Job Hunting Tips
Embrace Rejection?
Yes you heard me, embrace rejection. If you are looking for your next position in the right way and proactively you will be experiencing 99% rejection. Learn to love yourself and know that through this rejection you are eventually going to a better place.
A professional knows how to look for a job?
Most professionals, like you, know how to work their own personal network of contacts. 20-20 Foresight believes that if your job search is limited to your own personal network you are not accessing the wide-world of opportunities that are out there. Don't be afraid to "market yourself". This may mean cold emailing and warm calling. And some dreaded cold calling to introduce yourself.
A targeted job search is the best way to search for a job?
We believe in a targeted job search but again, if it is too targeted you may limit yourself. If you target 50 firms, then you know what's out there for you. And it may take a while to find something. If you target 400 firms, you will be surprised as to what is out there for you. And you will find something you like much quicker. Broaden your targets and you will be amazed at what you will find.
Professional resume writers?
We believe resume writing is a skill that can be best performed by a person who has specific industry expertise (which most professional resume writers' don't possess) and knows how to write a resume. The standard resume that declares "increased company profitability by 300% over the past 2 years" is cliche and commonplace. Well written resumes are simple, easy to read and comprehend and show skills, job duties and accomplishments. Remember most resumes never get read, people scan them. And you have to give the reader a compelling reason to read your's.
Functional resumes?
In our opinion functional resumes don't work. Why? We get the feeling that a candidate is hiding something and it takes too long to get to the part where we can find out where the candidate has worked in chronological sequence. By then most readers lose interest.
Emailed resumes vs. Mailed resumes?
Now the company or person doing the emailing has to have the skill to get through spam filters. We believe that emailed resumes appropriately prepared and introduced are much more powerful. Why? Emailed resumes have a much longer shelf life and are easily forwarded (communication), filed and retrieved. Now we know mailed resumes can get scanned and filed but many times a mailed resume is lost in the shuffle.
Cover Letters?
On an emailed resume, never. On a mailed resume, keep them as short as possible. Busy hiring executives don't have time or the inclination to read them. The only thing they care about is if your resume fits the position they have open.
What should be accomplished on the first interview?
A detailed history of your career? No way. First interviews should be used to give a brief description of your experience and personality but more importantly should be used to make sure the interviewer likes you. Show energy, intellect and image. The only thing positive about a first interview is to get a second interview where you can get to know the company and start articulating your story. And if the interviewer doesn't like you, no matter how qualified you may be you are not going on to the 2nd interview!
Fee based Career or Job Finding Companies that offer or infer there is a "magic bullet"?
Steer clear of these firms because there is no "magic bullet". Firms that claim to know where the jobs are, or that they can reduce the search time are not being forth right. Always "google" a career of job finding companies name for references before proceeding to use them as a resource. This industry is froth with incompetence, frauds and in general people who will take your money and deliver no service.
Embrace Rejection?
I know we're saying this for the second time, but it's important. Yes you heard me, embrace rejection. If you are looking for your next position in the right way and proactively you will be experiencing 99% rejection. Learn to love yourself and know that through this rejection you are eventually going to a better place.