Job Search Tips	Finding the Right Employer	Thank You Notes in Job Search	First Impressions
Practice makes Perfect	Job Search THANKSgiving	Attitude	Filling the Gaps in Your Employment Record
The Hardest Step	Tune up Your Resume	Planning - To Succeed

Getting the Most from your Job Search Efforts

Would you put your life savings in a bank that offered no interest? 

Of course not.  Then, why would you spend your job search efforts talking with people who have no interest, or ability to hire you?

When looking for a job, always ask to see the manager, or the person who does the hiring for the business.  Once you’ve determined who that person is, focus your continued efforts only on that person.  On your follow-up visits, ask for that person by name.  If they aren’t there, or aren’t available, ask to pass the word that you stopped by.  There’s no real need to explain why, just that you stopped by.  Make sure to calendar a visit to this employer again in the next few days.

Imagine Joe, as he is six weeks into his job search.  Joe hasn’t had much luck landing an interview.   Let’s take a look at how Joe approaches his job search.   Everybody needs their sleep, and Joe is no exception.  In fact, Joe rarely rolls out of bed before noon.  After eating and catching up on his favorite soap operas, Joe rolls out of his recliner, ready for his daily routine of looking for a job.  He checks the want ads in The Sentinel, logs on to his favorite internet-based job listing program, and gets dressed.

Joe’s job search is just beginning, but it’s 3:00 in the afternoon.  He stops by a business that advertised an opening two days before, but it has already been filled.  He stops by one of the stores he applied with a month ago and tells the cashier he’s still available. By now it’s 4:30, a little late in the day for job search, so Joe heads home.

We could explore Joe’s techniques further, but suffice it to say that Joe’s lack of planning and consistency will have him looking for a long time.

In contrast, Jennifer is a self-starter.  She’s up at 7:00, showered, dressed, and at the one-Stop Job Center at 8:00 ready to start her job search for the day.  She has access to a computer at home to check websites like CalJobs.ca.gov, but finds the availability of all area newspapers, Career Counselors and workshops like “How to Interview” to be motivating in her daily efforts to become reemployed.  Jennifer sticks to this her routine five days a week.

This is the second week of her job search, and Jennifer has contacted every employer on her target list of employers at least twice.  She has organized her job search by listing the business, person who does the hiring, address and phone number.  She sees the Manager each time, so she’s confident that person knows she is interested in the job.  After dropping off another five résumé’s, Jennifer stops by the business she has targeted as her first choice, and speaks with the Manager.  As fortune would have it, an employee had just called in to quit and the business needed someone immediately.  Fortunately, Jennifer had her Driver’s License and Social Security card with her for proof of employment eligibility required for every job in the U.S.

Increase your chances of finding that employer looking for you with a plan and a daily commitment to look for work.

If you need more assistance, contact us, or call us at (559) 585-3532.