Another day, more resumes to send

OK, so the weekend is over and now it is time to start sending out your resume again. What sort of tactics are you using? Are you using the shotgun approach? Are you doing your research and sending your resume to hiring managers that have an actual opening? Are you sending your resume on the job boards? Well, let me tell you my opinions on each and maybe that will give you some ideas...

OK, so we all know that looking for a job is about as much fun as watching paint dry on a winter day. It takes forever, it can be no fun at all etc. Well you know what isn't fun for a hiring manager or recruiter? A shotgun. Now a days there are so many people looking for a job that they don't care which position they are submitting for. All they care about is getting the resume in front of SOMEONE!!! Well, the problem with that is that not only is your resume going to end up in the delete bin but it also may have a chance of ticking someone off. Again, I get it. I know why you are doing it. And in some cases it might make sense. You need a job....bottom line. Just remember though that you are running the chance of ticking someone off.

The next way (and believe you me there are TONS of ways to do a search) is to actually do your homework and see who is hiring. Just because a company is on the job boards doesn't mean they are hiring. Just because a company isn't on a job board doesn't mean they AREN'T hiring. Weird stuff I know.

When a job is posted on the job board one would think that there is a job open. For a lot of none recruiting companies that probably is the case. On the other hand when it is a recruiting firm/agency they could be fishing. Meaning, they want to find a really good candidate with the skill set they advertised. When they get that person then they can call up companies and see if they may have a need for this killer candidate.

Getting to my other comment, just because there isn't anything on the job board doesn't mean that there isn't a job. Do some research, go on LinkedIn or some of the other social networking sites. Find a person in HR or the department you would like to be in. If you have their email shoot them one with your resume. Let them know why you would rock in their company. Remember though, you are probably going to get less responses back than actual responses. The response you may get is that "there is nothing right now but I will keep you in mind". Don't be discouraged!!!! This can and usually is a good thing. You have put a seed in the managers mind. That seed may say "there is someone looking for XYZ position". In a day, week, month from now that position might pop up and who is going to come to mind?

Alright, speaking of job searches, I have to get back on mine. More to come.

Let's face it

Alright folks, let's face it, the job search feature of life sucks. I don't think we need to argue that point. Searching for a job is probably the most exhausting thing in the world and you don't get paid for it. When you are unemployed not only do you have to deal with the constant rejection (if you can even get a call back), but your day is consumed with applications that you have to fill out, networking groups and more.

Now that we have come to the conclusion that job searches suck....the focus of this blog is going to be how to get one and some of the trials and tribulations you may encounter. Even though I also am searching for a job I think I can provide a ton of 3rd party perspective. They always say 4 eyes are better than two.

I have been doing recruiting for 10 years. not only on the agency side, but consulting and corporate. I won't argue with you that this sort of thing sucks.

If you have any comments on your search shoot me an email. I will give you my God honest answer.