September Job Search? Here are some tips

It is at precisely this time of year that many people realize that summer is almost over.

Many either need to find a job altogether, or they are starting to get anxiety about their post-summer return to their current job.

Either way, a job search is on the immediate horizon.

Here are my tips on attacking the sometimes daunting task of a job search.

When reaching out to a head hunter, be sure to address them by name in your email and indicate how you received their information.

Make sure that you are not cutting and pasting a generic letter and simply changing the recipient’s name on the top.

Often these letters are all-encompassing and quite often they even show the font changes which prove that there was a cut and paste job and that no real effort was made.

Is this the kind of impression that you want to make?

Certainly, do not include a head hunter in a mass email to a long list of recruiters that also includes a resume drop.

This is a good way to show people that you do NOT stand out from the crowd.

Use relevant language, personalize the letter for the recipient, and remember less is more when it comes to a cover letter/introduction.

If you are in transition and making business cards, in addition to your name and contact information on the front of the cards, include a summary of experience on the reverse side. Without this, a card will literally be rendered useless when down the road the person holding the card cannot remember a single detail about the person so they end up tossing the card in the blue bin.

Write a cover letter that shows that you have done your homework on the company of interest.

Show why you are specifically interested in their business and what value you could bring to the company.

You also need to do this in two short paragraphs.

Nobody wants to read a novel, and nobody wants you to recite all the areas of your accomplishments that make you the most attractive well-rounded candidate on the market.

Select the areas that are most relevant.

This shows your ability to judge and distinguish.

Resume layout should be in chronological order.

This is how the reader prefers it, and the reader is the customer who are always correct.

Do not divide your work into sections of functional experience.

People want to see stability and progression on a resume and functional layouts suggest that one is hiding the movement of their background.

If you have too much movement, you should be spending more time asking yourself a different and perhaps more difficult set of questions.

Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date.

This is the next resource that is utilized after receiving a resume and quite often it is the first.

Ensure that your profile reads well and that it serves as an attractive piece of self-marketing material.

When conducting telephone interviews, try standing up.

You are more likely to feel and sound professional if you are active in the moment.

Try being nicely dressed as well, instead of wearing sweats or pajamas.

Network with everyone.

There is a much better chance of getting your next position through your existing network than with a head hunter and that is advice coming from a head hunter!

Have an answer for what you do and how you bring value.

Nobody wants to hear about your diverse experience in all areas which makes you an ideal candidate.

What are you exceptionally good at doing?

What do you do better than anybody else?

What is your passion?

These are the real answers that get interviewers to take notice.

Farewell,

Mike

Recruiting BusinessMike KingAugust 25, 2017Toronto Headhunter, Recruiter, Headhunters, Recruitment FirmComment