Job Search With Least Effort

W hat would you do in the        the technologies, products and     following situations?         services are aimed at helping us                                 achieve just that: least effort!   You've to reach the 10th floor in     Behind the auto-redial function    an office tower. You can go by        on phones, Internet banking and    two ways:                             ready-made food stuff is our       A: Climb up the stairs                basic need to minimise the         B: Use an elevator                    effort.                                                                                                     You want to wash your clothes.        The tendency to spend least        You can do it two ways:               effort plays out in the hiring     A: Wash with your hands               process as well. The only catch    B: Use a washing machine              is when job seekers take the path                                        of least effort, they invariably   You want to withdraw money. You       create a path of more effort for   can do so in two ways:                the employers and that doesn’t     A: Visit a bank                       work. On the other hand, if job    B: Use an ATM                         seekers can consciously enable                                           the employers to follow the path   There is nothing tricky about         of least effort, they stand good   these questions, and the answers      chances of winning their           are so obvious. Can you, however,     approval. Here is how it works:    see the not-so-obvious phenomenon                                        underlying our everyday choices?      Resume: As a job seeker,    We like to spend least possible       the natural tendency is to         effort to accomplish our              prepare a resume as fast as        objectives.                           possible and shoot it out to as                                          many employers as possible. When   Our tendency to spend least           you do that you create two         effort is so strong that most of      problems:                                                                - keeping it simple, credible and  First, a resume prepared in a         without any mistakes.              hurry is likely to be long,                                              complicated, unfocused,               Interview: Job seekers      superficial and may contain           appear at interviews expecting     mistakes. Second, a generic           employers to question them and     resume fails to connect with the      assess their suitability. But      unique needs of employers who are     when you follow this common        all different from one another.       approach, you are demanding more   When such resumes reach               effort from employers. They have   recruiters, they are unable to        to first dig out all the relevant  figure out candidates’                information from you, and then     suitability as quickly as they        make an assessment whether you     would like to do. As a result,        fit into their needs.              hurriedly prepared, generic                                              resumes go to the rejection pile.     The smart approach for a job                                             seeker would be to first develop   As a job seeker, smartness lies       an understanding of an employer’s  in spending more effort in            needs (challenges and problems)    preparing your resume so that         and then taking the initiative to  employers spend least effort          demonstrate how one fits into      while dealing with it.                those needs.                       Specifically, that means:                                                                                      When go to interviews              - tailoring your resume according     well-prepared and present          to each employer’s unique needs       yourself as a solution to          - keeping it short—2 pages or 3       employer’s specific                pages (max.)                          problems/challenges, you take      - ensuring it contains only the       them along the path of least       relevant information.                 effort and brighten up your        prospects of winning their            them the extra effort. That’s the  approval.                             reason why many smart job seekers                                        get jobs by networking and         Job hunting: Typically,        seeking help from their friends    job seekers focus on job openings     and colleagues or showing the      advertised in the newspapers or       guts to approach employers         on the Internet. For employers,       directly.                          however, the route of advertising                                        vacancies, then getting flooded       The bottom line: To enjoy   with applications and                 success in the job market, help    interviewing scores of candidates     potential employers to take the    is a route of “more effort.”          path of least effort. Invariably,                                        this would mean making effort on   The smart way to find a job would     your side at every stage of the    be to get in touch with potential     hiring process. But isn’t that     employers either through contacts     extra effort worth it if it helps  or directly. That way, you save       to shorten your job search?        About the Author: Atul Mathur is the author of three ebooks: 5 Quick Steps to a New Job, The Best Career Move: Know Yourself and The Secret of Finding the Right Career Direction. He also writes a free monthly newsletter Career Tips. Web site: http://www.atulmathur.com Read more articles by: Atul Mathur Article Source: www.iSnare.com