My 3 tips for active job seekers
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These are my three tips for people who are actively seeking a new position.
1.
Network. Headhunters only have 10 percent of the jobs, and job postings are almost always stale, and over exposed. Spend your time networking with people who know your skill set and who know about your successes. These people are the the most likely ones to be able to push you in the right direction and accelerate your career growth.
Most jobs are created off the cuff, and timing and luck can play a huge role in getting that position before it ever gets advertised. I recommend two meetings a day for people who are between jobs.
2.
When it comes down to formally applying for a position, remember to personalize your cover letter and you should include a T-Chart format. On one side, you put “Your requirements” and on the other side you should put “My qualifications.”
If you are forced to take the job posting route, this approach can pay major dividends.
This allows the company to get a sense for your thought process as well as your knowledge and insight of that industry.
Most often, it is a junior recruiter who is tasked with sorting through the hundreds of resumes that reply to a job posting. These recruiters are not always the best at assessing skill sets, especially if they are screening for a number of different positions at one time.
This approach can allow a recruiter to be swayed into placing a resume in the “good pile” if someone can reason effectively as to why they are an appropriate candidate.
3.
Thank you notes matter. They often represent people who have respect for other people as well as the process. They have a professional approach to life.
Without generalizing, as there has also been research in this area, but people who send thank you notes tend to be more positive people, and they often enjoy life more than people who don’t make an effort. Companies, just like people, desire to be around people who possess this outlook and approach.
Farewell,
Mike