A few weeks pass and we see that we have been pursuing leads willy-nilly and often can't quite remember where we applied and the details of each position.
Creating a central organizer for our activities can help assure that we have a clear understanding of where we've been and what we've done, and provides a private resource chart for on-going contacts and re-contacts.
Start with a thick, 2 or 3 inch, 3 ring binder available at any drugstore. Get a stack of pre-punched paper and several thick paper pockets to put in each section. Here are some suggestions on how to set it up - if something a little different works for you, make whatever changes you'd like.
1. The first section will contain your resume, your personal snapshot cheat sheet (personal qualities demanded by employers which you possess, the general and specific job skills in your repertoire) and your weekly job search schedule. If you have more than one resume, number each one so you can keep track of which version you use with each potential employer.
2. This part consists of job leads from classifieds, postings, website job applications completed, job fair brochures and related information. Hole-punch complete page size documents. For small ads, tape the cut out slips onto a blank sheet and leave plenty of room around each ad to make notes - when you applied, how you applied, and when follow up is needed. If you obtain business cards from in-person applications or job fairs (where you should be able to collect a lot of them), slip them into the pocket pages and write any pertinent information on the back of each card -where you obtained it, any special details about the person, if follow up might be worthwhile and when.
3. This section is for resumes submitted. File a copy of all cover letters submitted and, if applicable, note the number of the resume you attached. Make notes of any responses received or follow up telephone numbers. You may also include here the names and details of any agencies where you registered or head hunters you may have called.
4. This is a record of all interviews completed. Include notes of where and when and any pertinent details regarding how well it went, company characteristics and when follow up would be appropriate. Keep the business cards of interviewers in your pocket page with notes on the back specific to that interviewer (very important if you are called back for a second meeting).
5. 6. 7. and 8. Networking -- the core of your job search. We need four sections for our sizzling contacts (direct connections with family members, friends, acquaintances, and business associates), warm contacts (personal referrals made by our sizzling list), tepid contacts (referrals through others but one or two steps removed from people we personally know) and cold contacts (employers we have contacted from out the blue to see if any unadvertised openings exist). Use these sections to record who you contact and when, the responses received, and telephone numbers for follow up.
9. Keep a separate section for lessons learned. Whenever you identify a technique that worked well for you, make note of the details. When you debrief yourself after an interview, make notations regarding what went well and any weaknesses or problem areas you need to work on. If you believe that you made mistakes, write out the details and figure out how to avoid repeating them.
10. Jobs that didn't fit. You may tend to think of this as your "rejections" pile but always remember that not getting a job you want is not a personal rejection of you but merely reflects the fact that someone else was a better fit. Keep all "Thanks, but no thanks" letters here with any notes you may have regarding the details. Store those ubiquitous postcards noting that your resume was received and will be considered, in your pocket page. File a copy of e-mails received acknowledging receipt of online applications.
If you find such an organizer helpful, you can continue the same technique when you start a new job and materials are coming fast and furiously. Then use one for your on-going networking to keep your contact list warm and secure by continuing to acknowledge their help and to schedule an occasional hello and update.
Wrong.
References can sabotage even the most sophisticated, well-executed job search. Sometimes you can lose an opportunity when your reference thinks he's helping you out 100%.
Here are 5 ways to make your references work for you, not against you.
(1)Skip the 'To Whom It May Concern' letters.
Clients often tell me their well-meaning bosses offered to write a 'To Whom It May Concern' letter on your behalf. These letters used to be common 20 or 30 years ago.
Today, corporate employers rarely pay attention to these letters. In fact, often hiring managers will be skeptical about any written correspondence.
Let's face it: employers tend to be conscious of lawsuits. They prefer phone calls that are not recorded. When they need a letter, they supply their own forms and they prefer letters sent directly to them.
You will find exceptions in some industries. For example, university professors and administrators typically submit three letters of reference with each application. Often these references will be mailed directly to the hiring department.
(2) Research the way your present boss answers a request: "Can you supply a reference for John?"
Ask fellow employees about their experiences. You might even get a friend to call on your behalf or hire a reference checking service. Expect surprises.
Some well-meaning managers avoid giving anyone a glowing recommendation. 'Nobody is that great,' they say. 'I want to be honest.'
But of course everybody else exaggerates and your reference's well-intended honesty will place you at a disadvantage.
Other references are just clueless. My colleague 'Nick' genuinely wanted me to get a great opportunity when he wrote a letter for me. But he added a line suggesting I might be 'somewhat eccentric.' I was applying for administrative positions in universities, which tend to be fairly conservative.
I had no idea what was going on and wondered why I wasn't getting more invitations to interview. One day an interview committee member asked me, 'What on earth does he mean?'
'We are friends,' I said, truthfully, and reached for the phone.
Nick was completely baffled ('I meant it as a compliment') but he agreed to revise his letters so I would sound like the well qualified, experienced, and highly professional candidate I was.
(2) Before supplying names, get permission (and be sure they are still available).
You come to the moment of truth in your job search. Your future boss says, 'I am impressed with what I've seen. May I call a few references?'
To prepare for this moment, get permission to give out names. And take the extra step: Find out what happens next.
Your boss may be required to refer all calls to Human Resources. Or she may be moving to a new career and you are part of the past she wants to forget.
When I taught at a university, students often asked if they could list me as a reference for jobs and graduate programs. But sometimes I would get a surprise request from someone I barely remembered, creating awkward moments for all of us.
After I left the university, I was not always available to serve as a reference. While traveling or moving, I couldn't respond to requests, even when I wanted to. If I'd known my name would be brought up as a reference, I would have warned the students and encouraged them to find alternatives.
(3) Watch for red flags in the hiring process.
If your job prospects get derailed mysteriously, over and over again, consider hiring a professional service to check your references. The service will handle your request professionally and (if you've chosen wisely) ethically. They'll call to say, "I'm checking references on Tim Toole."
A quality service will not pretend to be an employer. They don't have to. You'd be amazed how managers will respond to a simple request for a reference.
One reference-checking consultant told me, "The manager who answered the phone said, 'Just a minute.' Then, without covering the mouthpiece, he yelled, 'What did the lawyers tell us to say about Tim?'"
And that's how one job seeker solved the mystery of Who Killed Tim's Career Change.
(4) Remember: the world looks different on the other side of the desk.
By the time you've gained some seniority in your field, you're probably familiar with standard hiring processes. But when you need to change careers, you may be surprised to discover some recent changes, as well as some unspoken rules.
Your industry may be dominated by a club of insiders. You may never be asked for references: your future boss just calls someone he knows until he reaches a friend of a friend.
Or your field may be very structured, with all references checked minutely by a human resources department, even if you're quite senior.
It's important to understand common practice because any deviation should be viewed as a red flag. You may not turn a job down but you need to dig deeper before accepting a position in a company that comes across as "different."
(5) Be proactive.
Let's face it: writing reference letters adds hassle to somebody's day, especially when your reference is not familiar with your target market. If appropriate, offer to follow up or draft a list of key points to emphasize in the letter.
Take charge of your references and manage the process. Nobody else will care more than you do.
Both Virginia Bola & Cathy Goodwin are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Virginia Bola has sinced written about articles on various topics from Employment, Lose Weight and Interview Questions. A Licensed Psychologist and Rehabilitation Counselor, Dr. Bola developed for clients and has served as a recognize. Virginia Bola's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.
Cathy Goodwin has sinced written about articles on various topics from Debt Consolidation, Copywriting and Career Change. Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is the go-to player for changing careers, moving on or up, or facing a tough decision. She's the only career consultant with a double specialty: career and relocation. Website:. Cathy Goodwin's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.