TheJobBored

Job Search Hack – Double Back On Your Old Job Applications

Brian — Wed, 12 May 2010 22:30:43 +0000

Unemployment seems stuck at 10% and it’s not getting better very quickly.

One unique feature about this recession seems to be that if you do lose your job, it could take you a long time to find another one. Every day there are more headlines about the long term unemployed and how tough it is out there if you’ve been laid off.

Almost half of those on unemployment have been collecting for over six months or more. As the BLS wrote in its report on April job figures:
The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) continued to trend up over the month, reaching 6.7 million. In April, 45.9 percent of unemployed persons had been jobless for 27 weeks or more.

We’ve seen the same thing at ResumeWriters.com. We have clients that are coming to us as a last resort because they’ve been job searching for a solid year and have gotten nowhere.

What do you do if you’re one of the long-term unemployed?

One of my favorite job search tips that I often share with my clients is a simple one.

I’ve told you before that your job search should be organized. Hopefully that includes keeping records (a calendar, diary or journal) of the various places you’ve applied to. It’s important to keep track of who you’ve sent resumes to, when, what the response was, when you interviewed, and what the result might have been. This level of organization is key to an organized, strategic job search.

So, if you find yourself months into a job search and feel like you’re hitting a wall, try something simple:

Cycle back through your early applications!

After all, if it’s been several months since you made contact, things might have changed in the intervening time period. New positions might be open. New people might be in charge with new agendas.

This works even if your application was rejected. Doubling back and expressing interest again is a great way to show your commitment and strong desire to work with that company.

And if you interviewed with the organization (but didn’t get the job) even better! Hopefully they’ll remember you. That might even put your foot in the door a bit because you’ve already been through their hiring process once, so the decision making might be smoother.

So if you’ve got a list of companies you’ve applied to from several months ago, try the following:

Send emails, drop post cards, pick up the phone and touch base.
Remind the contact that you’ve applied in the past, and even though a connection wasn’t made, stress that you really respect their organization and are so motivated to work with them that you thought you’d give it another go.
Keep organized and mention the date of your first application. Mention the position you applied for originally.
Inquire about that position. But if it’s been filled, don’t skip a beat: ask if anything else has opened up that you might be a good fit for.
Remind them you’re available and even suggest you’ll be in contact again after a period of time.
If you’ve already interviewed with the person once, thank them for their time and suggest that you felt the first interview was so constructive it inspired you to call again.
If you already interviewed with the organization, but with someone else in the company, don’t be afraid to mention that you’ve been interviewed before. It will tell this new contact that you know what to expect and have a bit more knowledge of their organization than some Jane Doe off the street.
Finally, record this contact in you notes so that if you do have to cycle back again, you can make sure to wait an appropriate period of time.

Job search is not a one and done thing. Just because you weren’t successful the first time doesn’t mean you can’t double back and check the same waters a second, or even a third time!

The iPad Job Search

Brian — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 22:25:51 +0000

I will be one of the geeks on line at the Apple Store, picking up my pre-ordered iPad early Saturday morning.

Part of this is my Apple fanboy-ness and part of it is my desire to remain ahead of the curve.

A lot of job search has moved mobile. So many apps are now out there for mobile job search that it has become a major source of job search traffic and also a major tool in the modern job search.

I just perused the list of iPad launching apps and to the best of my knowledge, there are no job search apps on there yet. What I’d like to do is have us all keep our eyes out for when the first one launches.

Will it be Careerbuilder, an early and heavy user of the iPhone app ecosystem? Will someone make a mashup app for craigslist?

Or will it be more interesting?

Just as the mobile web has given us a new way to job search, will the iPad bring us something we can’t imagine yet? Will the iPad become something (more interestingly for me, certainly because I own a resume writing business) that is a presentation device? Will it be something we bring along to interviews and job fairs? Will the iPad become the modern brief case? Will this be the way we show off our resumes or portfolios?

I don’t know the answers yet, but I want to make sure we’re all there when we find out.

So, I’ll be getting my iPad on Saturday. And I’ll post some stuff here about it.

But help me out as well. If you see some job search oriented iPad apps pop up, please, let me know. If someone starts using the iPad for job search in new and interesting ways, please let me know.

I’ll share it here, and we can all dissect and evaluate it. Is it the future? We’ll decide together.

What Font Size Should I Use For My Resume?

Brian — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:42:15 +0000

Previously, I discussed what fonts are generally acceptable to use for your resume.

But what about font size? What are the font sizes you should use for your resume?

Pretty simple: keep it between 10pt. and 12pt. font. 13pt. maybe. But nothing bigger than that.

If you go smaller than 10pt. it’s probably too small to read comfortably. If you go bigger than 13pt., you’re looking cartoonish, and worse, it might look like you’re trying to make up for not having much of a career history to put on a resume. In other words, if you have crazy big font sizes, that might say to the reader: this guy has so little experience he can’t even fill out one page.

Really, your sweet spot is the 10pt. to 12pt range. Don’t be afraid to try 11pt. if it works! You really just want to adjust the font size to fit the pages as fully as possible. If 10pt. gives you 3/4th of a page of text but 12pt. fills the page, then go with 12pt.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

By 10 – 12pt., the text I’m talking about is the body of your resume. But, and this is important:

DON’T USE ONE FONT SIZE FOR YOUR ENTIRE RESUME.

We’re not in the age of typewriters, people. You should use different font sizes for section titles like “Education” “Career History” “Profile” and things like that. And your name at least should be big and bolded at the top.

Off the top of my head, I’d suggest something like this:

12pt. for the body of your resume

14pt. for the section headers

16pt. for your name at the top of every page

That’s not written in stone. It’s just a thumb guide for a strategy you could take. But play around and try different sizes to see what looks good to you.

And as always, remember that professional resume help is out there.

Getting Fired? Laid Off? What About Your 401 K?

Brian — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:23:51 +0000

In the past, I’ve written about what you should do first if you get fired or laid off.

Over the weekend, over at the WiseBread blog, I saw a new strategy that had never occurred to me before.

Essentially, it boils down to remembering to ask the HR folks if they’ll give you the unvested portion of your 401 (k).

A lot of companies have 401 (k) matching plans. It’s basically free money: they contribute x dollars to match every y dollars you contribute. The catch is, you have to stay with the company long enough for that to “vest.” If you leave too soon, they don’t have to make good on that money.

But if they fire you before the vesting can happen… well, that’s not your fault!

But a lot of employers are willing to give you the unvested portion of your 401(k) account if/when you’re being let go.

Especially if it’s not performance related and they just need to downsize. It’s not that big of a deal to them and in an effort to make these kinds of moves as painless as possible, there is a good shot you’ll get this money.

The worst thing that can happen? They say no.

Hmmm. I don’t know. If they’re in the saving money downsize mode, I’m not so sure they’ll be so sanguine about handing over the money.
But then again, this is one of those I suppose it can’t hurt to ask situations. I mean, they are going to give you (hopefully) some sort of severance package. So why shouldn’t the “free money” be a part of it?

Most of us, when we’re in the frenzied moment of being handed a pink slip, don’t tend to think clearly. So, make a mental note now. If you’re ever facing the proverbial firing squad, don’t forget to ask if you can take your “free money” with you.

It’s better than leaving money on the table.

And as always, if you find yourself suddenly laid off, it might be time to hire professional help.

Multiple Job Offers – Choosing Between Them

Brian — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 01:00:01 +0000

This is from an Ask Brian Question.

Send in your own Ask Brian Question here.

My name is XXXX, and Im 24 years old. Ever since last year i have been applying for different jobs in the field of fashion, I used to work and still do as a Fashion Stylist, which means I do a lot of shoots for tv and print ads etc. I finished my diploma course in Fashion Design last year and i thought i should leave the world of fashion styling behind because it was very difficult to find shoots on your own if you did not know the right people. But i found some young entrepreneurs like me and although work is slow I do have faith it will happen and also i have been very interested in Fashion design which goes hand in hand with styling. ok so here is my question,

A month back I had gone for an interview for the position of Junior Merchandiser, this has nothing to do with designing or creativity, it just a “cut-copy-paste” kind of job. I was very interested because i was desperate to find something to do. anything. but then i started my own label in the desperation and my clothes actually got a decent response. i.e from my friends i havent yet gone out into the market. so should i take a 9 to 7 job, which will barely pay my bills, cuz what i will make ina month is how much i make on a shoot in one day, but this job is now and i have just started networking, or should i have faith in myself and continue with fashion design and styling. please help. very confused.

Short answer for your specific situation:

You say you’ve gotten a response from your friends (great) but nothing yet from the market. Well, give it a go in the market. If you get a response there, then it might be worth going for your dream.

I always think you should go for your dream when you’re young, cause you have plenty of time later to fix mistakes and make up for lost time in the “real world” of 9 to 7 jobs.

But I also think: what is stopping you from doing both? Why not take this barely-pays-your-bills job now, and work on your dream around the edges? TONS of people take lesser jobs as they work on their dreams. Your lesser job is at least in the same field! You’re not, for example, waiting tables while you wait to “make it” on Broadway.

I have much more on this topic of choosing between job offers here.

And if you need a Fashion Industry resume, you know where to go.

Can Facebook Harm Your Job Search?

Brian — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:35:11 +0000

For years now, as social media has proliferated, we’ve been hearing more and more about how what you do online can be viewed and viewed negatively by your boss… or by a prospective boss.

But what about Facebook? After all, can’t you control who sees what on Facebook?

Well, if you’re doing a job search, you’d certainly better hope so.

According to new research by Microsoft, if HR people can check your Facebook page, then they probably will. And what they find there can have an impact on your chances of getting hired. In other words, Facebook can have an impact on your job search.

(via GigaOM)

“…the top online factors for rejecting a job applicant are unsuitable photos/videos, concerns about a candidate’s lifestyle and inappropriate comments written by the candidate.
(…)
The survey also found that not only are HR staffers search for information about job applicants online, most of their companies have made online screening a formal requirement of the hiring process. Recruiters and HR professionals also said that they believe the use of online-reputation information will significantly increase over the next five years. And while the survey found that most consumers manage their reputation at least to some extent, a significant percentage (between 30 and 35 percent depending on nationality) “don’t feel their online reputation affects either their personal or professional life [and] consequently, they are not taking steps to manage their reputations.”

So, obviously, the key takeaway here is that you should be aware of your privacy controls, and definitely make use of them. This article from last week’s New York Times is invaluable: The 3 Facebook Setting Every User Should Check Now.

Because, the other point to keep in mind is, your online profile can actually help your job search in a lot of ways. As the article says:

“Our research shows that managing your online reputation can be a significant benefit. Everyone should think critically about the image they’re digitally portraying,” Peter Cullen, Microsoft’s chief privacy strategist, said in a statement.

If you’re not using social media as a part of your job search, then you’re not taking advantage of all the modern tools available.

Just make sure those tools are helping you, and not hurting.

And, as I always say at the end, don’t forget the invaluable job search tool of resume writing.

Resume Paper – What Paper Should I Print My Resume On?

Brian — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:44:33 +0000

What is the best paper to use when printing up your resume to present in an interview?

What is the best paper to use when mailing a resume as part of a job application?

I guess this goes along with my post concerning the best font to use for your resume.

I actually have a very specific answer to this question.

For more than a decade now, we’ve been printing hard copies of people’s resumes as an add-on feature to our resume writing service.

And in all that time, we’ve used the same paper.

I’ll tell you all about it, but first, let me make clear: I’m not getting paid or receiving any other consideration for the endorsement I’m about to make.

Having said that, in the resume writing industry, Southworth is the only paper brand most of us use. You can find a wide range of Southworth paper products at most of the “big box” office supply retailers like Staples or Office Depot.

The specific type of paper I recommend using is Southworth Business Paper, 32lb, 100% Cotton, 8 1/2″x11″ and WHITE.

Here’s why:

It’s simply the best paper. It’s thick and hearty enough to feel and look professional, but it’s still easily used in most printers. The paper is clear and the texture makes the text legible.
24lb paper is “ok” in my opinion, but a little on the light side. It feels too much like high quality laser printer paper. I prefer something that feels higher class. And 32lb does that.
Southworth sells paper that they specifically brand as “resume paper” but I prefer the business paper just because of the look and feel. You’ll do fine with the resume paper, but aim for 32 lb if you can.
I don’t like the linen paper. It’s too grainy and a bit to “showy” for me. The cotton paper has the heft and the texture without the visible grain.
I always and only recommend going with white paper. The ivory is too much like a college diploma, and to me that reads as a bit to formal.
At ResumeWriters.com, we buy paper by the boxful, but if you look around, or order online, you can get the paper I’m describing in smaller boxes of a few dozen sheets.
You WILL have to pay more, but you’re paying for quality.
If you’re paying for this sort of paper, you owe it to yourself to print your resume using a laser printer. Trust me, it will just look better.

What Does It Mean When They Say They’re Still Interviewing Candidates?

Brian — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:06:38 +0000

Here’s a quick Ask Brian question that has been sitting in my inbox since last week. It’s a short question, but I think I have a short and possibly unpleasant answer. Here goes:

A reader asks:

What does it mean, a week after my interview they say they are still interviewing candidates?

Brian sayz:

Unfortunately, it probably doesn’t mean much good for you.

Not to be too harsh here, but interviewing is like dating. When you’ve found the one, you kind of know it right away.

The long and short of it is, if they thought you were the one, they probably wouldn’t be looking at anyone else.

I can really only think one of two things is going on here:

Firstly, the most likely situation is that you did not meet their expectations for the position and they are continuing their search to find their ideal candidate. In that case, don’t worry about it. Chin up. Take what you learned from the interview process and move on.
The second and more unlikely situation is that they have been forced to space out the interviews due to the interviewer’s schedule and they are committed to interviewing all potential candidates before making a solid decision. But this is probably only likely if you’re interviewing for a major executive and management position.

The time period following an interview can be a nerve wrecking experience as you wait for an answer. In an aggressive and competitive job hunting market-such as the one that we are in right now-employers that are hiring basically have the upper hand.

I know. You feel like you’re at their mercy, and their silence only serves to make things worse. The best you can do is be polite (see, How Long Should I Wait To Hear Back) and move on to the next application.

Also, you may want to read my article on reading the tea leaves and knowing if a job interview went well.

And as always, if you need resume writing help, you know where to go!

Retiree Job Search Tips – Job Tips For Over-65 Job Seekers

Brian — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:22:32 +0000

Interesting article in the New York Times regarding retiree job seekers and the special job search problems facing retirees and those over the age of 65.

…In fact, there are more Americans 65 and older in the job market today than at any time in history, 6.6 million, compared with 4.1 million in 2001.

Less well known, though, is that nearly half a million workers 65 and older want to work but cannot find a job — more than five times the level early this decade and this group’s highest unemployment level since the Great Depression.

(…)

The unemployment rate for older Americans is still much better than for others — 6.7 percent compared with 9.8 percent in the general population. But 6.7 percent is more than double the level of two years ago — and far higher than the minuscule 1.9 percent rate early this decade.

My main job search/interview tip from this article for retiree job seekers is as follows:

Older job seekers should try hard to maintain their professionalism. Even if the person interviewing you is young enough to be your grandson, you should still maintain the “yes sir/no sir” dynamic. You are the applicant and they are the decision maker. You might benefit by highlighting your years of experience and the vast knowledge you might bring to the position, but it’s wise not to come off as a know-it-all.

The job is not beneath you because of your age or experience. Neither is the person who might give you the job.

The Virtual Job Interview – Job Interviews Via Skype

Brian — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:20:10 +0000

An article in Time Magazine suggests that virtual job interviewing, via skype especially, is something jobseekers are seeing more and more of.

This makes tons of sense to me. For out-of-town interviewing, the money savings alone are astronomical. But also, think about how this is more convenient for interviewer and interviewee alike. Less pressure, less procedure… possibly a greater chance of getting down to brass tacks.

My tips for this sort of thing are pretty much along the lines of what the article suggests. You still want to dress up. You still want to be professional (send the crying babies and barking dogs far away). And try to take it just as seriously as a real interview. It might feel informal, but keep the proceedings as formal as you can to show you understand the situation.

But I’d also recommend YOU be the one to suggest this sort of interview. If you think they’re techy enough to go for it, it’s a win-win-win for you: You’re being proactive. You’re offering to save them money. You’re also showing that you’re tech savvy.

Are you the first person they’ve ever encountered who’s offered to do a virtual interview for them? That shows initiative.