Searching for a Job

by Scott Tilley, President, Global Impact Staffing

Searching for a job can be a daunting and sometimes downright frightful undertaking, especially if you are without a job and source of income.  But if you analyze the hunting process and break it down into pieces that you can manage, it can be easier (and more fruitful) than it may at first appear. 

Here are some steps to help you get started:

Set a Goal/Take Inventory

What is it that you want?  What is it that you are qualified to do and what type of position do you think you would you like to have?  Take a mental or written account of all of your past business experience, and consider as well the things you love to do on the weekends that may somehow be a benefit to a potential employer.  For instance, do your buddies call you up at home to get answers to their ‘how to’ computer questions?  Then how about looking into taking a position as a trainer?  If you are creative enough, you can parlay almost any passion into a moneymaker.  Think also about what you’re going to do before you set out do it.  You know the saying, “Work smart, not hard.”  Don’t waste time doing things that are not going to benefit you in the long run. 

Check the Job Boards

There are plenty of job boards where you can find pages and pages of job openings.  Often, your best bet is to start with the big name, well-advertised job boards; but this is not necessarily always the case.  There are many, many smaller (but just as handy) niche sites that are geared toward a particular group of people or industry skill.  For instance, there are sites that offer information and resources especially for IT professionals, or specifically for JAVA programmers, or just web designers, etc…  There are also many sites that post jobs for just one particular city or one particular state, and many city newspapers also list their classifieds online.  A search for “jobs” in any major search engine will turn up hundreds of websites.

Distribute Your Resume

In addition to the typical means of resume distribution (mailing, emailing, or faxing directly into a company,) there are many online companies that will distribute your resume for you.  On these websites, you can register and copy your resume onto a web form.  The company, in turn, will either post your resume on their website for employers and recruiters to see, or they will distribute your resume by email to corporations and recruiters that have actively signed up to use the service.  This can be an extremely effective way of promoting yourself and your skills because not only is your resume seen by a great number of potential employers, but many times if a recruiter receives a resume that he or she cannot use, it is often passed on to another recruiter that may be looking for a person with your skills.  Even if you are currently employed and searching discreetly for a job, you can still benefit from these services.  Many times, these online resume distribution companies offer you the option of displaying your resume anonymously.  That way, your can control what portion of your information is displayed on the website.  You can also set up an anonymous online email account and only act on the job offers that interest you or those from companies with whom you feel comfortable divulging additional personal information. 

Get the Help of a Recruiter

A recruiter can help you tap into a wealth of unadvertised job positions.  And since it is the norm for the employer to pay a fee to the recruiter in exchange for finding qualified talent for their company, you as a jobseeker should not ever be charged for the services of a professional recruiter.  So you won’t be out a thing, and you can even benefit from their expertise regarding issues such as the current business trends as well as resume advice.  And if you are a recruiter or staffing manager seeking work, Global Impact Staffing specializes in finding jobs for those people who are usually helping others find jobs. 

Know Your Industry

Know the trends of your industry.  If you are coming out of an area that economists don’t expect to thrive in the next year or two, (say you were a Y2K programmer no longer needed to fulfill that role,) then you may need to adjust your job search and begin thinking of other options for your future.  Or if you have experience in an area that is expected to thrive in the near future, lean your job search in that direction for the best potential for a successful career.  Decide on an industry direction that is expected to thrive, one that you enjoy, and one for which you are qualified, and then research the companies that specialize in that line of work.  When you do find a company that offers positions in the type of work that you would like to do, learn what you can about them such as whether they have an office in your city and the name of the hiring manager or decision maker.  Also research that company’s competitors.  For instance, suppose you are a human resources/staffing professional looking for work due to a layoff.  And let’s suppose that you are interested in continuing in that same line of work.  Find the names of the competitors of the company for whom you formerly worked.  Typically, this company will be requiring the same type of personnel and they may have an opening that suits your skills. 

Network, Network, Network

Everyone knows somebody that you don’t know.  So ask around (discreetly, if you are in the position of having to be careful about who knows you are searching.)  Opportunity often shows up in the strangest places and you just never know what unexpected break might be just around the corner.  So talk to people – either in person at trade organization meetings or business networking lunches, or online in user groups.  Be around people who can help you get where you want to go.  It is also important to remember that your character and integrity in your daily life can be one of your most important tools.  If someone you know comes across a job opening for which they know you have the skills, it will be your integrity and work ethic that decides whether they will put their own name on the line by recommending you for the position.  The saying, “What goes around, comes around,” is true, especially in the corporate world; and how you help others will to a large degree determine how people help you.