Here's How
Job Search Takes Time, Tenacity
Last updated Tuesday, September 9, 2008 3:27 PM CDT in Your Family
By Susn Thurston
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For anyone looking for work, the stats reaffirm the obvious: Finding a job is tough. Here's some advice from Laura Sehres and Brook Byrom, recruiters who work for Citi and T. Rowe Price, respectively.
• What's the best way to find a job? Networking. It's not necessarily what you know, but whom you know. Recruiters are inundated with resumes and turn first to those candidates who have a connection to someone in the company.
While unemployed, join a networking group to stay connected with professionals in your industry. Build relationships with people who may have the inside track on jobs. Meetings are listed in trade publications or online through job-search and networking sites.
Contact professional staffing agencies, which place people in temporary and permanent positions. These days, more companies are using temporary employees to reduce their permanent head count, Byrom said. Eventually, as their budgets permits, those positions could become permanent.
• Do job fairs really work? They can but only if you make the most of them.
Don't show up in shorts on the way to the beach and expect to get hired. Find out which employers will be there and target the ones best-suited for you. Educate yourself about the companies and be prepared to talk to people at the booths.
Keep in mind that many positions advertised at job fairs are entry-level and don't pay a lot. For the higher-paying professional jobs, look elsewhere.
• What about job-search Web sites? Use them, but with caution. Sites such as Monster.com and Yahoo's HotJobs advertise a ton of jobs but get even more resumes. Be prepared to field inquiries from people outside your field who came across your resume and thought you'd be perfect for some unspecified job that may or may not involve a startup cost. Also be prepared to hear nothing, given the sheer quantity of people applying for the jobs.
• Should I pay for a recruiter or job-listing service? No. Companies typically pay for job listings and give recruiters a commission on positions filled. Instead, Byrom recommends hiring someone to redo your resume.
• Other job-seeking no-nos?
Don't delay. A long break between jobs can send a bad signal to a prospective employer. Does no one want to hire you? Are you not excited about working? If you see a job you like, jump on it, even if it's a slight step down from your previous job.
Don't get discouraged. Be upbeat when interviewing and don't bemoan previous rejections.
Don't undersell yourself. "This is your chance to be not so modest,'' Sehres said. Talk about what you can bring to an organization without coming off too self-centered. Your first question should not be: "How much vacation do I get?''
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Related Photos
For anyone looking for work, the stats reaffirm the obvious: Finding a job is tough. Here's some advice from Laura Sehres and Brook Byrom, recruiters who work for Citi and T. Rowe Price, respectively.
• What's the best way to find a job? Networking. It's not necessarily what you know, but whom you know. Recruiters are inundated with resumes and turn first to those candidates who have a connection to someone in the company.
While unemployed, join a networking group to stay connected with professionals in your industry. Build relationships with people who may have the inside track on jobs. Meetings are listed in trade publications or online through job-search and networking sites.
Contact professional staffing agencies, which place people in temporary and permanent positions. These days, more companies are using temporary employees to reduce their permanent head count, Byrom said. Eventually, as their budgets permits, those positions could become permanent.
• Do job fairs really work? They can but only if you make the most of them.
Don't show up in shorts on the way to the beach and expect to get hired. Find out which employers will be there and target the ones best-suited for you. Educate yourself about the companies and be prepared to talk to people at the booths.
Keep in mind that many positions advertised at job fairs are entry-level and don't pay a lot. For the higher-paying professional jobs, look elsewhere.
• What about job-search Web sites? Use them, but with caution. Sites such as Monster.com and Yahoo's HotJobs advertise a ton of jobs but get even more resumes. Be prepared to field inquiries from people outside your field who came across your resume and thought you'd be perfect for some unspecified job that may or may not involve a startup cost. Also be prepared to hear nothing, given the sheer quantity of people applying for the jobs.
• Should I pay for a recruiter or job-listing service? No. Companies typically pay for job listings and give recruiters a commission on positions filled. Instead, Byrom recommends hiring someone to redo your resume.
• Other job-seeking no-nos?
Don't delay. A long break between jobs can send a bad signal to a prospective employer. Does no one want to hire you? Are you not excited about working? If you see a job you like, jump on it, even if it's a slight step down from your previous job.
Don't get discouraged. Be upbeat when interviewing and don't bemoan previous rejections.
Don't undersell yourself. "This is your chance to be not so modest,'' Sehres said. Talk about what you can bring to an organization without coming off too self-centered. Your first question should not be: "How much vacation do I get?''
Reader Comments (No comments posted.)
The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of their authors. The Morning News does not review comments before their publication, nor do we guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by our comment policy. If you see a comment that violates our policy, please notify the web editor.
Not already registered?
