What are you doing with your time?
So, there you are, diligently working to find yourself a job. You are sitting at your computer searching through job sites such as Monster and CareerBuilder. Eureka! There it is. The job you really want. You are qualified and it is sure to be a good fit all around. So you start clicking buttons to submit your resume. Here is my question to you: Is this a good use of your time? Is it working? Are you getting interviews? Are you getting any response in addition to the form email that acknowledges that your resume was received? If you are, keep doing it.
BUT, if you find yourself spending precious time sending out more and more resumes and getting little to no response, you are in good company. Sending out resumes is a poor way to go about getting a job, even when it is in response to an advertised position.
Here is why:
- Do the math. In this tight job market, job ads typically get hundreds of responses. You are now competing with hundreds of other applicants, many of whom may be as or better qualified than you for the job. What is even more frustrating is that resumes are often sorted out digitally by key word searches. Your qualifications may be solid but your choice of words may not be in line with what the employer is looking for on resumes. The result is that you are passed over.
- Here is another possibility, disheartening but very real. Is there a real job opportunity behind that job advertisement? You may be thinking to yourself, “what a stupid question! Of course it is real, it is posted, isn’t it?” Yes it is posted, but that does not mean it is real. There are too many instances where a job posting is created and advertised with no real job availability. What happened is that there was a job available but it was filled. The hiring manager found someone on his or her own and wants to hire them, or already has. The company posting the job on a commercial site, or their own, may be fulfilling a company policy or legal requirement. Does this actually happen? Yes, all the time. Certainly not every job but many jobs that you are or have applied to. How do I know? From being on both sides of that little vignette during my corporate career.
Now that you know what happens behind the scenes, I will ask again: Is this a good use of your time? After all, you want to be the one getting the job and then having the job posted after you have already been hired. One way to get in that position is by networking. Network your way into companies and in front of hiring managers. Be the candidate that gets interviewed for the jobs before they are posted.
My call to action for you? Get out from behind your laptop and in front of people. Network around. The more you do, the more productive you will be and the sooner you will get a job. Then, you can help your new manager write the ad for your job that has to be posted. Nice.
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Good article, but I feel it is missing a key component. How do you network your way into companies and in front of hiring managers? In this day and age of computers and email, what do you do to get seen?
True Teresa. I lost my job Jan ‘09, have forwarded countless rez on-line, attended job fairs, and networking events thru DePaul (alum events as well), universities I did not attend in the Chicago area, professional organizations, and personal leads. I’ve attended networking events that have nothing to do with my interest or degree, staying open and receptive to what may present itself to me (you never know). But to be seen by hiring mgrs, to get your resume pushed thru the proper channels, and seen by someone that can assist you is not like it used to be 10 yrs ago. So the questions are: how do you network your way into companies? in front of hiring managers? while out networking, what may be the key/appropriate networking questions to ask someone that will spark that persons interest in you and give you that winning opportunity to be the candidate that gets interviewed for the jobs before they’re posted?
I have to ask the same question as Libra, how do you network your way infront of companies, and how do you get infront of a hiring manager? Most networking events I have been to have more job seekers and
entrapanors than employers.
My experience with job fairs is that most companies will not want to take your resume. Instead, they ask you to go to their web site to register and apply online. This practically makes attending a job fair ineffective.
These are great questions. The quick answer is that sometimes traditional networking doesn’t work. Instead, you need to use your contacts to get in front of hiring managers. I suggest that you visit our website – http://www.networkingsteps.com – to check out our free articles and blog entries. Check out our upcoming workshops which may help as well – and as always we offer an attractive discount to our Out of Work Chicago friends.
I was just recently introduced to this website. I was very excited to find out why I have not been selected for an interview. Then after reading the comments I agree with all of you. It seem as though we are all experiencing the same thing. I was laid off my job in May ‘09 and it is difficult finding a job. I have 15 years of administrative/clerical experience, even worked at one of the top ten law firms which is the company that laid me off, still can’t find a thing. Well I pray that we all find something real soon, if you haven’t already. Be Blessed.
Thank you Phil for the website I will check this out.