Job Search Methods

We shall now journey beyond resume. This book is designed to hold your hand until you have written a winning resume that assures you of an interview call. However, you, dear readers would surely not like to stop there. Your target is the job itself, not just a date with the interview board!

Although the tools and techniques for preparing for interviews, putting together portfolios and conducting salary negotiations will require a full sized book to do them justice, we enclose a few hints and tips on the vital issue of job search methods. We add this as a bonus to reward you for your patience in reading through this book. After all, job search is vital. It comes before even resume writing!

Job Search Methods

More than three quarters of the employers, the world over do not advertise job openings. Instead they hire people they know or people who find out about the opening through word-of-mouth!

According to surveys, networking and direct contact with employer are the most effective job search methods. More traditional methods such as advertisements and employment agencies are less effective.

Networking

Develop and use your own network! Tell your friends, relatives and acquaintances that you are looking for a job and ask them if they know anybody looking for an employee with your skills and qualifications. And even if they do not know right away, ask them to keep you in mind in case they hear about any job openings that could be of interest to you. Tell them about your skills and experience, but even better - give them your resume so that they remember your request.

Think of any other people who could be helpful! Maybe the person you sat next to in the 12th standard is now an IT director of a small but rapidly developing Software Company. Do not feel embarrassed to contact him and ask for any lead!

Join professional associations and attend meetings to get to know more people in your area of specialty.

Do remember that the larger the number of people you contact, the quicker you will get a job! The larger the number of people you contact, the quicker you will get a job!

Direct Contact

Direct contact with an employer does take more courage, but is a very effective job search method. Call the employer directly! Find the name of the person who is most likely to be your boss if you get the job.

Prepare a 3-minute presentation for the preliminary interaction. In the presentation, tell the employer:

• What you are looking for (e.g. I am interested in a position of a software developer),
• About your experience and skills (I have 4 years experience in web page design),
• What have you achieved in your previous positions (I have designed over 20 web pages, for example, for www.netware.com, www.arthurandersen.com etc.),
• Ask if you can come for an interview.

Do not feel embarrassed if he replies that there are no positions open. Say that you would like to come and talk about future openings. If he says no, ask if he knows of someone who might need an employee with your skills and experience.

Direct Mail

Make a list of the companies you would like to work for. Find out who in their organization is most likely to become your boss if you get the job and send a resume and covering letter to that person.

If there is no opening for a person with your skills and experience, the employer is very likely to forget about you. Take, the initiative in your hands. Do not leave the next step to the employer; state in your covering letter that you will contact him and really do so!

Advertisements

Review business newspapers and professional magazines to locate a suitable position. Read articles about the companies that could be your potential employers. Do not hesitate to send your resume and covering letter if you see news about expansion or diversification since they will need more people!

Use the Internet as a job search tool. Review the advertisements on company web pages and also search the on-line employment databases often. However, remember that Internet advertisements are seen by thousands of people, so competition for the advertised jobs is fierce. We encourage you to rely on other job search methods also, unless you believe that your qualifications are really superior. The Internet, however, is perhaps the best source of information of overseas job openings.

Government Employment Agencies

Government Employment Agencies offer their services for free. However, less than 10 per cent of all available job openings are known to these agencies and less than 5 per cent of all job seekers find jobs through them. Beyond entry-level jobs, such agencies offer very limited opportunities.

Private Employment Agencies

Private employment agencies are better at finding available positions for job seekers. They usually charge a fee to you or your potential employer. This fee may be quite high. However, if your need is urgent, this is indeed a good way to locate a suitable job quickly.

A Few More Tips

• Usually, private employment agencies learn about the job openings by phoning up companies that may need employees with your skills and experience. You can do it yourself! In addition to saving several hundred rupees, you will get experience that you can use in your next job search, or, you may start an agency yourself!
• Contact more than one employment agency, as it will significantly increase the number of potential organizations that will be contacted by them. Remember that employment agencies usually have several hundred job seekers. Therefore, be sure to follow up after you have registered with them.
• The job search process is a tough and time-consuming one. Do not get discouraged if you do not get a job as fast as you have hoped to.
• Most job seekers spend less than 10 hours a week actively looking for a job. If you are unemployed, spend at least 30 hours per week, job hunting. Schedule your day and keep to the schedule.
• Do remember to send thank you notes to all the people who have helped you in the search process. You may need their help the next time you are again in the job market!

Sometimes you cannot get a job simply because you do not have relevant education or training, experience or skills. If that is the case, do not get discouraged. Take training courses. Consider apprenticeship work that will supply you with the relevant work experience.

In Conclusion

We wish you luck! We are confident that mainly through your own efforts, and perhaps, with some small assistance from this book, you will land that job of your dreams! Go for it!