Monday, March 23, 2009

Let your fingers do the walking ... but you do the talking

The Yellow Pages, although used less now that we can just "Google" whatever we want, still have their undisputed uses.

One of them is to help you find companies that can hire you.

So let your fingers do the walking ... but be well prepared to do the talking!

First look in the index of the Yellow Pages. Mark or write down every index heading that suggests companies of the type that would use people with your skills and experience.

Then go to the pages for each of these headings and go down through all the individual listings for each heading and phone every one of them, unless something in their Yellow Pages entry suggests they are not likely to hire people like you.

Yes, I said, every single entry.

But before you do ... take the time to write down a script of what you will say when you phone.

For this you need your 30 second commercial.

If the employer doesn't ask for your resume or invite you in to see him/ her, always ask if they know of anyone else who might be hiring in this area.

Do not ask if you can call in a few weeks to check if anything has come up. The employer might say "no"!

Instead, just write down the phone number, name and anything useful you found out and phone again in a few weeks anyway (assuming you are still looking!)

It may seem tedious. And it is. But it's also one of the most successful ways of finding work. So if you want a job, it's worth it.

Also read...
Finding work in the Hidden Job Market

Jobs can be found in News Stories

What is the Hidden Job Market

How many jobs are you missing if you only check the Job Ads

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Create your Job Search "Business" Card

The best way to find a job in a tough job market is to get out there and speak to people.

Yes, speak to the obvious people, like employers, people who are already employed in the industry or by the companies where you want to work.

But don't stop there.

It is estimated that everyone knows between 200 - 300 people.

So, that goes for your hairdresser, plumber, pharmacist, cashier at the supermarket, doctor and his nurse, dentist and dental hygienist, anyone you meet socially. It means anyone you meet anytime, any place, any how.

They all know 200 - 300 people. So what are the chances they know someone who works in your field, and may even know someone who is hiring in your field?

But they can't help you if they don't know you need their help.

And they don't want your resume.

Instead, make Business Cards. They are really Networking Cards. T

hey will have your name and contact information on them.

Under your name will be the title of the job for which you are looking - the same way it would be written if you actually had the job. After all, you are still an engineer, salesperson, veterinary technician or whatever, even though you do not currently have a job.

Then they will have 3 bulleted items giving your greatest skills or experience. This can be taken from the highlights section or your resume.

If you want you can put more details on the back of the card, but most people never look at the back, so don't rely on it being read very often.

Give there cards out to everyone you can. Give more than one to anyone who is likely to have more than one person to whom to pass it on.

If you want to really go for it, leave them on tables in libraries, coffee shops etc, and especially if you go any places you know people connected with your type of work go.

Just make sure it's only your phone number, or perhaps phone number and email address that is on the card. No address.

You can make your own business cards by buying sheets of pre-perforated cards at your local office supply store. MS Word and WordPerfect both have "labels" templates which include business card ones that match your purchased sheets exactly.

Or you can order 250 free business cards, online, paying only postage, from Vistaprint. I have used this service several times and it is fast, efficient - and you really do only pay the postage!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Consider less obvious employers

When you're looking for a job, the natural thing is to think of the employers who are most likely to use your services. A Plumber works for a plumbing company, and computer programmer workd for an IT services company, a trainer works for a training company.

These are the obvious.

But when you can't find work with the obvious, or even before trying the obvious, take a look at the less obvious.

An IT guy can work for just about any company. If the company is small, he may work for 2 or more companies.

Any large institution needs all types of maintenance, including a plumber. Industrial plants need plumbers. Hospitals need plumbers. So do hotels.

And training ... government have trainer positions, many organizations use facilitators on a regular basis, that that is just another form of training. With people requiring retraining to find work these days, trainers/ facilitators are in high demand.

These are just a few suggestions. I'm sure you could come up with many more for these 3 jobs.

The point is that whatever your job, you can find work in the unlikeliest places.

So try this exercise.

Look in the yellow pages. I know - no-one reads the yellow pages any more, we all "Google" the company we want on the computer. But for this exercise, use the yellow pages.

Look at the index, and as you read down the list of the various types of companies consider how this industry might use your skills. If you think it's possible, go to the section listed in the index, and read the actual companies. Look at the ads. Consider, again, how could I fit with this company.

When you find something that might work, go to webpages as well as reading the yellow pages ads, and find out more about the companies, what they do, what they want, how they operate.

Work out for yourself how you fit, because when you contact the employer (which is the next step) YOU will have to be able to show him how you fit into this company and industry. He will probably not "do the math" and work it out himself.

Example: I am a Career Counsellor. Once, looking for a fill-in job for a while, I applied for a job as a weight loss consultant. How is this a fit (especially since I had never been on a diet)?

As I told the manager when she interviewed me, in career counselling people come to me with a problem (in this case, they need a job), I have the knowledge to help them, I am willing to listen and encourage. I support them in their transition.

As a weight loss consultant people come to you with a problem (in this case they want to lose weight), I (the job ad said they would train me) have the knowledge to help them, I am willing to listen and encourage. I support them in their transition.

The only difference is the type of knowledge I need. It's the same job. The manager nodded at my explanation and hired me.

So take time to think out where your skills, experience and training fit that is not the obvious. Then take the time to think it through so you have a viable, convincing argument for why you'd be good in this job. Your cover letter is a good place to write that, or face to face on "cold call".

In tougher times, creativity is the name of the game.

Looking for more job search help?
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