Here's a case study that shows how one man, after a frustrating three-year search for work, suddenly got an interview for his "dream job," along with calls from other employers.
If you can write English and talk on the phone, you can do this, too.
Challenge: Jim from New Jersey was laid off from his job with a defense contractor in 2001. He writes: "I have been actively seeking to advance my career for over three and a half years. Although re-employed recently for 22 months, this job failed to use my best talents and resulted in yet another layoff."
Jim faced two main challenges:
- After searching so long for the right job, he had reached a point of desperation and was willing to take almost any position that came along.
- His resume was not generating calls from employers, and Jim had no real insights into how he could rewrite it.
Solution: In his search for a way to improve his resume, Jim looked at many web sites and articles. After selecting my ebook, Resume And Cover Letter Secrets Revealed, Jim writes: "I immediately went to work revising my resume according to your guidance."
My ebook can be boiled down to 4 basic points, which I've written about here before. For your resume to succeed, it must:
- Be clear about exactly what kind of job you want.
- Focus on how you've solved problems for employers before (to prove you should be hired to solve them again).
- Focus on the results you've produced before (because employers want results).
- Be easy to read, using everyday language that's neither stilted nor too casual.
In addition to writing a resume that gets noticed, you must network effectively.
Think of networking like this: if your mom were hiring, would you get an interview? Yes, of course. Why? The hiring manager -- your mother -- knows you, trusts you and wants you to succeed.
Now, envision your network as several hundred surrogate "mothers" who know you, trust you and want you to succeed. The more people like this that you know, the more job leads you'll get and the faster you'll be hired.
BUT ... since you have only one mother, how do you create enough goodwill in your network so that others want to assist you?
You do it by helping first and asking for help later. Example: never miss a chance to email a suggestion, tip, news item or employment lead to the people in your network. You'll deposit goodwill now that you can withdraw later, when you need assistance in your job search.
Finally, always look to expand your network by meeting new people in your industry.
That's what Jim did.
He made a contact at a company he wanted to work for. And last month, when they had an opening, he jumped on it.
Result: Jim writes: "The company advertised my 'dream job' on one of the big employment Web sites. Having contacted their VP of Human Resources within the last year, I was able to send my resume directly to him rather than through the usual Web site channel."
Two important points here:
- Jim improved his resume following my suggestions.
- He sidestepped other job seekers by sending his resume to someone he knew at the target company.
Jim continues: "Two days later, I followed up with a phone call as you had counseled, and I received a telephone interview shortly thereafter with two engineers in the company. They flew me to their location for on-site interviews and a tour two weeks ago."
That's not all. While waiting for a decision on his "dream job," Jim has sent his resume to other companies, resulting in two more telephone interviews.
Advice: For anyone who wants to jumpstart their job search, I suggest the following:
- If your resume is not making the phone ring with interview offers, rewrite it following the tips in this article.
- Always be networking, even if you're employed now. Your goal is to be able to contact a decision maker at the company you want to work for.
- Follow up after sending your resume. Never trust email or Web site response forms, even if you follow their instructions. Always email, call, fax or write until you are certain the employer got your resume.
Now, go out and make your own luck!