Secrets to Successful Self-Promotion During a Job Search
Posted April 29th, 2010
Are you sending out tons and tons of resumes and applications to jobs and getting no results?
Are you wondering why you’re “working” so hard at finding work, but have little to show for it?
Here’s a little secret: Sending out applications and resumes willy nilly is not the way to find work. In fact, it’s really not job searching in any real way because you’re being passive about it, sending out resumes/applications and sitting back waiting for the Job Fairy to tap you on the shoulder with her magic wand so that Your Perfect Job appears before you.
No. Instead, the real secret to finding work is WORK: You’re going to have to put in some considerable effort.
But the payoff will be a job that pays well, challenges and excites you. All the effort you will be putting forth will be well worth it.
- Be proactive. Be very proactive. Yes, craft a great resume (one that showcases the results of your efforts for previous employers, not just duties), but don’t spend too much time on it. Instead, spend most of your time contacting everyone you know to let them know of search for work and the skills and experience you bring to an employer. Keep the focus off of your need for your work and more on your skills and the value you bring to an employer.
- Research companies you think a) you’d like to work for or b) could use someone with your skills and experience. Find out the name of someone who could actually hire you – a hiring manager – and call that person, even if there’s no job opening.
- At the very least, e-mail the person. Briefly explain your background and your skills. Ask if that person knows of any opportunities that match your skills. Ask if you could meet with the person to discuss your skill set and where your skills might best be utilized, whether it’s at his company or another.
- Yes, you’ll get turned down. But if you conduct yourself as one colleague sharing information with another colleague the direct approach can be very effective. One phone call could result in a meeting. Another could result in “just” a name of someone to call, but you now have a connection to someone else who knows someone, who knows someone else who needs the skills and value you bring to the table.
Of course, working with a staffing agency can be a great way for you to find work to tide you over while you search for your perfect job. A personnel service also could place you in a temp-to-hire position in your field.
In fact, don’t be surprised if a “temporary” stint becomes your regular job! It happens all the time: an individual takes a temporary assignment and finds that he loves the work and the company and is eventually hired full time at the company where he’s on assignment.
So while you’re busy contacting employers directly, why not contact Bayside Solutions now to learn how we can help you find your next great gig. We’re the Bay Area staffing agency for those searching for positions in the technology, manufacturing, construction, scientific and green industries.
