If you are frustrated and not finding work then perhaps you should rethink your job search plan. Here is a recap of the top job search techniques and how to get the most out of them.
JOB BOARDS
The first thing a job seeker does is head for the job boards. After all, isn't it exciting to find positions that fit you like a glove? The chief problem is that the job boards are the most competitive way to find a position and among the least effective - generally less than 5% of jobs are filled this way. That is not to say that you shouldn't use them - it just means that they should not be the heart of your job search.
Start by using Indeed.com or SimplyHired.com as these are job board aggregators, meaning they pull jobs from all the other job boards as well as company web sites to give you a single place to find openings. Also look at craigslist.org which is becoming a great place to find local job postings. And do NOT apply over the Internet. Yes that's right, pull yourself out of the big pile of resumes in HR and use this simple technique.
First, find out who the hiring manager or key influencers are. You can usually do this by going to LinkedIn.com and doing a company search. Once you have their name and phone number give them a call and say something like: "A friend told me you might be interested in someone with my background. I have (insert your 2-sentence pitch), and I have just a few questions for you."
Then ask them some questions that show you've done some homework on their company. Be very friendly, down to earth and personable and build some rapport. At some point they will ask you for your resume at which point you have now put yourself at the top of the decision maker's pile and skipped the HR screeners. Using this trick can make the difference between being screened out and getting noticed.
RECRUITERS
Recruiters have about a 5-12% effectiveness rate in securing you a new position so you should take that into consideration as you develop your job search plan. In this case we are only talking about those who are paid a fee by the employer. Steer clear of those who want you to pay the fee for their services.
Is this the type of position typically filled by recruiters? For example, recruiters will not generally work with entry level people or career changers as employers are paying them a hefty 8.33-15% of your first year's compensation as a fee for their finding you.
If you decide to work with recruiters, then use a service that will present your resume to the largest number. These are inexpensive and very effective, especially in saving you time. Remember that recruiters in California can be searching for candidates in Texas, so do not limit your search locally.
NETWORKING
Networking is the king of effectiveness in job searching as it has always had over a 50% effectiveness rate. Especially in this market, networking should be the heart of your search plan. Employers are much more inclined to hire someone who is referred to them as compared to a stranger. Networking is not as much fun as applying through job boards and requires a good deal more discipline, but the difference is not only in its effectiveness rate, but also in the quality of the job you obtain.
Networking means more than simply sharing your resume with friends and neighbors. The subject deserves a long article itself, but here are some key techniques.
Develop an "elevator pitch", the three to five sentences that describe who you are and why an employer should want to speak to you. Develop support materials that include a networking business card too. And make sure you have a profile on LinkedIn.com -- the top networking site for professionals.
Now identify the five to ten companies you are most interested in joining. You can use LinkedIn which sports a fairly robust company search tool to do this. Then research the company using a variety of excellent online tools like Zoominfo, Spoke, Highbeam and many others you can easily find. Try to learn as much about the company as possible so you can impress an insider.
The next step is to identify people inside the company which you can also do through LinkedIn. Now your job is to network yourself into a meeting where you can impress them with your knowledge of their challenges, and how you can help them. Start by thinking about people who know someone who knows someone inside the firm. It's great if you can get to the decision maker and it's equally good if you can get an insider to walk your resume into their office. This is your Step 1 in networking.
Step 2 is to expand your search to other firms. Remember that good networking is asking people for advice, as people are much more likely to give you advice than help you get a job. Here you want to know about industries, companies or people you should talk to help you focus your efforts. An easy, painless way to get going with this is to go to the regularly held networking meetings that are advertised in your local paper.
Plan on calling 25 people and having three to five face-to-face meetings per week! This is where discipline comes in, but after you have done this a couple of times, it becomes easier. Ask each person who else you should talk to and add them to your database.
In short, your job search plan should include the three major ways to contact an employer: job boards, recruiters, and networking. Recognizing the different effectiveness rates of each in securing a new position, make sure you put a heavy emphasis on your networking efforts. Remember that although there are far fewer jobs open then last year, you only need one. Follow these steps and you will slash your job search time considerably
BR,
Harikrishna Talent Circle HR Services Vadodara 9274541254
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