Effective Job Hunting, Procedures, Tools And Execution IV
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Section Four
Job Hunting Tools And Application
There are several ways to find a job. By using different job-hunting tools, you have the flexibility to easily move from your current endeavour to better opportunities. Try all methods, but spend more of your job search time on the method(s) most likely to lead to a job. The best method varies from person-to-person by level of experience and career field.
The Job search tools or methods include:
- Networking
- Internships
- Volunteering
- Referrals
- Personal Website/Blog
- Online job boards
- Employers Website
- Cold Calling/Contacting Employers Directly
- Social Networking Sites
- Employment Agencies
- Executive Recruiters/ Headhunters
- Job Fairs
Networking
Networking is not asking for a job. It is asking for information, advice and feedback as part of the job search that may ultimately lead to a position. It is regarded as the most productive job search activity, leading ultimately to 50-70% of all jobs.
Networking is frequently the only way to learn about “unpublished” jobs, those that are not advertised and may not even be created yet. When hunting for job, you should spend most of your time networking in order to land a job that is a good fit in the least amount of time.
It is worth emphasizing that many jobs are not published, or those posts are filled before they are advertised.
To network effectively, contact relatives, friends, schoolmates and professional contacts to let them know you are looking for a new job. Use any communication means at your disposal, including emails, phone calls and social media sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn.
Focused networking involves defining the type of job you are looking for and then using the people in your network to help you find openings and land interviews.
By expanding your professional network, you are opening yourself up to new career opportunities. You may find that when you have more professional connections, there are more people who can recommend you to a new position. Even using your professional network for career advice can help you become a more qualified candidate. Use your connections as a resource to further develop as a professional.
How To Get Your Network To Support Your Job Search:
- Meet/Contact your friends, their friends, family friends, members of groups you belong. Tell them the specific detail about the job you're looking for, [e.g., data analyst in a telecommunication company, etc.] and ask for information, request for introduction, or referrals.
- Meet/Contact your Boss: Tell your boss about your targets and request for information about cross functional opportunities within the company that you can fit in to or take up.
Case Study On Networking[Application Of Networking]:
Ikechukwu needed a company to join for his IT program, a mandatory internship training that was required for the award of the degree for his course of study. His specific interest was to join a civil engineering company that's based in Lagos.
After speaking with a couple of persons in the campus fellowship where he worships, a member of the fellowship connected him to someone in charge of recruiting interns for a civil engineering company that is based in Lagos.
The time this happened was April. the man told Ikechukwu that all the vacant positions for interns have been filled and that he should wait till July when another vacancy will open. By July, he was offered an internship role in that civil engineering company in Lagos. A year later, after graduating from the university, COVID-19 prevented him from proceeding for his national service immediately.
So he made contact again with his former boss in the company where he interned, went back to that company and claimed a post created for him. This happened because he built connection there and was so good during the time he worked as an IT intern. In addition, the company offered to let him to do his national service there and to retain him in a permanent position after NYSC.
Internships
If you are inexperienced, starting with an internship is a great way to build your resume, job leads and create professional connections. With some internship, you may have the opportunity to transition into a full-time role. If this is the case, make sure to put in your best effort through the course of your internship. Try to prove that you are the right person for a full-time job offer. You can do this by asking smart questions, offering to take on a new project and taking on more responsibilities as you get more comfortable with your work.
Volunteering
Volunteering at an organization is one way to increase your chances of getting a job there. This is especially true for nonprofits that may not currently have the funds to hire you right now. If they see you as a hard worker and someone who is integral to the organization, you may be more qualified for when a paying job does open up. Even if you can't get a job there, having volunteer experience looks good on a resume, expands your network and helps you learn more about roles you may want to pursue.
Referrals
Some companies use employee referrals to hire new staff. That's because they trust their own employees' opinions, and it can help streamline the hiring process. Although employee referrals aren't all that common, it may be worth asking a trusted friend if their company has any opportunities. If you both think you'd be a good fit for a position at their place of employment, they could recommend you. Along with helping a friend out, employees who give good referrals tend to get a nice finder's fee.
Personal Website/Blog
Creating a website can seriously increase chances of getting a dream job. Create a website demonstrating your ability to function in your desired position.
Here are examples:
Matthew Epstein
Matthew Epstein desperately wanted to work at Google, but he couldn’t get in. He
decided to set up a website targeted at Google. The website went viral,
resulting in Google getting in touch with him and many other organizations
trying to woo him to work with them. While Epstein didn’t get the job at
Google, he got so many options and decided to go with the one that appealed to
him most.
Leslie Samuel
Leslie Samuel was able to land his dream job as a lecturer thanks to a biology website he created.
Allison Hitz
After creating her website The Book Wheel, Allison Hitz was able to land her dream job. Despite having a Master’s degree, Hitz found out that employers were more interested in her website than in her Master’s degree.
Job boards
Employers Website
If you are looking for a Business Analyst job, you should list the companies you'd want to work for, and visit their website periodically to check the jobs available. Some companies now allow job seekers to create an account with them based on the job seekers career preference.
Some companies choose to keep their job postings on their website. It's worth doing an internet search of companies within your industry and begin to look at their websites. Prior to filling out your application, get to know about who they are, what they do and who their clients are. Knowing all of this information shows you're serious about wanting a job opportunity from them.
Cold Calling/Contacting Employers Directly
Instead of working through listings on job sites, contact the businesses you think you would like to work for and pitch yourself for a job. This technique gets you away from competing for listed jobs and puts you on a path of hunting for a job with a company you would like to work for. You can find contact information on corporate websites or by calling the company directly. Find out the name of the hiring manager or HR representative in charge of hiring. Mail or drop off your resume directly to this person, along with a cover letter pitching yourself as a good candidate for available jobs or jobs that will soon come open. Follow up with a phone call if you don't hear back in a couple of days. Be ready to provide specific examples of how you can benefit the company.
Although this method tends to be less effective, you could choose to reach out to a company directly even if they have no current job postings. You could either call directly or send an email inquiring about any possible positions they may have. As email continues to become a common form of communication, this tends to be the more appropriate option. In your email, share a little bit about yourself and why you are interested in their company. Attach an updated version of your resume and a link to your portfolio, if applicable.
Social Networking Sites
Nowadays, companies are using social networking sites to check prospective candidates to fill job vacancies. Social networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are immensely popular for this.
If you have a profile on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter, you can do these: Optimize your profile by updating it with all relevant information about yourself as a professional, by filling all relevant fields in your profile and by removing any unprofessional items, pictures, etc., in your profile.
Join Job groups on those social media to see new private job postings.
Employment Agencies
Many companies use staffing agencies to fill their vacant positions. That's why working with a recruiter or headhunter can be quite helpful for your job search. After you have an initial meeting with them, they connect you to jobs within your purview. Keep in mind that recruiters work on a commission, so make sure you are able to negotiate a fair wage and benefits plan before accepting a job offer.
Executive Recruiters/ Headhunters
Executive recruiters, also known as “headhunters,” can be an excellent source of job leads. They usually recruit for more senior, higher-salary positions. Recruiters work for themselves and are paid by the company doing the hiring. Contingency recruiters are inclined to fill mid-to senior-level positions. They will be one of several agencies working to fill a job requisition from an employer. They are typically paid 20 – 30% of the position’s annual salary and are only paid after they successfully fill a position. They are motivated to quickly find a candidate who closely matches the requirements of the job. Thus, they can be very attentive when they feel you are a potential candidate for a job, and less so when they do not see a match between you and the jobs they are recruiting for. Retained recruiters conduct exclusive searches for hiring companies and usually focus on senior-level positions. They function as an extension of the company’s team and are usually more motivated to find the ideal candidate. They are generally paid about a third of the position’s annual salary. Recruiters are generally not interested in career changers.
Recruiters sometimes have access to unpublished jobs and may represent the only source of candidates for particular jobs. They can be helpful in editing your resume for a particular opportunity, preparing you for interviews, debriefing with you after interviews, and negotiating compensation.
One good way to find an executive recruiter is by networking. Ask people in your field about their experience with specific recruiters and search firms. You may also use research tools to search for executive recruiters in your field. For example, the business journals in many cities publish an annual list of executive search companies. Be sure to interview recruiters before you agree to work with them. Ask things like how many people with your qualifications they placed in the last year. Or what industries they specialize in. Find out whether they are being paid on a contingency or retained basis. Stipulate that you want to approve each submission they make on your behalf. Ask them for references. Research many, and reduce the field to 3 – 5 to work with. It is appropriate to work with more than one as long as you inform them all about the arrangement. Finally, remember that this is your career. Don’t let a recruiter push you to take a job that is not a good fit for you.
Job Fairs
Job fairs can be a good source of job leads for recent graduates and those in “hot” fields. They are generally not helpful for job seekers with experience. Check with the sponsoring organization for a list of participating companies and the jobs open. Recognize that even if it does not lead to a job, a job fair can be a good place to practice networking and interviewing. While you should take copies of your resume to a job fair, it is unusual today for an employer to take a copy from you. In most instances you will be referred to the company website to apply online. Employers do this to make their hiring process efficient and to enable them to comply with government employment regulations.
To find a job fair, do a search on the internet. A good site to visit is the "Job and Career Fairs" page on job-hunt.com.
Prior to attending a job fair, research the employers that will be there. Learn about what kind of candidate they are looking for and what job openings they have. Bring a bunch of printed resumes and business cards to hand out. Be prepared to have a mini-interview with every recruiter you speak with. Afterward, follow up with an email.
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