Here are 10 good tips from Susan Ruhl, writing for Careerealism.com. A few are somewhat obvious, but there should be at least one key takeaway for everyone:
10. “Be Specific — Develop a list of specific target companies that you can identify to those with whom you are networking. For example, if you say, ‘I want to work in engineering,’ that doesn’t really get help.”
9. “Know Your Strengths — Knowing what you bring to the table and clearly articulating it sets you apart. Often, people are not clear on what they can do to specifically help a company.”
8. “Research Your Target Companies — If you are excited about the potential of working for the company and you have clearly done your research that will make you extremely appealing and different from the rest.”
7. “Develop A Resume That Stands Out From The Rest — What makes a great resume? Clearly defining what problems you will solve for the company and adjusting the resume based on the job available are two important factors.”
6. “Develop Marketing Material — What can you leave with a new contact that sets you apart from the other people they have talked with? A biographic doesn’t replace a resume but is rather a marketing piece that visually tells the story of your job history.”
5. “Don’t Be Afraid To Call The Hiring Manager — Be assertive. If you know who the hiring manager is, call him/her and briefly state that you have applied for the position.”
4. “Don’t Rely On Job Boards — Not that you cannot find a job utilizing a job board but statistics show that 90% of jobs are never posted and those that are posted are swamped with job seekers.”
3. “Create Your Brand Utilizing Social Media — Develop your brand as an industry expert. Post professional, relevant articles that are pertinent to the type of jobs in which you are interested.”
2. “Network — Your goal is to have someone hand the resume to the appropriate person and say, “I think we need to look at this person.”
1. “Follow Up –Networking and all the other steps are worthless without following up. Ask your contact how best he/she likes to be communicated with and how often. Respect that they have their own priorities but don’t give up if they don’t respond immediately.”
Click the image to read more from Ruhl.
