Job-hunting can be a real drag. It can seem like there are no jobs out there. And when you do find an opening, you know they’re going to get hundreds of other resumes, right on top of yours.
Before you get too discouraged, there are things you can do to improve your chances of finding work. Here are three great ways to look for your perfect job.
Networking – Networking is just a fancy word for asking people you already know if they’ve heard of any job openings. This can be your family, your friends, your professors, etc. The best people to ask are friends-of-friends. You and your friends will probably have similar networks. Your friends’ friends, however, are likely to associate with a different group of people. By asking them, you can broaden your network dramatically. And a recommendation from a friend-of-a-friend is just as good as one coming from a friend. The only downside to this method of job-hunting is that you can’t do it too often, or people will get annoyed.
Cold calling – This is the most intimidating method of job-hunting. It involves the highest rejection rate because you’re applying for jobs that may not exist. Find a company that you like. Maybe you’re a fan of their products, or you’ve seen them listed in the paper as one of the best places to work. Research the company as much as you can. Find out if they ever hire people with your qualifications. Call them and get the name of the person who heads the relevant department. Write that person a letter explaining why you think you’d be a good fit. Remember to focus on what you can bring to the company, not the other way around. With any luck, they’ll be so impressed with your initiative, they’ll find you a job.
Recruitment agencies – Many businesses don’t recruit directly but go through agencies that look at hundreds of resumes and narrow down the field to a few qualified applicants. If you want to be considered for the job, you’ll need to register with the agency. The main thing to remember is that the agency is working for the employer, not for you, so you might have to keep nagging them to get a job. Also, if your job is very technical, you may find that the recruitment consultants don’t always understand what you do.