January 29, 2006
Mailing Out Resumes is Dead
Trying to get a job by mass mailing resumes is like performing brain surgery with a wrench and some pliers. It might work but there’s a good chance you could make the entire situation worse. For every successful job campaign that involves a bulk mailing, there are 10 horror stories.
Unfortunately, mass resume mailing is usually the first thing people think of when it comes to a job search. In my mind, this is a “pull the goalie” strategy. Here are some ideas that are more effective and less risky:
Contact College Alumni. Contact your local college alumni coordinator and ask for a list of graduates in your area. Look for familiar names and call them. Reintroduce yourself. Set aside some time to catch up. Use this meeting as an opportunity to ask if they know of any positions that might be a good fit for you.
Another successful tactic is to “cold call” alumni in companies where you desire to work. Ask for an informational interview. This could lead to a valuable referral.
Volunteer in a couple of charitable organizations that have a high-profile. Assume as much responsibility as possible in these roles. This will give you positive exposure to the members of the organization. This is more of a long-term strategy but a rewarding and effective one.
Contact former colleagues who have moved on. Former coworkers who have left your organization will have some awareness of your talent. Contact them about potential openings in your industry or even in their company.
Make certain the industry recruiters know you and know that you are looking. Do your best to schedule meetings with them and not just send a resume. Routinely refer friends and colleagues to recruiters for searches (not just for employment) this helps build trust.
As I stated, most of these strategies are long-term. This is why it pays to implement some of them when you have the first inkling that you may be unhappy.
Filed under: Career Commonsense
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[…] Resumes are out as a way to market yourself in the career development process. You need to demonstrate your ability to create value and you need to do it in a “big” way. This is exactally what Steve Rubel has done. He recently announced that he was changing jobs and moving into a role where he can shape the future of social media and public relations. […]
Pingback by Career Intensity Blog - David V. Lorenzo — February 18, 2006 @ 13:06
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