Your mobile phone stores more than just your favourite numbers. The best method varies from person to person depending on experience level and career field, but for everyone networking is considered to be the most productive job search activity, ultimately leading to 50-70 per cent of all jobs. As many jobs are unadvertised, i.e. filled before they are advertised, this statistic makes sense.
For an experienced professional who plans to stay in the same field, executive recruiters can also be a good source of leads. Recruiters are paid (by the employer) between 20 and 33% of the job salary and tend to fill high-level positions. For younger or less experienced people, networking is also the most fruitful job search method and most of the job seeker's time should be spent on this activity. Spending time setting up job search agents and responding to appropriate advertisements is also a good use of time.
Sending unsolicited CVs is the method least likely to lead to a job and the least time should be spent in the job search. Before you take the initiative to meet or contact the job recruiter or leader, make sure you have done some research. This will certainly help you in some way. You should have an idea about the company you are interested in working for.
It is good to prepare some PAR stories. They should be a 40-60 word synopsis of the kind of obstacles you have encountered, the techniques you have used to handle the situation and the surprising outcome. You should definitely try to add some good features or stories. Job seekers should spend most of their time networking in order to get a suitable job in the shortest possible time.
If a company you are interested in does not have any relevant jobs posted on their website, contact them by email or phone to see if they are looking to hire someone with your qualifications and experience. Many websites allow you to save your search filters so that you can easily search again and find new advertisements. Internet advertisements only lead to jobs 5-10 per cent of the time (the percentage is higher for jobs in IT, engineering, finance and healthcare). If your days are primarily characterised by searching and responding to ads on the Internet, you are spending most of your time using the same resources as the vast majority of other job seekers.
If you are currently working somewhere, you should be careful when talking to a current client about your job search, especially if you are going to a competitor. Be sure to adequately prepare for these events by making professional business cards and copies of your resume to have on hand when you meet with company representatives. This is a great way to get your foot in the door, and you'd be surprised how often an informational interview can lead to a job, even in a different department or company. Although you should bring copies of your CV to a job fair, these days it is unusual for an employer to take a copy of yours.
Look for sites that specialise in what you're interested in, such as AngelList for startup jobs or FlexJobs for flexible jobs or Idealist for non-profit jobs. There are many different social media platforms you can use to search for jobs and interact with companies you'd like to work for. Asking for information, advice and opinions as part of your job search is what can ultimately lead to a position. Gone are the days when you could easily get a stable, long-term job right after you get your university degree.
The jobs that are advertised for alumni are usually entry-level positions aimed at people who have graduated within the last 5 years. NETWORKING Networking is the most effective way to find out about careers and ultimately get a job. Go through all your regular social encounters and make sure you have let people know that you are in job search mode.
