THE NO-BULLSH*T CAREER & JOB SEARCH GUIDE
By
William Zellmann
Copyright 2011 William Zellmann
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Introduction
The current sad state of the U.S. economy has put more people out of work than at any time since the Great Depression of the 1930's. However, there are jobs out there. The problem is that most people don't know how to plan for them or how to find them.
My degree is in Human Resources, and I've spent more than twenty years in the employment field. I've seen and read more worthless crap about careers and job search than you would believe.
Yes, I know there are thousands of career, resume, and job search books on the market. Unfortunately, ivory-tower "experts" who have PhD's, but have never interviewed a job applicant, or "professionals" who worked for a single company or a single industry, or who only dealt with degreed, professional positions write many of them. The few targeting the average unemployed worker are often overcomplicated or just plain wrong.
Ken is a casual friend, one of the many thousands of workers who have been seeking a job for over a year. He's what I, in my unkindest moments, privately call "drifty." After high school, he drifted into a job stocking in a retail store. Then he heard about a job that paid better at a pallet factory and drifted there. He drifted to a lumberyard for a while. Then he drifted to construction labor. His last job was in a warehouse. Since that time, he has mentioned still being out of work only three times, and on two of those occasions, it was in situations in which I was unable to offer any advice. The other occasion was shortly after he was laid off, and he simply asked if I knew any place that was hiring. He asked the question casually, and my reply was equally casual. I told him that I didn't at the moment, but I'd keep him in mind.
Time passed, and I'm sad to admit that other things intervened, and life went on. I was shocked when I met him a few weeks ago and he mentioned he was still unemployed. He needed help, and he needed it now. He told me that he had attended a job search workshop and they had helped him complete a resume, but he was still having no luck.
The resume, when he finally located it, was pathetic. It was simply a laundry list of jobs, with a high-sounding "Objective" that sounded like he was applying for a CEO Job. I started to lecture him about all the areas that needed improvement, when I realized that a lecture was not what he needed. Ken is a hard worker, but he simply had no direction.
That's when I determined to write this guide, for Ken and people like him. Something simple and clear, with no silly academic jargon and no high-flown theoretical nonsense. Something he could take home and use. Something he could refer back to when needed.
Ken is currently pursuing an associate's degree in a field that has always interested him. He graduates soon. Meantime, he has a "fill in" part time job to pay the bills.
I decided that others could use this information, too. So, I've "de-personalized" it and published it as an e-book. I hope that it will help others in Ken's situation.
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PART I - THE RIGHT WAY
NOT JUST A JOB, A CAREER!
The first order of business is attitudinal. Think of this hiatus as a chance to regroup and to re-orient your life in a new direction. Cultivate a positive attitude about it. Stop worrying about finding a job immediately. Instead, start thinking about planning for a new career. What’s the difference?
The average person will have many jobs during his working life; but the smart ones will have only one or two careers. Instead of starting over at every new job, each job uses similar skill sets, and every new job increases your skill level, your professional qualifications, and your income potential. A carpenter may work for many companies in his career, but always as a carpenter. And his wages grow with his experience.
Jobs are not hard to find. If you keep looking long enough, and aren't picky, you'll find one eventually. It may not pay what you need, or be something you enjoy doing, but you will eventually find one.
Careers are harder. It takes effort to find a career you love but when you do, you'll be rewarded with a feeling of direction in your life and an enhanced feeling of self-worth. I guarantee it.
Once you’ve cultivated the desire to gain a career and the willingness to work to find one, sit down at the computer or the kitchen table with paper and pencil, and get started.
The preliminaries: This sounds a bit stupid, but start by making a list of every job or occupation you’ve ever wanted to do. Okay, at the age of 10 you wanted to be a firefighter. Put it down. You read a book in high school that made you want to be an architect. Put it down. Anything you ever wanted to be. Don’t worry if it runs to several pages.
Now go back through your list and start scratching off jobs. You're too old to be a Firefighter. Okay, scratch it off. You can’t be an architect because you hate math and diagrams just confuse you. Fine. Scratch it off. But; only scratch off a job when you have a good reason! “Oh, that’s just silly” or “Oh, I couldn’t do that!” are not good reasons!
The idea is to come up with a list of careers, many of which you haven’t thought about in years, and some of which you never really, seriously considered. With luck, you’ll come up with at least a couple of careers that interest you and that may be attainable. Did you scratch off everything? Try again. Search your memory for jobs you’ve noticed and said to yourself, “I wonder how you get that job,” or “That would be a neat job to have.”
Go to the library and look at the “Occupational Outlook Handbook" (OOH). The government publishes it, and it lists occupations and their forecast for the number of jobs available in that field for the 10 years beyond the publishing date. It will probably be in the Reference section, so make sure you have some time available. It's also available to buy from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for $23.00 (paperback), but for most uses, the library copy will work well enough. Check it out at http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm .
You also want to take a look at the "Career Guide to Industries." The Bureau of Labor Statistics also publishes it, but unlike the OOH, it can be accessed and used online. It's at http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/ . The Career Guide, used in conjunction with the OOH, will give you a good handle on the future of almost any occupation. Between them, they may also give you some ideas you haven't thought of!
Step 1: Time to get off your butt. Take your new, short list to the Employment Office, Workforce Center, or whatever they call it in your state. In Arkansas, we consolidated all the job-related agencies into “Workforce Centers”; they may have done something similar in your state, which is cool because it means you don’t have to run around from one office to another. Regardless, though, you need to get around and check them out.
Ask them where you can get information on the WIA program. It stands for “Workforce Investment Act.” WIA is a program that pays for job training for low-income people. The basic requirements are income below their limit, which depends upon family size and income, that the training you want is listed on their "demand list" (in other words, a field that isn't overcrowded), and that there is a local provider certified to provide the training. Usually, WIA provides tuition, books, and fees. They will run a budget for you to compare your income to your expenses. If your expenses exceed your income, or if you're receiving Food Stamps, you qualify for what they call "supportive services." These include childcare allowance, transportation or travel allowance, and maybe even a housing allowance! You do not want to skip this step, especially if you've been unemployed for a while.
The first thing you want to ask the WIA drone about is aptitude testing and/or interest inventories. These are very important. I don’t give a damn if you hate taking tests. This is one test you want to take! Don't worry, there's no "pass" or "fail." This is just to find your interests and aptitudes. In Arkansas, WIA uses only a rather wimpy interest inventory. By all means, take it, but what you really want is aptitude testing. If it's not available through your WIA, check with the local junior colleges, Vo-Techs, and Adult Education offices. Another good resource is the large staffing firms ("Temp Services"). Some of them have amazing aptitude and even training resources. If you go to a junior college or Vo-Tech, you’ll probably have to let them think you’re interested in enrolling, but just aren’t sure what course you want. That’s cool, though. You’ll want to know what WIA-eligible courses are available later anyway.
Aptitude testing helps you find career fields that fit your personal interests and abilities. That is the name of the game. You may have heard the old saying, “Find a job that you love, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” Well, I’m here to tell you it’s true. If you love what you do, you don’t have to drag yourself to work, bitching, and moaning all the way. Instead, you wake up each morning looking ahead to the day with anticipation. Isn’t that worth a little footwork?
While you’re at the Employment Office, don’t forget to ask about any new or extended Unemployment Insurance benefits you might be able to get. Yes, even if you’ve already exhausted your benefits, you should still ask. The congress critters have been fighting over this for the last couple of years. It can't hurt to ask; the most they can do is say no.
The absolute, hands down best aptitude test available for free is the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or ASVAB. The ASVAB is administered by military recruiters, and consists of almost four hours of serious testing followed by a detailed analysis by a computer and a trained counselor. The downsides? You have to be under 26 years of age, pass the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) and you'll have to resist a very aggressive sales job by the recruiter. However, the recruiter will actually be anxious to get you to take the ASVAB, since he can't tell you what he can offer you until after you've taken it. Of course, it's also possible that the military may turn out to be just the career you've been looking for!
Step 2: Take the test, get the results.
Step 3: Take your test or inventory results back to the library, and look at the “Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH)”, the "Career Guide to Industries" and the “Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT)” I’ve already mentioned the OOH and Career Guide. The DOT is also published by the government, and will give you detailed descriptions of thousands of occupations. You can buy it, of course, on paper or even CD, but you can search the DOT online free at http://www.occupationalinfo.org. You’re career shopping now, so really study those descriptions as well as the OOH and the Career Guide to narrow things down.
Step 4: Now that you’ve pared your final list down to three or four possibles, go back to the WIA person and find out how to get your rich Uncle Sam to buy you some education or training. They'll bounce your choices against their "demand list" and let you know what they'll pay for. Especially now, training is being emphasized, and funds are almost always available.
A surprising number of careers require only a year or less preparation, and you'll be amazed at what you can do in two years. I recently took a welding course at the local junior college. It took one evening class a week for ten weeks, each four hours long – a total of 40 hours. It was hands-on training, and a class of less than twenty meant plenty of personal attention. At the end of the course, several students passed the Arkansas examination and became state-certified welders. By the last class, three already had jobs paying more than fifteen dollars an hour lined up—twice as much as they had been earning. For a total cost of $400 and one evening a week, those three people were able to stop drifting from low-paying job to low-paying job, and begin a lucrative career.
The health care field is another area filled with opportunities. In Arkansas, a nine-month course can lead to an LPN license. Competition is tough, but a number of hospitals in Little Rock provide free classes in exchange for a commitment to work for them for a given period. Most junior colleges in the state also offer LPN courses, though they charge for them. If patient care isn't your thing, similar opportunities exist in the fields of Medical Assistant, Medical Office, laboratory techs, Health Information Systems, and others. If these interest you, check with the Human Resources office of your local big-city hospital and your local junior college.
Be aware, though! Vo-Techs and junior colleges offer many different courses, and many of their so-called "counselors" are more interested in selling a course than in helping you find a career. And don't expect the WIA person to prevent you being steered into an unsuitable course. They're only concerned that the paperwork is in order. This is one of my major pet peeves. Our local junior college, for instance, creates more "auto body technician" graduates every year than are employed in the entire local area. Obviously, most of them have no luck finding entry-level jobs. These folks been motivated enough to pay for the course (or get WIA to pay for it), and devote evening family time to these courses in hopes of establishing careers. They find their high hopes and their motivation to better themselves dashed, and often become embittered and unwilling to try again. So, do not depend on whichever course the "counselor" recommends. Do your own research, find out your own aptitudes and abilities, and locate the courses you want to attend—not the course that the "counselor" has been told needs more students!
One final note: Don't pay a lot of attention to other peoples' opinion of your chosen career. A career that would be heaven for one person might be hell for another. For instance, many people find the nursing and nursing assistant occupations very rewarding. However, I know that I would never be able to cope with the intimate personal care required.
My favorite example, though, is the fast food industry. It is widely accepted that "burger-flipping" is strictly for high schoolers who can't find any better part-time or summer jobs. However, I know that companies like McDonald's and Burger King have aggressive and excellent training programs. The fast food industry is the only one I know where you can start out flipping burgers at minimum wage, and in less than ten years own your own restaurant! Can you say as much about your chosen occupation? So, forget what you "hear" about a job or a career. Check it out! Do the research!
Step 5: Graduate at the top of your class with a job already waiting, and go to work every day with a grin on your face and money in the bank! See, I can write a happy ending!
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PART II - SCREW ALL THAT CRAP, I JUST NEED A JOB!
Oooookay, let’s deal with just job search. Like everything else, there’s a right way to look for a job and a wrong way, and most people don’t devote the time to learning the right way.
Once again, the first problem is attitude. You have to understand that finding a job is a job! It’s not something you do just by reading the paper, or posting an online resume. An effective job search has to be approached like any other job. Unemployment is not a vacation. If you’re not doing something job-search related for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, you’re goofing off! Commit yourself to devoting that much time, and you’ll find ways to fill those hours. Can’t think of anything job-related to do this afternoon? Get dressed and do a few cold calls. Remember, finding a job is your job, and you are your own supervisor.
Been wondering how you’re going to fill all those job search hours? Well, here’s where you start. Go to the Employment Office, Career Center, temp service, or any place else you can think of, and pick up blank job applications. Don't forget to check online. Ideally, you should have three or four; but you’re not going to use them to apply for jobs. These are for practice, and for assembling your "personal folder."
Your Personal Folder
Go to an office supply store like Staples or Office Depot and pick up a binder. No, not just a common ring binder from Wal-Mart. This one must meet certain requirements. If a pocket binder, it should have at least four pockets for holding letter-sized papers (eight is better), and be stiff enough to write on. (Remember how hard it is to fill out an application with the paper balanced on your knee?) If it's a ring binder, it should be the narrowest you can get (usually ½ inch thick). The rings should be on the side, not on the spine, so you can insert pockets to hold letter-sized paper. While you're there, buy a package of pocket inserts. Don't doodle all over the cover like a high schooler!
Now get comfortable at the computer or the kitchen table with plenty of paper and a pen, and get ready to make your 'Personal Folder.'
Take out the longest and most detailed of the applications you’ve collected. What you’re going to do is make yourself a “crib sheet” for job applications, and it’s IMPORTANT. Start collecting and writing down the information you’re going to need for the application. Find your Social Security card or request a replacement from Social Security. That goes into the folder, too. Ditto for any certificates, cards or licenses that relate to your past work experience. And don't forget two pens. Make sure they have black or blue ink, and that they work well. Be organized!
Now is the time to figure out all your work history for the last fifteen years. Dig out those old pay stubs. Did the XYZ Company come before or after the ABC Company? Did you leave in July or August? Keep plugging at it until you know it’s complete and accurate. Did you graduate in 1992 or 1993? Did you actually complete two years of college, or three? Don’t forget to write up three or four short paragraphs about goals, why you want the job, etc. Go completely through the first application and make certain it is as detailed and accurate as possible. Now use your new folder to complete the other applications you gathered. See how quick and smooth they went? No more sitting in an office waiting room trying to remember whether you worked for a company for six months or nine. Cool, eh? But don't stop until you've filled out every application you have collected. Each may have slightly different layouts and even different questions. Practice makes perfect in this, too.
Finally, references are one of the most valuable resources you can have, and one of the most overlooked. Effective use of references can get great results, at least partly because so few people make effective use of their references.
Naturally, you should ask your prospective references for permission to use them as a reference. Many people neglect this point, and simply list a few friends. This is a serious mistake! Always ask. If a friend is called without warning by a prospective employer, what will they say? Chances are it will be some variation of, "yeah, I know him. He's a good guy." But your friend won't know what he "should" say, and won't have any time to think about it, which means he may babble out something you'd rather he didn’t! Always ask, and always try to find out what he'll say. If he says he doesn't know what to say, tactfully feed him a few lines. See below for ideas.
If you think he should, ask him or her to write you a letter of reference. A good letter of reference can be a powerful weapon, especially if you break it out during an interview. It will be kept with your application, and will be prominent when the hiring manager is reviewing them.
If you're lucky, your friend will say, "Sure. But I don't know what to say. Write something up and I'll sign it." That's an excellent opportunity; take advantage of it.
If he's a friend, write a couple of paragraphs emphasizing your dependability, punctuality, and ability to get along with others, or "team spirit." If he or she is a former co-worker, even better. A couple of paragraphs mentioning things like your perfect attendance, dependability, and willingness to help other employees or "go the extra mile" could go a long way toward getting you the job.
If you got along well with your supervisor at your last job, don't be too shy to ask him for a letter, too. A letter of recommendation from him will be the most impressive thing you can have. This is what the employer dreams of but never expects to see: a positive report from a previous supervisor. He can comment about your attendance, your punctuality, ability to read and write, follow instructions, and even your trainability. And those are usually the things employers most want to know.
Whether or not you have any letters, make sure you have complete contact information for all your references in your personal folder. You should have several copies of your list of references, so you can give them to interviewers.
Do not list family members, and do not list clergymen! Employers know they have no useful knowledge of your work habits, and there’s no chance they’ll have anything negative to say. Besides, if you list a clergyman, you're telling the employer you don't have any good references!
To sum up, your personal folder should contain:
Your original Social Security card and several copies of it.
Any certificates, cards, diplomas, licenses, etc. that relate to your job skills and the job you're seeking, with several copies of each.
Your resume, if you have one.
A dozen sheets of blank lined paper, to make attached sheets for applications.
Any pre-printed attached sheets you've prepared.
Several copies of your pre-printed contact lists of references and, of course, any letters of recommendation or reference. Make sure they contain complete addresses and phone numbers!
Your completed sample job application. Make sure it's neat and readable. You'd be surprised how many people have trouble reading their own scrawled handwriting. PRINT!
Any work samples you might have. Did you prepare information handouts and advertising brochures at one of your jobs? I Hope you kept a copy!
Two pens with black or blue-black ink. They should be just common ballpoints. No flowers on the top and no fancy "designer" ink colors. You might like red or purple, but I promise you employers won't. A simple 49-cent stick pen with black ink is perfect. Make sure you have a spare in case your pen starts skipping or runs out of ink.
There! You're ready for anything that might come up. One last thing: make sure you know which pocket contains what. The whole idea is to show organization and efficiency, and you don't want to have to rummage around looking for the paper you need.
So, where are the jobs?
Even in this economy, jobs are all around you. When I contacted employers to solicit job orders, many of them expressed frustration at the problems they have trying to find qualified employees. So, what is “qualified”? That depends on the job, of course. When employers list a job, whether in the newspaper, online, or with an employment agency, they list the ideal qualifications, all the things they would like their “dream” applicant to have. Nearly all are willing to slide at least some of the requirements for a “good” candidate. What is a “good” candidate? Well, despite the crap you read in the job search books, you’d be amazed how many times “good” is defined as someone who will simply show up as scheduled and do what he or she is told!
The higher you go above entry level, of course, the more stringent the requirements get. Still, I would classify some simple qualities as “non-negotiable.” Your aim should be to impress the employer with as many as possible:
Dependability. This is one of those mentioned above. No matter how high in the organization, management has to be able to know that you will be there when you say, and do what you say you will.
Ability to read, write, and follow instructions. I know, it sounds ridiculously simple. But it really isn’t. Actually, another way to say this is “trainability.” See below.
Loyalty. The job search books keep telling us that the old concepts of loyalty between employer and employee are obsolete. However, fairly or not, an employer, especially a smaller employer, wants to think that the person he hires will appreciate the opportunity, and as a result will be willing to display a little loyalty to the company. Even something as simple as an “I hope I have the opportunity to work for your company” as you leave the interview can make the difference.
In a very large number of cases, the "requirements" listed in an ad (other than those shown above) are "negotiable." An ad may have an intimidating laundry list of requirements that make you think you're not qualified. But if you feel you're even close to meeting the requirements of the job, don't hesitate to apply. That job description was written for the last person to have the job—but he or she might have had years on the job to gain all those qualifications.
When it comes down to making the hiring decision, the manager knows he will usually have to end up hiring the person he or she thinks has the basic skills necessary, and is capable of being trained to meet the requirements of the job and the company. So, what he or she is really looking for is evidence that you have the basic skills and willingness to be trained into the job. The requirements he is least likely to be willing to slide will be educational requirements and general experience requirements.
For example, if it's a clerical job and the requirements are a high school diploma, two years' clerical experience and one-year experience with WordPerfect Office, he's most likely to stick to the diploma (or GED) and the two years' experience. He knows you can learn WordPerfect Office, especially if you have experience with Microsoft Office or some other office suite. So, the WordPerfect requirement really just means experience with a computer office suite.
Actually, even the education and experience requirements are likely to come under the heading of 'negotiable'. In our example above, if you only have one year's experience, but you have 2 years of college or an associates' degree, you should still apply.
Very often, that ability to be trained into the job simply means enthusiasm, an ability to read and write well and follow instructions. But if you don't have one, your number one priority is getting a GED! I don't care how sharp you are, or think you are, the GED is virtually essential to getting into any good job or rewarding career!
At every opportunity; In your resume, on the application and in the interview be sure to keep emphasizing that you're interested in "developing additional skills", "enhancing your professional abilities" etc. Essentially, you want to let him or her know you are enthusiastic and a fast learner. Forget looking "cool" and disinterested. All that will get you is out the door. Be alert and enthusiastic now. You can practice being "cool" after you have the job.
So how do I find all these jobs?
After attitude,the first problem in a job search is locating the jobs. Even in these days of the Internet, most jobs are never listed or announced; they’re filled the old-fashioned way; personal contacts and cold calls. There are some techniques you can use to make sure you’re on top of these things:
Make sure that everyone you know is aware you’re looking for a job. I know you probably think they do; but you’d be amazed how many of your friends, neighbors and relatives learn about job openings and never think to tell you about them! When you mention it to them, you’ll hear things like, “Oh, I thought you had that handled!” or “Oh, are you still looking?” or "I didn't think you'd be interested in that kind of job." Many of them won’t mention possible job openings because they don’t want to embarrass you!
Well, that’s crap! We’re talking about survival, here. They, and you, can survive a little embarrassment. Mention it to your friends, neighbors, relatives, church congregation, everyone! And keep mentioning it! If you think they’ll take them, give as many of them as possible half-a dozen of your business cards (Invest in 1,000. They’re cheaper than you think) or copies of your resume, and ask them to pass them along to anyone who might have a job available. These people are your eyes and ears. Don’t nag them, but be sure to occasionally mention that you’re still looking.
Don’t forget about business contacts you made in your last job. Often, these are people who may need to hire someone with your skills. However, don't just call them on the phone. A phone call saying, “Hi, this is Barbara from the XYZ Company. Remember me?” will probably get you an “Of course! How are you?” while he gives his secretary a blank look and a shrug. You want them to see you, to jog their memory. Go to their place of business and ask to see them, or to make an appointment. Try hard to get some face time. Remember, receptionists and secretaries exist to run interference for their bosses, so you might have to use some imagination. But it could be worth it! And, of course, if you run into them at Wal-Mart or a restaurant, that’s a golden opportunity to ask if you could schedule some time to talk with them. The fancy guides call this "networking."
Finally, don't skip job fairs and business expos. Pay attention when you see them advertised. A Job Fair is employment opportunity gold! Here you have dozens of employers in one place, not only willing to accept resumes and applications, but also actively soliciting them!
When you hear of a job fair, make sure your resume is up-to-date, polish your shoes, get a haircut or get your hair done, gather your personal folder and other resources, slick up and GO! By the way, make extra copies of all your licenses, certifications, and pre-printed attached sheets. With any luck, you'll need them.
A few comments: Be there early, and expect to spend the day. After all, you have all day! Don't expect to score an interview. The most you're likely to accomplish is to get them to accept an application. Try to talk to the oldest person in the booth. They may be an HR supervisor, or even, if you're very lucky, the HR manager who may be interviewing you later! Try to gather information about the company. Grab handouts and make notes you can refer to in case you are called for an interview.
Be polite, respectful, and enthusiastic; as I mentioned, you don't know who you may be talking to. If they have applications available, get one and fill it out. At most job fairs there are tables or desks where you can complete it. Remember, they will have far fewer people complete applications than they will have simply drop off resumes. When they get back to the office, the applications will most likely be reviewed first, and since they contain so much more information, the applications will certainly get more than 7-10 seconds of the manager's time. They also permit you to get a lot more information in front of the manager than any resume will provide. Job fairs are where you'll really fall in love with your personal folder. More on personal folders later.
Nevertheless, try to drop off at least a resume with every company in the building that even slightly interests you. At a job fair, you can accomplish more than a month's worth of cold calls in one day!
Business expos are a different animal, but they still deserve a visit if you're aggressive and outgoing. For companies, business expos are where they can meet potential customers or network with clients, competitors, possible partners, and other companies' officials. They are not there to solicit resumes or applications, and probably won't even have applications available. That's the down side.
The up side is that the people staffing the booths are higher-level employees and managers—mostly managers. It's your chance to gather information about the company and to interact with company management.
When they ask whom you're with, tell them you're 'between jobs' and you're researching opportunities, and ask about opportunities at their company. Try to keep the conversation going as long as possible. Ask about the market for the company's products or services, and how well the industry is doing. Be sure to get the name and title of the person you contact, and try to get his or her business card. Now, if you decide to apply to their company, you can mention that you talked to so-and-so at the business expo and he suggested you submit an application. This is another form of networking, and it could be a foot in the door.
Even if you're too introverted for that type of networking, you should still go. It's a great place to gather information about businesses in your area. Don't forget to grab all the company literature you can. The main benefit of a business expo is to gather company information you can use later in possible interviews.
Now, the "standard" techniques
Newspapers & online: Actually, these are not a particularly good method of finding jobs. This is mainly because this kind of job listing results in huge piles of resumes, which means none of them gets anything but a cursory glance.
The trick here is to short-circuit them whenever possible. If a newspaper ad has a blind box, of course, there’s little you can do. If possible, though, find out the name of the company. If there’s a phone number or address, in many cases you can go online and do a reverse lookup on it. Or just call it, and listen for the company’s name when the receptionist/secretary answers. (Just tell them it’s a wrong number. Don't try to discuss jobs).
Be imaginative. Many times a posting will give clues to the identity of the company. Use any information you can find to learn the company name. If the ad mentions that it's a steel company located in a certain suburb, check directories to find out how many steel companies are in that suburb. Once you have the name of the company, you can bypass the whole online/newspaper/posting, go to the company and ask for an application, jumping instantly to the head of the line and perhaps even scoring an instant interview, while the others are still licking stamps.
State Job Services: Since I worked at a state Employment Office for eleven years, it pains me to say that they are not a very good source of job info. More and more employers are bypassing the state offices if they can. Some are required by law to list their jobs, but many other employers are finding that if they list their jobs with the state office, they’ll be flooded with unqualified applicants, many of whom don’t really want a job; they just want a card signed so they can draw their unemployment check. Therefore, unfortunately, a referral card from the Employment Office can actually carry negative connotations that you'll have to overcome in the interview. (Assuming you get an interview).
State offices can be a decent source of listings if you’re looking for a professional or technical job, and in virtually all states, these job listings are centralized and can be easily searched on the Internet You can browse them, but usually have to go to the office to be referred. Check in regularly on the job listings; they can be worth watching. Don't forget to use the same imagination you used on the newspaper listings. If you can figure out who the employer is, you might be able to avoid the stigma of an Employment Office referral.
Staffing (Temp) Services: These vary in quality from "outstanding" to "your worst nightmare" when it comes to permanent jobs. For many, temporary, low skill jobs are their bread and butter. If they get any permanent technical or professional job listings, they will probably be with one of their customers, and they will often try to fill them on a temp-to-perm basis. Not ideal. The larger, nationwide staffing services are more likely to have permanent and higher-level jobs turn up, and will be better equipped to handle them when they do. Some even have training courses for their clients. Stick with the major, nationwide players if you go this route, but it's a good idea to check in with a couple. As mentioned above, these can also be a source for aptitude testing or a good interest inventory, not to mention a very detailed application form.
Cold calls: This is one of the best, but probably one of the hardest ways to search for a job. It’s discouraging to fill out application after application with no callbacks. However, you have to keep slogging at it; your survival is at stake! Like everything else, though, there’s a right way and a wrong way to approach a cold call.
Look professional. Most job search books will tell you that you should dress for the job you want. I disagree. You should dress as though you’re applying for an office job, even if you aren’t. In many cases, if you happen to luck into an immediate interview, the person you’ll be talking to will be a Personnel weenie, not a shop foreman. Dressing like a machinist or forklift operator is unlikely to impress a Human Resources type.
Suit and tie are overkill, but slacks, a button shirt, and polished shoes could make all the difference. A job search is no place to make a social statement. If you’re male, get a haircut! You can always grow it long again after you’ve worked there awhile. (And no, putting it into a ponytail or pushing it up under your “Weed Forever” ball cap won’t do, either) If your arms are covered with tattoos of nekkid ladies, wear a long-sleeved shirt, even if it’s summer! If you’re female, splurge on getting your hair done and remember that ragged jeans are not appropriate attire. Break down and wear a skirt and nylons, and yes, perhaps even heels.
Be positive. You’d be amazed how far a smile and a pleasant attitude can get you. Employers and their receptionists and secretaries are constantly besieged by people slouching into their offices saying, “You ain’t hiring, are ya? Will you sign my card?” They’re well aware that these people don’t really want a job; they just want a signature so they can draw their week’s unemployment check.
It irritates receptionists and secretaries, and just pisses off their HR bosses! Don’t forget, that company is also paying Unemployment Insurance premiums on its workers! So, when a neat, prepared applicant comes in with a smile and politely asks the receptionist for an application, they’ve already made some brownie points. By the way, a surprising number of bosses will ask their secretaries or receptionists for their impressions, too. Be polite and friendly!
Be prepared. Make sure your personal folder is up to date, and stays that way. If you have a resume, make sure it stays current, too. If you need one at all, you probably need three or four "targeted" resumes. I guess it's time to talk about resumes, another of my pet peeves.
Resumes & Stuff
Every library and bookstore is full of more crap about resumes than about any other facet of job search. A resume is NOT the most important piece of paper in a job search. It is NOT a magic bullet that will automatically produce a job if only you do it right, it is NOT a one-or-two page biography, and it is NOT a substitute for a job application. For many people, a resume is not even necessary. Oh, it may be nice to have, but it’s not required. A resume is also NOT a ticket to an interview, and the way most of them are used makes them even more ineffective.
One thing the books have right: The object of a job search is to produce job interviews. The interview is where you either close the deal, or don’t. Most people instinctively know this. I constantly hear “If I can just get to talk to somebody, I know they’ll hire me.” That’s not true, but it’s comforting to someone in a seemingly endless job search. Moreover, there’s no doubt that an interview is the goal of all your efforts.
This is where the resume comes in. It’s NOT any of the things I mentioned above. A resume is an advertising flyer, and its purpose is to produce job interviews. Not jobs, just job interviews. The product it is advertising is you. Why is it important to see a resume this way? Because it can help you create a very effective resume; that is, a resume that will make an employer interested in taking a closer look at your application, or perhaps in talking to you.
Think about the last advertising leaflet, brochure, or flyer you’ve seen recently. Notice that:
NOTHING negative about the product appears on the handout. Everything on the handout is positive, and speaks about the product in glowing terms.
It doesn’t go into all the details about the product; it’s just a general summary of the product’s best selling points – and ONLY those selling points.
All the text is short and to the point. There are no explanations here, no jargon, and no wordy sales jobs. The brochure’s purpose is to get you to take a closer look at the product: to grab your attention in a few seconds.
The text is all concentrated on making one or two points. No big laundry list of virtues. This is why few companies use only one advertising handout.
If you keep those four principles in mind, you’ll be able to draft an effective resume – or several of them. Few of us have only one set of job skills. Most of us have worked in several occupations, or maybe several specialties within a single occupation. If you pay attention to these principles, you’ll soon conclude that one resume isn’t enough – and you’re right! Actually, I advocate putting together three or four general resume “templates” that you can customize for any specific position. This “targeting” is essential if you want to maximize your chances of generating an interview.
Do you even need one?
The truth is, many people don’t need resumes, despite the overwhelming emphasis put on them in most job search classes. A carpenter, for instance, would be wasting his time writing one; prospective employers will take his word for being a carpenter, and will try him out. Most entry-level jobs don’t require a resume. A factory worker doesn't need one, either. A machinist might need one, if he has special skills like CNC. Otherwise, he could probably either tell the shop supervisor what equipment he has used, have a list of the machines he's operated available in his personal folder, or just put it on his application.
The only exception I can think of is the job fair. At least a rudimentary resume is a necessity at a job fair. When you hear of an upcoming job fair, grab your personal folder, and head for the library or Workforce Center. Both will usually have computers available with resume software. Just use your sample application and the hints below to whip out a resume in less than an hour.
The main reason for the heavy emphasis on resumes today is the proliferation of “blind” job listings. Newspaper ads with “blind” P.O. Box addresses have been around for years, and with the rise of the Internet, applying for jobs without ever seeing anyone in the company has become common. However, personal contact is still the most effective job search technique!
Resume Nuts and Bolts
There are several “classical” formats for resumes; functional, chronological, and a combination of both. In addition, there are a number of less common formats that various people swear by (and some swear AT!) In my experience, the best move is to pick up some resume software and use it. I do not recommend using one of the resume templates in Word, WordPerfect, or any other word processor. They're not flexible enough, and a lot of the templates are sufficiently "cutesy" to turn off an HR manager. Get a dedicated resume program. If money is a problem, check out one of the shareware sites, or check with your local public library or “Workforce Center.” Most now have public-use computers with resume software on them.
I find the most flexible format to be a “combination” format. Most resume “experts” will agree that the average resume is glanced at, not read. Estimates are that you have 7-10 seconds to grab the reader’s attention and get him to read over the rest of the resume instead of just putting it aside and grabbing the next one on the stack.
The combination format is less rigid, and lets you lead off with an “accomplishments” section, where you can toot your horn. Go online and you can find tons of lists of “action verbs”; these are the words that emphasize and personalize your accomplishments. Use them! This is your brag list. It’s no time to be modest or shy. You want a bulleted list of four to six accomplishments. Do not just list your previous job duties. You want to emphasize (or even overemphasize) your contributions to your previous companies’ success.
What about a “goal” or “objective”? You’ll get mixed signals on whether to include a goal. I recommend you skip it. Employers are well aware that these are usually just meaningless generalities. They use up an unnecessary part of that critical 7-10 seconds, and get in the way of moving their eyes to the all-important “Accomplishments.” Those are what you want him to see! If you insist, the goal goes above the “Accomplishments.”
The next section should probably be “Work History.” You want three to five employers listed here, if possible. A few notes: Don’t list any job that lasted less than six months unless they’re all you have. Don’t list any job that doesn’t relate to the job you’re applying for, unless it’s your last one, or unless leaving it off would leave a big hole in your timeline. And don’t list any jobs that are more than ten years old. You should list the employer’s name, city and state, your job title, and the years only that you worked there. (2007–2008, not October 11, 2007–January 5, 2008). You need to make certain that you have all the complete information available in your “personal folder,” including complete addresses and phone numbers, but don’t put it all on the resume.
If you’re a high school graduate or have college or vocational training, the next section should be “Education.” Surprise! Many employers now are more impressed by a GED than by a high school diploma. You have to pass a test to get a GED, but they have learned that many people with a diploma can’t read and write well. If you’re degreed, you’re probably better off to just list it as a BS or BA unless it’s a business degree or one related to the job you're applying for. Do not forget short-term vocational training or classes, especially if they relate to the job you’re after. If you’re applying for a warehouse position, you definitely want those forklift and pallet jack certifications shown! Moreover, the certifications themselves should be in your personal folder.
The last area on your resume should be “References.” I recommend that you simply put, “available upon request,” but you should definitely have several references available. Hopefully, your personal folder contains several copies of pre-printed lists of references, as well as copies of any letters you were able to get.
One last note: try to keep your resume to one page. You can go to two if necessary, but if you can keep it to one, you’re much better off!
This is just a quick summary, of course. You can find TONS of resume information and misinformation online. Start with job search sites like Monster.com and go from there.
Now, the stuff that REALLY matters!
Sorry for the rant, but the overemphasis on resumes nowadays irritates me. I mentioned that the resume was NOT the most important paper in a job search. Okay, so what IS? The job application! It’s also the most overlooked. Most people seem to assume that if they have a resume, the application is just something they have to fill out to get to “talk to somebody.” WRONG! Consider the job application from the employer’s perspective:
It’s his first opportunity to judge your reading and writing skills. That’s why you want to make sure there are no misspellings, etc.
Many employers want to look over the application before they talk to you. This means the application is their actual first impression. NEATNESS COUNTS! No scratched-out corrections. If you screw up, ask for another form.
It’s his opportunity to see how well you follow instructions. See that small print at the top where it says “Please Print” and “Use blue or black ink”? Well, your scrawled longhand in pencil tells him you don’t follow instructions. You’ve already lost the job before he even sees you!
It’s his legal cover. Any information you put on an application is a legal statement, and can be used in court. More importantly, you can be fired for lying on your application. That’s why you usually have to sign it.
Finally, of course, it’s where he gets detailed information about you. It will generate some of the questions he’ll ask during the interview. After you’ve left, it’s what he’ll use to make the final decision to hire or not.
Still think the application isn’t important? This is where your personal folder is gold. You have all the details you need to complete the application quickly and easily. Moreover, while you fill it out, using your personal folder makes you look organized and businesslike – and don’t think the employer won’t notice! So, a few hints:
Don’t leave any blank spaces. If an item doesn’t apply to you, write in “N/A.” Otherwise, make sure that every space is completed. This includes the mailing addresses and phone numbers of previous employers.
Being out of work for a year, or even most of a year, becomes its own problem in a job search. Prospective employers find themselves wondering if there’s something wrong with you that they’re not seeing, or whether you’re one of those who ran their unemployment insurance out before even starting your job search, and will do the same thing to them.
There are a couple of effective ways to combat this. First, what have you been doing? Do you help out at your church on Sundays? Do any type of volunteer work? Do you help a self-employed friend out when he needs some extra help? Show this kind of thing as work experience on your application form. Under “salary,” just put “volunteer.” The idea is to try to fill as much of that time gap as possible. Obviously, there are limits. If you fill all the work experience spaces on the application with this kind of stuff, you leave no space for your actual work history (don’t be afraid of attached sheets, though. I’ll talk about this later).
Probably the best way to deal with this problem is to get some training or education. Listing “so-and-so Junior College” and “Student” in a work experience space is a very effective way to deal with this problem.
If you were fired from a job, don’t try to lie about it. Show it on your application, and make sure you make a point of bringing it up in the interview. More later.
Some of the biggest worries are the blocks labeled “salary” under your work history, and "salary desired." The problem is that pay is a very touchy subject. Many people worry that putting too high an amount will discourage an employer who cannot afford to pay at that level, and too low an amount might discourage an employer from offering a wage he might otherwise pay. Some sources suggest writing in “Will discuss at Interview,” or simply, “Will discuss.” Others suggest nudging your figures up or down a bit depending upon the size of the company to which you apply. It all comes down to your own judgment, and I’m afraid I can’t give you a hard and fast rule.
However, MAKE SURE YOU THINK ABOUT IT IN ADVANCE! KNOW what you’re going to put in those blocks.
Speaking of work history verifications: Don't be afraid of what previous employers might say! Nowadays employers are terrified of lawsuits. Responses to work history verifications are usually limited to dates of employment and possibly job title and reason for leaving (quit, fired, etc). Few will provide any other information. Keep this in mind.
Finally, attached sheets are your friends! Your personal folder should contain at least a few pieces of lined notebook paper, and maybe even a few pre-prepared attached sheets. You had to leave a lot of good stuff off your resume, but there are no such limits on applications. You can make sure your application shows EVERYTHING you want that employer to know. You may not have had time to bring up something during the interview, or the interviewer may not remember something you said during the interview, but if you attach sheets, every time he reviews your application, he’s going to have his memory jogged. If you notice there’s not going to be enough room on the application for what you want to say, or to show a job or two that you really want to emphasize, just write in “see attached sheet.” After you’ve finished your application, you can start on the attached sheets.
Finally! The Interview!
Ah, yes. The Holy Grail! Finally, you get to talk to someone! Like everything else in a job search, though, you need to prepare in advance.
Practice, practice, practice
Yeah, really! This is a commonly overlooked but very important job search technique. If you can, get a friend to work with you by pretending to be an employer and do mock interviews. There are job clubs around where the members keep interviewing each other until they’re comfortable in the interview. Ask about them at your local Employment Office. Google “Job Interview questions” and you’ll get thousands of results. However, make sure that you practice dealing with the “hard” questions. These include salary issues and reasons for leaving previous jobs, among others.
I recommend thinking about these issues in advance, and perhaps even coming up with short, two-or-three sentence “scripts” to deal with them. For instance, “You’ll notice I was fired from the XYZ Company. I had some personal problems while I was there, and I’m afraid it affected my job performance. But the problems are resolved now, and would not be an issue here.” Hint: NEVER blame anyone at your previous company, and NEVER mention the phrase, “personality clash.” But ALWAYS be sure to indicate that any issues have been dealt with, and won’t reoccur.
More nuts & Bolts
If you have an appointment, always be between 5 and 15 minutes early, no more and no less. If you get there too early, you’ll be announced while the interviewer is in the middle of something else, and you’ll be an irritant. But if you show up at the last minute or late, the interviewer is likely to wonder whether you’ll show up for work on time. And no, there are no good excuses. If you’re concerned about traffic, leave home early. You can always sit in the parking lot and review your interview notes or application crib sheets while waiting for the magic 15-minute mark.
SHUT OFF YOUR CEL PHONE! No, don’t just set it to “vibrate.” Shut it off. You’ll survive not knowing what Margie had for lunch until after the interview!
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