go through your email address book. Send your friends something other then the latest joke, ask them if they might know of any positions that you would be a good fit for. Stay up to date with your LinkedIn

Don’t allow your self to get distracted, set aside time for your job search, if you are unemployed you need to create a schedule with tasks and allow no less than 4 hours at least 3 to 4 days per week to keep your job search on target. As I stated in earlier posts you should send, apply etc for at least 7-10 positions per day. So that is an average of 40 applications or resumes per week. It usually takes approximately 2 weeks to get a response to your application. In some cases it may even be longer. For every 40 resumes you send you may get an interview, so don’t loose hope. Don’t give up or get discouraged.

One word of warning, you may find you are getting emails from people asking you if want to start your own business-quick earnings, easy money, work from home. These are usually internet scams of one kind or another, don’t allow the allure of working from home, easy money, distract you from your job search. You can always start your own business, but it usually takes money to make money. I suggest if you want try something like this, it should be as a part time job.

Well this post covers some area’s I haven’t delved into before, I hope this has helped some of you with your job search. I rotate the sites I go to so that it keeps it fresh and I am not looking at the same jobs all of the time.

Yesterday I had to go back to Unemployment because someone forgot to post the roles from last weeks meeting, when I called Dept of Labor on Friday when I received the notice , I explained I had just attended this meeting, they told me it was mandatory and if I didn’t show up I could loose my benefits, so I went to the One Center and they told me that it was a mistake, so I wasted an hour and several gallons of gas for a mistake. I asked them when I called what happens if I had an interview scheduled? Again it was mandatory!!! Oh well, this is just one of the injustices we have to deal with as unemployed people.

Have a great day.

Trish

Unemployment and the Job Fair

Today I went to Unemployment for a mandatory meeting, it was actually the most interesting I have ever been to. They asked for our resumes and while the speaker was talking they took all of the resumes into another area and reviewed them. They marked them in red and gave them back with “Best practice” advise to everyone in the room.

Otherwise he stood there and talked about how to go about finding a new position, there were two points he made which had some small merit.

• You can target certain businesses and go there when they are least busy and drop off your resume.i.e car dealership or other small businesses (The rules would still apply, dress appropriately, and make sure there are no spelling errors on your resume)

• Take out the telephone book go to the yellow pages- I have never heard this before, go to the section that might best meet your skills and look to see who is there, if they have a website check it out, you might even be able to apply on line, if not place a call when you think they might be least busy ask if you could come by. (Hey it’s worth a shot!)

Otherwise I didn’t find anything else of import, I believe I have covered most of it already.

So on my way home there was a job fair. I knew I had to go to Unemployment, so I planned on stopping on the way back. I dressed in my suit and took along extra resumes.

Now in the past I have been to a few Job fairs and most were a bust. I found this one to be a little more interesting, most of the positions were for entry level. However I did speak to a few of the recruiters who said they may have positions at my level and to go to the website or send a further email. So who knows it might have just turned into another form of networking. Only time will tell. As with any interview you should be groomed and well dressed, as well as have many copies of your resume. Because you never know where your next interview may come from. It is a way to reach many companies at the same event and if you put your best foot forward and you are memorable then you might just get a call.

I think that covers it for today.

Have a nice day

Trish

Staying focused during the search

How focused are you? What is your current objective? You need to stay focused, don’t allow yourself to get distracted, which can be easy if you are currently looking full time.

• Stay focused

• Get up at the same time every day-allow some personal time but your job is to find a job

• Don’t get discouraged, go to bed at the same time every night

• Use your outlook calendar & tasks(if you don’t have outlook Google has free program)-create tasks with time blocks and stick to them

• Task #1 should be search various job site for a position, apply for positions online, send emails.Set up jobalerts that go directly to your email, it will help save time and eliminate the need to continually surf the web. Don’t allow yourself to get distracted.

• Keep track of who you are sending resumes to, I keep a excel spreadsheet, by date with columns for position, employer, how I applied email, online, if contacted for interview, thank you letter and follow ups

• Allot time to do the things around the house but keep them to a minimum: multi task, (run down and throw a load of laundry in, but go back to the computer) Create task on your calendar for larger jobs either before or after your alloted job search time.

• Go to the library-find a book that will assist in your job search or to hone your skills further.

• Take some time to research where your future might be and study-again create a task block off time for this either before or after the job search.

• You should be sending an average of 10 online, email applications everyday-this takes time to review and complete so be sure to allot minimum of 4-6 hours a day for this.

• Once the calls come for interviews build this into your schedule, but again don’t forget to continue to keep looking.

• Don’t put all your eggs in one basket-until the offer is made you don’t have a job yet

• Have you thought about starting your own business, this is a good opportunity to do some further research, you may even be able to get some assistance with this from One Center at the unemployment office.

• But most of all Don’t get discouraged. There is a job out there you just need to keep looking.

Well tomorrow I have to do the obligatory Unemployment Orientation, I believe I could give them some pointers on how to do a job search. Maybe I should become a recruiter or write a book…No news on that 2nd interview, I did hear on Friday that he is still trying to schedule it, however there is some discussion about the job duties since it is a new position. I still have some hope there, just not going to hold my breath.

Well thats all for now. I will share my great experience at Unemployment tomorrow.

Have a great day

Trish

Waiting for the call, What your criteria should be for 2nd interview

• After the interview waiting for the call back is hard. Did you remember to send a thank you note? Did you highlight your points and add anything you forgot to cover?

• You made it past the first/possibly even a second interview, Now what? If the interviewer said they would get back to you, allow the time agreed on to pass.

• When the call comes, you need to be as prepared as you were for the first interview, many of the same rules apply.

• Dress for success.

• Bring extra resumes, you will most likely be meeting with the next level and possibly the staff who you will be working with.

• Be prepared to spend at least two hours at this interview (so don’t overbook yourself, allow plenty of time)

• This is now the time you can discuss benefits, salary etc (keep it light the offer hasn’t been made yet)

• Once the interview is complete, again shake hands, collect business cards. Don’t forget to ask them when they plan to make a decision.

• Send out thank you note, take this opportunity to let them know that you can do the job and you really want to work for them.

• Then the waiting game starts again, you are hoping for an offer at this point.

• If the time has passed and you haven’t heard back then you can: If you made a connection with Human Resources you can send them an email or call them. But you don’t want to seem to pushy, they have jobs to do. They may tell you they haven’t made a decision or they haven’t heard either way, or even that they have decided on another candidate.

• Don’t loose heart, keep in there. Continue your search, set up other interviews while you wait.

• You Don’t want to not have choices, ideally you want several offers on the table to choose from.

My week will be busy again this week. I received a call back for a second(third really) interview with a firm I am very interested in, waiting to firm the date of this interview sometime this week. Possibly Thursday. And on Friday I received another call for a first interview in the city. So I am encouraged. I had three interviews last week, two of them may not be a great fit, but the practice is good. Helps to be more relaxed if you are doing more interviews you aren’t as anxious since you are getting more practice.

Thats all for now will try and keep you update.

Trish