Job search tip

Just back from a luncheon meeting where an employer gave a great job search tip. His company recently advertised a job opportunity and received 500 email/electronic applications. (You read that right -- 500.) They also received 7 (seven) hard copy resumes. "Those were the ones I looked at--the resumes printed on good quality resume paper", the employer said. "The rest of the applications are in an electronic inbox somewhere."

Those seven candidates made the extra effort to stand out -- positively -- from "the crowd". And, it served them well. ~ jan

Not having joined the twittering movement, "30 Ways to Lose a Job on Twitter" was an eye opener to me. Sounds as if people use Twitter almost like a journal and post amazing info. Info they wouldn't want their mom to see, let alone their boss---or someone they hope might be their boss someday. "Four out of five recruiters regularly run web searches to screen job applicants." What does that mean to twitterers? Do NOT post anything on Twitter (or Facebook, or MySpace, etc., etc., etc.) that could come back to bite you. . .in other words, that you wouldn't be pleased for your mom to see. Don't do it! ~ jan

Another reason to use ShockWORKS

With the huge number of applicants currently for each job opening, some employers are doing away with posting on typical job sites. One reported strategy is to use only sites affiliated with the manager's alma mater. Looking for a job? Why not take a look at ShockWORKS?

~ jan

Read article yesterday on recruiting and staffing, reporting "15 million unemployed workers are now chasing 2.5 million jobs openings. In simpler terms that is approximately 10 unemployed workers for every open job.

What does that mean for recruiters? They are overwhelmed with the number of applicants for each job they advertise. I once talked with a recruiter who said some days she had as many as 600 resumes a day to review. I'm betting that number is even higher now.

What does that mean to applicants? What do you think? Call to schedule an appointment if you want to sit down with us and talk resumes. 978-3435

~jan

I'm delighted -- just opened a thank you from a student for helping him with his resume yesterday. Why is a thank you such a big deal to me? Because it is a big deal when someone takes the time and shows the initiative to send a thank you. Took me back to my recruiting days and reminded me how pleased my managers were to get a thank you note from an interviewee. Thank you notes from candidates are rare, and all other things being equal, can make the difference in which interviewee gets the job offer. Manners matter! ~ jan

Online Networking

One of my coworkers just received email notice of a message posted to her myspace account. She was curious about the message, especially since she isn't registered on myspace. The message was not a good one--not one you'd send anyone in your professional network. I'm thinking it was meant for someone else--someone the sender is pretty upset with. Which reminds me it's a good idea to take a minute and check what I'm doing before I hit the "send" button.

As the author of "Seven Days to Online Networking" says: "Be respectful, courteous, and honest in all your online networking activities. Be positive and professional. Don't say anything that you wouldn't want aired on national news or shared with your mother!"

~ jan

Becoming a Leader on the Job (Search)

A Washington Post article by a member of the class of 2009, this provides a different spin on "job searching as a job."

Becoming a Leader On the Job (Search)

Like thousands of young people across the country, I am a little over a month away from graduating from college -- and entering a downright hostile job market. It would be an understatement to say I feel panicked, in spite of having worked hard for years to build an impressive resume for future employers. No one envies the class of 2009.

Although job searching is exhausting, I've realized my search may actually be teaching me some valuable leadership lessons -- perhaps more than any entry-level, "real" job ever could. Read up on the five ways that looking for a job is making me -- and can make you -- a better leader.

1. Venturing out of your comfort zone
Sitting around and waiting won't make jobs come running your way. The past few months have forced me to be more "social" than I've ever been. Once I got over the initial fear of emailing an alum, calling up a potential employer, or sitting down with a supervisor at work, the boundaries of my comfort zone expanded infinitely. Here are 12 different ways of using social networking to land a job.

2. Managing panic and staying positive
One recent evening, I sent out no less than 30 emails to alumni in the journalism industry. "Dear Mr./Ms. _______, I am interested in hearing about your experiences in journalism...." Almost a dozen alumni responded that same night, but to my dismay, almost half of them said they were no longer at their previous jobs. "I'm not in a position to offer any advice to you," one alum wrote to me. "Maybe we can talk again when the financial crisis eases off." It occurred to me that I needed to cut myself some slack: This recession's hitting everyone, no matter how good their resumes. Not everything is under my control.

In her article "High Spirits + Energy = Better Job Search," career coach Diane Costigan advises, "You need patience to play out the waiting game; perseverance in the face of rejection and bad news; persistence to keep moving forward when motivation may wane; and, perhaps most important, a positive perspective to keep your motivation high."

3. Evaluating your next boss
I am beginning to see just how easy it is to get completely consumed by the "Please, hire me!" attitude. This is especially the case now, as times are difficult and being extended even one job offer seems like a bounty of opportunity.

But (as I am being reminded by a few wise adults in my life), a job search is very much a two-way process. Not only are potential employers evaluating you, but you too, must evaluate your next boss. As a Washington Post writer pointed out, "few things have more impact on your happiness at work than the person you answer to every day."

4. A process of self-discovery
Four months ago, I wanted to land a job that would allow me to write about news and politics. When this quickly became much more difficult than I had ever expected, I had no choice but to rethink my strategy. What are the things that I am really good at and how can I put these skills to use? How can I best "sell" my best qualities to employers, without completely compromising the things I care and feel passionate about?

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Claire Bonilla, who took a roundabout path to get to her current job, said: "When I was younger I had an interview question that asked what color I'd choose to describe myself. I chose black because it's made up of the entire spectrum of colors. I believe that every person is made up of different components -- skills, talents and facets. With any job it really comes down to understanding what talents, or colors, you will pull out that align with that job." My goal now is simply to find a job that connects with one aspect of my interest and skills, rather than all of them at once.

5. Helping others, especially when times are difficult
So many people in my life -- from professors, alumni and supervisors at work, to the parents of an adorable two-and-a-half-year-old boy I babysit for -- have blown me away with their willingness to help. Their gestures range from buying me coffee and offering me career advice, to putting me in contact with people in the journalism industry.

I feel inspired to give back in the same way someday. I cannot wait to get that first phone call or email five years down the road, from a soon-to-be-graduate asking me for career advice. And if they are worried at all about the job search, I will reassure them that they will be okay, because after all, I was class of 2009 -- and I survived.

By MJ Lee April 8, 2009; 11:23 AM ET