Twisted Job Search Advice

Job Search Advice

I am fascinated by the twisted job search advice I’m seeing.  There are so many articles offering advice as if what they are saying is absolute fact and everyone else is wrong.  I am a firm believer in “gray” – not everything is black and white.

Avoid Job Boards or Only Apply On-line

The reality is that there are some great job opportunities posted on job boards and there are also fake jobs posted by people with too much time on their hands.  Keep an eye on the lesser known boards as well as the big players.  Sometimes start-ups and smaller companies in interesting niche areas post on the smaller boards.  You never know where the next intriguing opportunity might appear. 

Sometimes applying on-line is the only way to get your resume in front of anyone.  Although many companies have computerized/automated the resume review process and if you don’t have the correct “key words” the computer will file your resume and it will never see the light of day.

While it may seem strange, there are still many companies who accept resumes by email and even some who will look at an actual paper resume.

Never go Through Human Resources

Yes, the Human Resources staff can be gate keepers.  Sometimes they make the decision that no one should see your resume.  It is their job to review resumes and only present the ones that have potential to be a good fit.

It is your job to make sure your resume presents your skills so that they can clearly see you are a potential candidate. 

I hear at least once a week from a potential candidate, “I can do that type of work, but I never got around to putting it on my resume.  You can just tell them I can do it, right?”  No, sorry, why would anyone believe you are a rocket scientist or a brain surgeon if there’s absolutely nothing on your resume to indicate you even know what those people do?  While that is extreme, it still applies to skills, experience, strengths, education. 

Networking is the Only Way to Get a Job

Networking can be very helpful, but it is not the only way in. I’ve seen job seekers research a company, find potential connections to current employees and then go to extremes to find a way to meet these people so they can network their way in. 

Imagine how it would feel if someone spent this much time and effort to get in touch with you and you did not know them.  Yes, networking means you know someone who knows the person you want to connect with.  Just don’t go crazy connecting to levels and layers of people to get where you are trying to go.

Informational Interviews

Personally, I believe informational interviews may have run their course.  It could still be useful to gain insight and actual information, which is what it was meant to do in the first place. Too often it is just a huge waste of someone’s time, thinly veiled guise to sell yourself to the person and get a ploy to get a job.  No one likes to feel taken advantage of, so unless you are truly just wanting to learn from this person and can control your sales pitch, I would avoid asking for an informational interview.

Job Search Advice

I try to provide advice that people can actually use. With few exceptions, I do not use words such as “always or never.”  My advice is to be cautious of those who make blanket statements.  I have seen exceptions for just about every piece of advice I’ve seen stating “never” or “always.”