HR Tips
Laid Off? Restless? Unhappy?
Check Out These Job Searching Tips
1. Network - Network - Network!
2. Identify and Know Your Targets
3. Use the Web Wisely
4. Always Be Ready
5. Happy Hunting
1. Network - Network - Network!
Networking is the most important job hunting strategy. It's a matter of quality over quantity. Although they don't generate the highest numbers, Recruiters know that employee referrals produce the highest quality of applicants (highest percentage of actual hires per applicant).
Networking Tips:
- Have a brief summary of who you are, what you've done, and what you want in your head. Jot down bullet points of what you want others to know about you and memorize it. When someone asks what you do, you can set that hook with a two or three minute sound bite that will peak interest and generate more questions from your new friend.
- Always have business cards ready to exchange with fellow professionals. Be creative and make your own. Offer to e-mail your resume.
- Volunteer in professional organizations!
- Online Communities - Get your name out there in cyberspace: Linked-in (www. Linkedin.com, ), professional organization forums or blogs.
- Consider contracting or temping - it might lead to a permanent position.
2. Identify & Know Your Targets
- Pay close attention to the business section of the newspaper, business Journals, and any other business-related news sources. Read, read, read!
- When you see an industry or company expanding, making changes at the top, or otherwise doing well, they are more than likely hiring.
- The newspaper is still one of the first places many companies will advertise openings, especially the Sunday edition.
Major internet job boards are great places to look for openings. But the reach of these sites has sometimes proved overwhelming to some employers inundated with hundreds of unqualified candidates. With efficiency and economy in mind, many companies have turned to niche sites to target more qualified job seekers:
http://www.efinancialcareers.com/
- Go directly to web sites of companies that interest you. Most companies now post openings on their own web sites. If the traffic is sufficient, they don't need to advertise. Many offer to send you an email when a job opens that might fit your profile or interest.
- Avoid the shotgun approach. Most recruiting systems now neatly group your information. Having your resume attached to an odd variety of jobs will be a red flag to recruiters.
- Know that you are being evaluated from the minute you are called.
- Be prepared for small talk.
- Prior to the interview, find out as much as possible about the company, its culture and history, the industry, and industry culture.
- Know the requirements for the job that were listed in the recruiting ad. Have good stories in mind that best illustrate your experience and accomplishments in those areas.
- Prepare a list of questions to ask about the position and the company. Don't ask the question if it has already been answered.
Don't let yourself get discouraged if your job search seems to be moving slowly. The average time for someone to find a job (at mid to upper level career positions) is between 90 and 120 days.
More Helpful Links
Job Hunting Advice and Resources:
http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/jobsearchhelp/a/jobtips.htm
http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/
Major Job Boards:
Local:
Government:
www.personnel.state.al.us/ - State careers.
http://www.jobsquest.org/ - Jefferson County and some local municipality careers. Be sure to go directly to cities' web sites for more opportunities.
http://www.shelbycountyalabama.com/ - Shelby County careers.
http://www.usajobs.gov/ - Federal careers.
http://es.dir.alabama.gov/local/Alabamagov.html?rand=33828 - Compilation of Alabama Agency Recruiting Web Sites.
https://joblink.alabama.gov/ada/ - Alabama Career Center Network with links and information regarding Unemployment Compensation Benefits.
