Anyone who is searching for a job
these days knows how frustrating it can be. The real difficulty lies in
making sure your voice is heard among the thousands of others who are
in the same boat as you, searching for gainful employment.
With that said, it is tempting to blame a saturated job market for the
frustration you feel and the lack of interviews coming your way. Well,
it may be closer to the truth to say that the problem is YOU. Yes, that
may sound a little harsh, but let’s talk about why that may be so, and
how to go about turning the tide in your favor.
A Word About Internet Job Boards
Someone once said that the true definition of insanity is doing the
same thing repeatedly, but expecting different results. Yet, most of us
continue to use the same outdated, ineffective strategies when searching
for a job. The primary approach seems to be to post your resume
on every job board on the internet, and then to wait for a response.
After all, it worked in 2005 when you scored your old job, right?
Well, I have news for you. It will not work in 2011. The truth is that simply posting your resume on an internet job
board is no longer effective. Additionally, you are opening yourself up
to receiving copious amounts of spam mail from con artists trying to
capitalize on your desperation.
Keep in mind that when hiring managers are looking to fill a
position, searching a job board is the equivalent of looking for a
needle in a haystack. Imagine yourself in Miss Hiring Manager’s shoes,
having to review possibly hundreds of resumes for the same job posting. Unless yours just happens to be on the top of her pile, it may never even be read.
Therefore, it is essential these days to take a more proactive
approach to searching for a job. Crafting a targeted and aesthetically
pleasing resume
is the first step. However, it will take some effort and creativity on
your part to actually get it in front of the decision makers.
How to Increase Your Visibility
I realize that the word “networking” has become slightly overused
in the last few years, but it’s important. In order to increase the
likelihood of getting requests for interviews, it is imperative that you
actually get out there beyond your computer screen and circulate, or
network. Why, you ask? Because contrary to popular belief, opportunities
do not usually show up at your door. Sometimes, you have to create
them.
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