Searching for Jobs Successfully

Many times I have been asked basic questions about how to have an efficient job search. People wonder about how aggressive to be after an interview and how soon is too soon to send a thank-you letter. What do I say to this? Do what it takes, while being polite and gracious.

If you feel confident you have the necessary qualifications and have well researched the firm, you can aggressively pursue further communication with a particular organization. Good organizations want good employees; hence they are willing to listen when approached in a courteous but direct way in most cases. There may be other ideas and various solutions, but they are only aware of some of them. As a result, it's up to you to demonstrate your insight and possible solutions to problems that the company might not even be aware of at this point in time.

Make planning and assessment your starting point. What are some skills and attributes you can offer? Do you actually know what your potential contributions may be? Fall back on research. Which organizations could you contribute to by solving problems or growing their business? Find out who the real decision makers of the firm are, those who would most appreciate your skills and drive. Some research should net you contact information on who to contact within the company, especially direct contact information for departments that are in need of help. Many individual departments would welcome the opportunity to discuss new ways to meet their needs that may not have been previously communicated with their recruiting departments.

You should be assertive but also be respectful. Keep letters short and direct. Be sure that any emails or phone messages are clear, concise, and to the point. Plan what you want to communicate and deliver the message.

It is important to remember that it isn't about you, and that you need to focus on them! People searching for a job usually rewrite their resumes, cover letters, and other documents to tailor them to their readers. They often list their goals with vague statements like "to join a successful company" or "to use my talents and skills." Many times, canned corporate phrases are used again and again on a resume. While they are logical goals, a decision-maker can become numb to general goals. Go beyond this logical stage of stating your strengths by doing an in-depth analysis of your goals and where they might fit with this employer. Don't stop there! You must convey the message that, by hiring you, the potential employer's needs will be met.

Don't forget that the employer's bottom line is at the core of hiring; they focus on hiring those they think they need. No matter what the position, humble file clerk to CEO, the employer's goal is to make money. Whether it be funding a non-profit organization or adding to the profitability of a business, every job is an important component. Are you able to efficiently add to the organization if your contribution is in service-provision? Can you perform the duties of your job with cost effectiveness? Will your contributions positively affect the bottom line?

The key to success is in presenting your strengths and possible contributions to your prospective employer in a clear, direct, but concise manner. Your message should be clear, well delivered, and outline the positive contributions to the project. Don't think about yourself; focus on them.