Job Tips For The Frustrated Job Seeker
here is nothing more
frustrating and depressing Today if you are looking for a
when you are out of work job how to you stand out in the
and trying to find a job and your impersonal hiring environment
job search is going no where. that exists in most companies. If
Don't feel bad, you are not alone you apply online you are
and there is a good reason why competing against dozens if not
searching for a new job can be so hundreds of others. Competition
difficult. There is no doubt the is stiff for a most jobs and a
job market has changed. 30 years human may never even see your
ago when I applied for my first resume. Are there steps you can
job I remember answering an ad in follow that will improve your
the paper, calling and speaking chances? After being unemployed
to a real person, going in for for several months after 3 years
the interview, filling out a of self employment and becoming
application, had the interview more depressed and frustrated in
and was offered the $3.75 and not finding a job, I took my job
hour shipping job. Things are not search to a new level which
that simple today. Back then finally paid off in a new job.
there was no voice mail, no
email, you mailed in a typed
resume, who had a fax at home?
You called and talked to a real I had been self employed for 3
person. You may of filled out a years but after a divorce and
application but not the dozen starting life over, my self
forms you need to today. And you employment was no longer working.
never had to prove you were I had to bite the bullet and
legally allowed to work in the start looking for a job. The
United States. first mistake I realized was my
resume was not working. I had
updated it to reflect my self
employment which was not related
to my previous career. I was To begin with you really need to
trying to find a position similar take a hard look at your resume.
to my previous career in the If you have always worked in one
graphics and computer support area and are applying for a
industry. By starting my work position similar to those you
history with my self employment have had in the past then your
it made it look like I had been resume may just need some
out of the industry even longer updating and polish. There are a
and my skills even more outdated. number of good books and websites
I was just shooting myself in the on resume writing. If you really
foot. I changed my self need help then a resume service
employment to reflect my computer may be money well spent.
skills so while I had been out of
the industry for awhile I wasn't How many resumes do you have?
out of touch. Some employers have There is no reason you can't have
doubts about people who have been several. I was applying for a
self employed. They think they variety of unrelated positions. I
are going to go back to their own would of looked "over qualified"
business or worse they only want or my experience would of been
a job so they can use company too unrelated for the position if
resources for their own gain. In I stuck with just one standard
my case I was able to explain resume. I created a "general"
that I had an opportunity to work resume that listed a variety of
at home and spend time with my skills that could fit any number
preschool son, it had been for of non specific jobs. You can
family reasons. Most employers have one that is very specific
respect that. for the industry you are applying
for and there is no reason you
can't change it to a specific way if your attachment can't be
company especially if it will be read they can print it off the
scanned in and checked for internet. For example the link
"keywords" Some companies scan could be
for keywords or buzzwords related http://www.yourwebsite.com/yourre
to the position, their company or sume.html. You should also have a
industry. Even if you are the unformatted text only resume for
most qualified person for that uploading to online job sites.
position, if your resume doesn't
have those keywords, it will
never get seen.
Be sure to include several ways
to contact you. Home phone, cell
phone, email. I had the
In addition to having a few unfortunate luck of having my
different resumes you should have cell phone and my home phone cut
it in several different formats off for non payment within a few
also. If you need to mail it in days of each other. As luck would
then a nice easy to read printed have it someone I sent a resume
resume is in order. Same if you to tried to contact me and
will be faxing it in. If you couldn't get through. They did
email your resume then your cover send me a email saying they
letter will be the body of your couldn't reach me. I was able to
email and your resume will be call them and get a interview.
attached. Most employers request Don't leave anything to chance.
it be in a word .doc format or And if they leave you a message
text but you can also use a pdf get back to them ASAP while your
format. If you have your own resume is still on their desk.
website why not post it online When you get a interview, be on
with a link in your email. That time, be prepared, do your
research about the company you for jobs. They search several
are interviewing with. You can jobs sites at once. Saves time
usually find most everything you from going to each site. Post
need off their company website. your resume so employers can find
Come prepared with extra resumes, you. ASK! Don't be afraid to let
helpful if you have to fill out a everyone you know that you are
application. Also have copies of looking for a job. Drop a email
your updated references. It is to anyone who might know someone
best to have more than 3. Some who might have a job opening. You
companies want professional might be surprised how many
references including past people really do want to help
employers, others want personal you. Network your pants off! If
references of persons not related you don't ask no one can help
to you. Be prepared for both. you. Search everyday. Try and
send out at least one resume a
day if not more. Pick up the
early edition of the Sunday
Where to find a job? Dig! And paper. Send out 5-10 at a time.
keep digging! You may never know And keep sending them even after
where one will show up. In some you have interviews set up. You
ways the internet has made job can easily fall behind two or
searches easier with a variety of three weeks if you stop sending
job sites to search. You should resumes in hopes of that job
probably set up accounts at the offer coming through. Nothing
large sites like hotjobs and better than telling someone, "I'm
monster which will allow you to sorry I accepted another
post your resume and apply position" Apply for every job you
directly to postings Also take a are remotely interested in even
look at sites like indeed.com. if you don't think you are
They are a search engine of sorts qualified. Every job listed
always has a laundry list of Never be afraid to apply to any
qualifications and requirements. job!
In a perfect world they would
find the perfect person that
would match every requirement.
But employers know that person Most of all don't give up hope,
doesn't exist and they are the right job will happen at the
looking for someone who closely right time. Remember to take care
matches and they feel will be a of yourself. Go for a walk, get
good fit. At the worst you will plenty of rest, do something you
never hear from them. At the best enjoy just for yourself. As long
they will offer you a job or as you keep moving in a forward
maybe something different within direction, if someone asks you
their company. You can always what you have been doing to find
turn it down. Even if it turns a job you can proudly say "this
out to be something you really is what I have been doing"
don't want to do, it might help Persistence will pay off. Good
you get by for awhile until a luck.
better position comes along.
About the Author:
Tom Smith runs http://www.workingnews.com a job, career, employment and resume site. Free career articles along with links to employment sites. Permission to reprint with credits attached. He can be reached at tjsmith@workingnews.com copyright 2005
Source: www.isnare.com
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