Tips For The Job Search

        I want to share with you various tips that can make a difference in your job search.

        Concentrate on smaller companies. The Department of Labor tells us that in the last ten years approximately 80% of all new jobs have been created by companies with fewer than 50 employees. That’s the size of company which seems to be most dynamic in our present economy. As a result, a lot of your efforts should be aimed at organizations of 10–50 employees. Because these are not high profile organizations, your competition will be less. Not as many people will be trying to make appointments with key people in those organizations, making it easier for you to get in and meet the person who has the power to hire you. It will also make it easier for the employer to remember you, since he or she will be meeting fewer of your competitors.

        I’m definitely not telling you to avoid the larger organizations, I’m only pointing out that the greatest growth is occurring with smaller organizations.

        Print up 500 business cards. You will often be in situations where people typically trade business cards. Having a card of your own makes it easier to ask for another person’s card. Even if you don’t have a job at the moment, you should have a card that simply includes your name, address, and phone number, along with a title that matches what you are looking for. Keep your eye out for advertised specials at print shops. You can usually get 500 cards for under $30. Give your cards out freely; try to have less than 100 left by the time you get your job. On the back of your card you could also create a “mini-resume” by listing a few key areas of experience.

        Get leads from anyone you meet. If you meet anyone who just went through a job search, get leads. Ask about any interesting organizations the person came across, as well as companies that might be hiring. Get referrals as well.

        Avoid 900 numbers. There are various services out there which offer job finding assistance using 900 numbers. Most are simply recordings which cover such topics as interviewing and resume writing. Often a person can spend twenty dollars or more for a 30-minute recorded message. If you want job finding tapes, your bookstore will have one or more which will probably provide over an hour of listening and cost around twelve dollars. Plus, you can listen to it many times. And let’s face it, listening to a tape through a telephone is not the ideal way to listen to anything. Job finding or motivational tapes can of course be obtained for free at your library.

        Get organized. Being organized during a job search is one of the most valuable things you can do for yourself. Establish systems and habits that you will use consistently throughout your job search. If you are used to getting to work by 8:00 a.m., get to your work area by 8:00 or 8:15 on a consistent basis.

        At the beginning of your job search, claim a space in your home for your job search activities. If you have a den, that’s great—make full use of the privacy. Working in the kitchen, dining room, or bedroom is not ideal, but if you are well-enough organized, they can work just fine.

        If you have children in the home throughout the day, or just in the afternoon, find a place where you can make your phone calls in private. Hearing a crying child is not only a distraction to you, but to those on the other end. If you have an infant, try to time your calls while the child is asleep. You’ll be tempted to just relax as the child sleeps, but that’s your opportunity to make as many calls as possible.

        On the back of each of your 4 x 6 employer cards, write the date you should make follow-up phone calls. You’d simply write “call back on June 16.” You could also design a form which enables you to just look down the list and see who you are supposed to call that day. Or you could set up a “tickler” file. You can purchase these very inexpensively at a stationery store. Basically, they are 4 x 6 cards with tabs numbered from one through thirty-one. Each day you would pull out the cards for that day and know immediately who you should call. If you don’t reach the person that day, you stick the card in the space for the following day.

        Keep track of the ads you respond to. The easiest way is to simply attach the ad to a copy of the cover letter you sent. In that way, you know what you said and you have the ad. This will help you prepare for an interview. Do not save rejection letters. They contain no useful information, and virtually all say the same thing. Simply make note on the ad if you responded to an ad, or on your note card if you sent a marketing letter or an unsolicited resume. Then toss out the rejection letter and go on to more productive things.

        Tips on working out of your home. While I would not say it is necessary every day, dressing in your professional work clothes while at home can make you feel more confident and professional. Also, when you make phone calls, try standing. Many people find that they are better able to project enthusiasm while they are standing.

            Keep your insurance active. Accidents or illnesses can occur at anytime, but they are more likely to occur during times of high stress. If you have a family, you are not the only one feeling the stress of your unemployment. Your whole family is feeling it. Even if you have to borrow money to pay for your insurance, keep your insurance active. Families have faced economic ruin because a serious illness or accident occurred during a period of unemployment. If you request it, many companies will keep you on the policy for several months at their expense, or will allow you to pay for it. If the company will not pay the premium for you, but you work for a larger company, you can pay for the insurance yourself under the federal COBRA program. Your personnel department will be able to explain how it works.