In case you were wondering, the average
amount of time that a recruiter spends looking at a resume is 6.25
seconds. Human Resource Managers tend to spend a little longer,
maybe 10-12 seconds because they are looking for something special, a
skill that has been requested by a Department Head.
The conventional way to look for
employment when one is unemployed is through the classified postings
in the newspaper or at online websites. But, 80% of those jobs at
the Executive level and sometimes below have already been filled, the
company is simply posting to be EEOC compliant.
So, what does one do, given these
scenarios?
These days, it is not easy looking for
employment at least not like it was 20-30 years ago when you could
leave one place of employment and walk down the street to another
place and be hired on the spot.
My first suggestion to you is to start
looking for your new job, the day after you get your current new job
because that first day is spent filling out paperwork.
It is easier, much easier to find a new
job while you are working at your present job and these types of jobs
are discovered by talking with one's suppliers and customers on a
regular basis. But, never ask your questions when you are around
other people or even on the telephone as some companies record
employees phone calls.
With that said, do not look for
employment on your office computer because most IT Departments have
software that can identify keystocks. Even ipads and tablets will be
monitored if you connect to the company's wifi.
You can purchase a portable wifi
connection for about $25/month which is well worth the expense to
keep from being terminated prematurely.
A company can typically expand
operation through either horizontal integration or vertical
intetration. Horizontal integration is when one merges or acquires
another similar company. Vertical integration is when a company
acquires one of their suppliers or customers.
There are both written and unwritten
rules against poaching employees from horizontal companies but
nothing really exists between vertical companies which leaves the
door(s) wide open for employees to brouse.
Let me also suggest that you join
professional organizations and attend their monthly meetings with
regularity and sign up for committees and get involved there as well
as attend their national conventions.
When attending these meetings it is
imperative that you dress successful as well as act successful as
anything less than this because you want to feel comfortable (like
wearing jeans) will influence how others perceive you.
So, you have done all this but one day
you find that you have been downsized which is a huge blow to your
ego and self-esteem not to mention your pocketbook.
What do you do?
Over the course of my 45 year career, I
have been downsized 3 times so I know how one feels when that happens
and believe me, the first week is the hardest emotionally.
But then, it is time to get down to
business and looking for work should be treated just like you are
going to work.
Determine 3 people that you know and
make an appointment to see them. Have copies of your resume if they
ask but that is not the intent of this meeting.
Tell them that you are not asking them
for a job nor to help find you a job; all you want from them is to
give you the names of 3 people who would be in a position to point
you in the right direction.
After each of those 3 meetings send
them a hand written thank you letter within 24-72 hours of that
meeting.
After these meetings, you should be
armed with 9 people. Make appointments and do exactly the same thing
with them, making sure to send them hand written thank you cards as
well.
This second round will give you 27
meetings to arrange and the next round will give you 81 and that
round will give you 243 potential meetings to arrange. And, as you
no doubt have realized, doing all of this is going to take time.
Be sure to do research on the person
you are meeting with so you will have some guaranteed conversation
starters and all you want to know is who they know who is in a
position to point you in the right direction.
Along the way of this process, referred
to by Executive Placement Firms as NETWORKING, one of these people
will be so impressed with you that they will offer you a job where
sometimes no current job exists. When you talked a little about
yourself to help him determine which 3 people to select, it will dawn
on him/her that you are a perfect fit for that idea he/she has been
rolling around in the back of their mind.
The short of it is that you do not need
to hire an Executive Placement Firm when you are smart enough to do
this yourself.
Companies do not hire you because of
all the “A's” you made in college or the degree(s) you have
earned or the experience you have had; they hire you pure and simply
because they perceive that you can add value to the company and
secondly because they perceive you will be a good “fit” with the
rest of their employees.
It is just this simple.
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