What NOT to do in Your Job Search
If you are one of the many people searching for a Job in Boston, or anywhere, right now, I’m sure you’ve heard advice on what you need to do in order to find a job, but you might not have heard what you should NOT do. Here are some things that you might want to keep in mind:
• If no one knows you’re looking for a new job, they aren’t able to help you. You need to make people aware of the fact that you are looking for a job. Talking with your family, friends and acquaintances is one of the best ways to identify new professional contacts and learn about job openings, even those that aren’t advertised. Making connections by networking is very important. Be proactive and put yourself out there.
• If you’re not doing your research, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Applicants who show they have a strong knowledge of the job and company are better able to communicate specific ways they can contribute to the organization’s success. Start with corporate Web sites, trade publications and local business journals.
• Do NOT forget your cover letter. Your cover letter is an opportunity to market yourself in greater detail and passing up on this opportunity is a mistake.
• Do NOT send out your send out your resume without targeting it to your desired job. Online job boards have made it easy for applicants to apply for a position with the simple click of the mouse. All too often people don’t tailor their resumes to specific jobs. Take the extra time and effort to customize your resume to each opportunity.
• Time and again, people will forget to proofread their resumes and cover letters. Make sure all of your written communications with a potential employer, are error free. To avoid this mistake, consider asking a friend to review your job search materials before submitting them.
• Do NOT forget to follow up with potential employers. If you’ve applied for a job and haven’t heard back, this does not indicate that the job has been filled. Often times, hiring managers get busy and may have misplaced your resume or they haven’t had a change to look at your resume.
Finding a Job in Boston is hard work, try not to get discouraged. The right job is out there for you!
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Don’t forget to check out the company profile on LinkedIn when you’re researching companies. You’ll be able see your connections at the company and they can Those connections help you get an interview and provide a reference, new hires, promotions, jobs posted, related companies, and company statistics.
More info:
http://jobsearch.about.com/b/2008/12/02/how-to-use-linkedin-to-job-search.htm
Comment by Alison Doyle — December 3, 2008 @ 12:16 pm