By Sydney Edmonds, M.B.A.
What do job seekers need to know about living in an economy where employers have the advantage? The competition is remarkable and career coaches are providing a myriad of conflicting advice. My advice to you is simple. If your approach is not working, then you need to tweak what you are doing. You might need to employ a completely different approach altogether. Your job hunting search should be a work of art in motion. This is an employer’s economy, which simply means that employers have the advantage of holding out for the ideal candidate. The ratio of employees to jobs available is certainly not in favor of job seekers. You cannot afford to make critical mistakes in a highly competitive job market.
There are many free resources available on resumes and cover letters, as well as articles that provide valuable information. Read, do your homework, and research the job market. Hotjobs, powered by Yahoo, has a variety of job related articles that are posted on a daily basis. These articles explain how the economy and workforce is changing, and what careers are in high demand at this point in time. New job categories are continually being created for our changing global focus. For instance, Green Energy is high on the list of new job categories that are cropping up on www.usajobs.com , www.monster.com , www.careerbuilder.com , and www.craigslist.com . When seeking new employment, consider how new jobs in this global economy impact how you should approach your targeted job search. How can your current skills, education, and employment history apply to these new jobs that are developing in our workforce?
One tip that is extremely useful for an effective and targeted job search is to customize your cover letter to mirror the job description. If employer (A) wants a candidate with 5-7 years of experience in sales, then this should be reflected in your cover letter and resume. Many recruiters and human resource professionals are using technology to scan for certain keywords in resumes and cover letters. If you are a team player, flexible, self motivated, and can evolve as the work environment evolves, then you should state this on your resume. HR professionals receive a massive influx of resumes, and keywords help to narrow down the selection process. Customize your resume and cover letter each time you apply for a new position. Make sure to utilize keywords from the job description so that your resume is flagged for consideration. Using a bulleted list in your cover letter has proven to be effective in catching the eye of recruiters and human resource professionals, and this practice can be used to your advantage.
It is also recommended that you keep a spreadsheet to track resumes submitted, as well as follow up letters and phone calls. The job search is brutal and you cannot afford to apply for jobs without making sure that follow up is consistent. I recommend following up with one letter of inquiry, one follow up email, and one follow up phone call. Persistence pays off. Being proactive in following up on resume submission is essential for job seeking success. According to P. Neckels, M.B.A., being unemployed can be a full time job. When he was searching nationwide for positions, he spent six hours each day sending out resumes and cover letters. He also recorded each follow up contact in a spreadsheet, so that his job search was effective and targeted. Paul is in the process of writing a book on leadership in the workplace, and used his off time for something that was productive and proactive. He is now working full time for a company in Texas and continuing to write his book.
Many of the leading jobsearch sites have large candidate pools for each position that is posted. Job seekers are literally competing with candidates from all over the country and around the world. Try to locate smaller and more obscure job boards and your chances of landing a job will be much more attainable; the candidate pool will be smaller.
What they say about networking is true. Your current contacts play a pivotal role in helping you secure employment. Make sure they know you are job seeking. Ask for letters of recommendation. Inquire about people they know who might be able to help you. Networking is one of the greatest opportunities to get your foot in the door, so take my advice and network, network, network!
