Three Keys To A Successful Job Search

Ask any marketing guru the secret to a successful product launch, and they will give you the three keys to success:

 (1) the quality of the advertising message, (2) the product's exposure to a targeted audience, and (3) the skill of its salespeople. If any one of those critical elements is missing, revenues will fall short of corporate goals.

Similarly, a successful job search requires the same three keys to success:

1. A clear marketing message (resume and cover letter)
2. Ample exposure to targeted employers
3. Polished interview skills to secure the job offer

Fall short on any of the three, and the result is an extended, lengthy and frustrated job search.

1. Clear Marketing Message

The first step to a successful job search is a resume that communicates a strong marketing message. Just like a print ad entices the reader toward purchase, your resume has one job: to entice employers to call you for an interview.

How does one transform a boring job history into a marketing message that results in interviews? Top resume writers utilize the following stratetgies:

* Focus on benefits rather than features.
* Use accomplishments to illustrate marketable skills.
* Appeal to management's buying motivations with examples of    bottom-line impacting results.

2. Ample Exposure to Targeted Employers

Once you've transformed your work history into a marketing message, you'll want to give it as much quality exposure as possible. Marketing professionals use various media to get their message out. New athletic shoes may be promoted through print ads, television commercials and online campaigns. Likewise, to get maximum exposure for your job-search marketing message, you'll want to use several strategies, both proactive and reactive.

One of the most common complaints I hear from job seekers is that they get no response from their resume. When I ask how they used their resume, it's usually 100% in response to posted job listings. Trying to secure an interview from a job posting is like trying to catch a fish in a pond that is ringed elbow-to-elbow with fishermen. To make matters worse, there's a sign posted at the pond that reads, "Due to budgetary cuts, the pond wasn't stocked this year." There are many more places to consider looking for a job-and almost all of them have better odds than just scanning the classified ads.

Here are some great ideas to supplement your job search strategies:

* Networking with professionals who may provide job lead    information.
* Conducting your own target-market campaign to selected    employers.
* Distributing your resume to a large, yet select group of    qualified headhunters.

3. Polished Interview Skills that Secure the Job Offer

All the exposure in the world will not get you closer to your next career position if your interview skills are not sharper than your competition's. Just like a salesperson whose rent money depends on his ability to outsell the competition, so must the job seeker perfect his interview skills in order to win the offer. Second choice still means "unemployed."

Some job seekers cringe at the thought of conducting a job interview as a sales presentation. But the most effective and highly paid sales professionals learned and practiced their skills in order to be able to close the deal. Job seekers of any background and personality style can adapt these tried and true sales skills to perfect their interview skills. Minimally, those skills should include:

* Conducting pre-interview research on your prospective    employer.
* Anticipating and preparing answers to relevant questions.
* Crafting questions to uncover unstated concerns.
* Honing the closing skills that will lead to the next stage or the    offer.

Job seekers who find themselves in a lengthy job search may benefit from analyzing which of the three keys-marketing, exposure, or interview skills-is not opening new career doors. Start by asking these questions:

* Is my resume-send-out to interview ratio low? Maybe it's time    to rethink your resume.
* Am I finding enough job leads? Perhaps it's time to implement    more proactive strategies for better exposure.
* Do I consistently end up "second choice" in job interviews?    Then it might be time to sharpen your interview skills.

Making sure your skills are their sharpest in all three job search keys will help you gain your career objective in the shortest amount of time with the least amount of stress.

7 Ways a Guerilla Job Search Produces Great Results

 is your job search producing lackluster results? Don't settle for a job search that just creeps along! Instead, consider a job search makeover to take fuller advantage of high performing guerrilla job search tactics…

If you're not familiar with the term "guerrilla", you need to know that guerrilla job search techniques are unconventional, often radical, and always strategic. Guerrilla job search tactics outperform traditional job search strategies in 7 key ways:

(1) Guerrilla job search tactics are proactive: In a traditional job search, you submit your resume and cover letter, then passively wait for a call inviting you to an interview. In a guerrilla job search, you help set the pace for your campaign through assertive weekly networking calls/emails, as well as weekly follow-up contacts with hiring managers about your most recent applications for both posted and anticipated job openings. By making 5-10 such calls each week, you can significantly increase the pace of your results.

(2) Guerrilla job search tactics are highly targeted: If the bulk of your resume submissions sent each week are predominantly in response to online job postings, then you're missing out on all kinds of highly targeted job leads. Guerrilla tactics focus on specific industries, employers, geographic areas, and position types to help you magnify the number of interviews and job offers you receive. Don't make the mistake of applying for everything you see ­ doing that may make you feel productive, but such a shot-gun approach to job searching ultimately fails to help you secure the position you desire.

(3) Guerrilla job search tactics are consistent: By passively waiting for interesting jobs to show up on job boards and in ads, you guarantee that your job search will be a roller coaster ride with great output some weeks and little to no output in others. If you submit 8-10 resumes in some weeks, say, and only 1-2 in others, then you are setting yourself up for sporadic interview invites from hiring managers. Leveraging guerrilla job search tactics, however, will enable you to consistently submit 25-30 resumes weekly, which in turn will produce a regular series of invites for job interviews. And a series of interview invites boosts your odds of receiving one or more job offers in your desired timeframe ­ which is exactly what you want, right?

(4) Guerrilla job search tactics are customized: Let's face it, a job search is something of a numbers game no matter how you search. But because traditional job search tactics tend to over-emphasize blasting your resume to hundreds of employers all at once, there's no way for you to target specific industry segments or position types. That means you're resume is missing the industry-specific key words it must showcase if yours is to successfully make it though employer resume scanning systems. Guerrilla job search techniques stress touting your individuality by weaving your personality and career-related values into your resume, cover letter, and interview responses while also making great use of industry-specific key words ­ an approach that boosts the odds that hiring managers looking for someone like you will actually find you.

(5) Guerrilla job search tactics are free or low-cost: If you took advantage of just a few of the job search offers available on the Internet these days, you could easily spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, and still see little to no positive results. I've coached clients to turn-around poor performing job searches when they come to me after spending $2500 or more on HR consulting firms who ultimately do almost nothing to help them. The good news, though, is that guerrilla job search techniques are by their very nature either free or extremely low-cost. For example, HR consulting firms who work with job seekers often stress that they give you hundreds of hiring employer names to contact (that's how they justify their high fees). That's all well and good, but did you know that you can access that same information on the Internet for free?

(6) Guerrilla job search tactics restore your life balance: Traditional job search techniques emphasize output and effort, yet overlook the power of automation. By taking advantage of automated functions in your pc's software and on online job search tools, you could save time every week. Life is too short, and job searches are too frequent (every 2-3 years on average in the U.S.) to spend all your time hunting down job leads. Enhance the quality of your life by automating your job search in every way possible. Your life balance (and your loved ones) will thank you!

(7) Guerrilla job search tactics penetrate the Hidden Job Market: One of the greatest weaknesses of traditional job search methodologies is that they focus on the Visible Job Market, or those jobs that are both currently available and known outside the hiring organization. Guerrilla job search methods on the other hand focus on the Hidden Job Market, or those jobs that are either not yet available (but soon will be) and/or unknown outside the hiring company. And guess what? A whopping 74-85% of all jobs are never advertised in the Visible Job Market. So what does a smart job seeker do? You got it ­ leverage the power of guerrilla job search tactics to penetrate the Hidden Job Market as much as possible.

You don't have to wait for a hot economy to land the job you really want. By taking advantage of as many guerrilla job search tactics as possible, you will dramatically shorten your job search while boosting the interviews and offers you land. Stop repeating the same mistakes everyone else is making and you will soon see unheard-of results.

3 Jobseeking Ways to Find a Job Faster

Got a difficult problem in your job search?

Say, a lack of networking contacts? Or trouble answering interview questions?

Well, you've got company. Problems in a job search are as common as mosquitoes in July.

But ... have you ever written your problem down on a piece of paper?

I'll bet you haven't.

Because, when you write problems down, you take an immediate, huge leap towards solving them. Think about it: Every great invention or solution, from the atomic bomb to the Xbox, was first worked out on paper.

Why not solve your employment problems the same way?

Here's a three-step method that will help you do it ...

1) Start by asking the right questions
Most folks put themselves behind the eight ball in their job search by asking questions that are depressing and demotivating.

Questions like, Why won't anyone give me a job? or How do I network when I don't know anyone?

Ack. Pass the happy pills.

Instead, start asking questions that motivate and inspire you.

Better questions to ask are:

• How could I give people a reason to call me with job leads?
• How did my 10 closest friends find their current jobs? How could I brainstorm with them and use their methods in my job hunt?
• What worked in my last job search? The job search before? How could I do that again?

Important: Ask questions that you yourself can solve. Never depend on the government, your school, parents, family -- anyone else -- to do this for you. Because, once you give up responsibility for solving problems with your job search (or anything else), you become a prisoner of outside forces.

When you ask the right questions, however, you're halfway to the answer. So write down at least five empowering questions about your job search, right now.

Then, you're ready for step two ...

2) Brainstorm at least 20 possible answers
After you write down five good questions, circle the one question that looks most promising. You're going to use it to get hired faster.

Let's say you write the following question down atop a clean sheet of paper:

How could I give people a reason to call me with job leads?

Write a number 1 below it. Write a possible answer next to that number. Then move on to number 2, 3 . and don't stop until you have at least 20 answers to your question.

Not 15 or 19, but 20 answers -- or more.

There's a reason for this: Left to its own devices, your brain will pull a Homer Simpson after two minutes and try to talk you into going out for donuts or beer. Brains hate to think. Like bench pressing, thinking is strenuous work, no matter how good it may be for you.

But don't let your head off the hook. Don't stop until you get 20 possible solutions. Brainstorm as if your career depended on the outcome. Because it does.

Now. Most of your 20 answers won't be very good -- that's OK. Your best answer may come right after the most hare-brained. By forcing yourself to write out 20 answers, you're flushing the creative pipes while going deep into your subconscious mind to dredge up a winner.

Don't knock it until you try it!

3) Take action on one solution today
Choose the most promising from your list of 20 answers. Then, get started -- today -- to make it happen. No excuses.

Let's say the most actionable of your solutions is to throw a networking party where you can meet friends, family and acquaintances, and let them know about your job search.

Now. What do you need to do to make this party happen?

Well, you have to make the guest list, send invitations, get the food, etc. So write down all the sub-goals necessary for the party to be a success. Check each sub-goal off your list as you complete it. Before you know it, your networking party will be a reality.

After that, take the next most-promising solution from your list of 20 and make that one happen. Repeat until hired.

Here's why these 3 steps work when it comes to solving problems -- clear thinking plus continuous action equals results.

If you're struggling to find a job, write down clear, empowering questions of your situation. Then, brainstorm at least 20 possible solutions and take action on the best one today. When you do, you'll be that much closer to getting the job you really want, faster.

Now, go out and make your own luck!

Mistakes Made By Online Job Searchers

Learning from your mistakes is always a good idea because you do not want to go through life repeating the same mistakes over and over…

 An even better idea is to learn from the mistakes of others. This way you never actually have to go through the experience of making the mistakes but you gain the benefit of learning what not to do. Everyone makes mistakes but online job searchers seem to make a lot of them. This article will discuss some of the common mistakes made by online job searchers and provide advice on how you can avoid these blunders.

One of the most common mistakes made by online job searchers is rushing too quickly to apply for an open position. The nature of the Internet has created a society with very little patience. Search engines generate millions of results in a mere fraction of a second and Internet users have come to expect these types of high speed results. With just a few keystrokes you can generate listings for hundreds of job openings in your field and it can be very tempting to fire off your application at the same speed. Job seekers often make this mistake because they are afraid that if they do not apply quickly they will miss out on a great opportunity. 

This is certainly a valid concern because there are some job advertisements which will only be posted for a day or two before being removed. However, rushing to apply and submitting a resume and cover letter than is sub par will just be as detrimental to your job search as not responding at all. In fact it can be even worse if you make a really bad impression that the employer remembers when you respond to future job advertisements. To avoid making this mistake always make sure the resume, cover letter and application materials you submit for a job opening will make a really positive first impression. Take care to carefully proofread and edit all documents to make sure they are free of errors and really highlight your skills and relevant work experience. 

Another mistake many online job searchers make is relying on a generic resume. In this economy where unemployment rates are rising at alarming rates and there is intense competition for every job opening, you need to make sure your resume and cover letter really stand out against the competition. The way to do this is by examining the job advertisement very carefully to determine which skills are most important to the employer. With this in mind edit and format your resume to make sure your relevant experience is showcased to its best advantage. Consider using keywords similar to the ones the employer used in the job advertisement to make it clear you are an excellent candidate for the position.

Finally, one of the glaring mistakes many online job searchers make which can really cost them the chance of being selected for an interview is failing to follow the potential employer’s instructions. The employer may list specific requirements such as whether resumes should be included as an attachment or in the body of an email, where resumes should be sent and what to include in the subject line of the email. Job seekers who ignore these instructions are likely to be disqualified from consideration for the position immediately. In some cases the resume and cover letter may never even reach the hiring manager. By simply following the instructions for applying for a position you put yourself ahead of the competition before your resume is even reviewed. 

Having a Hard Time At Work? Maybe You Are in the Wrong Job

Do college students value money over enjoyment in their first job?

When 'hard day at work' is mentioned in conversation, many different things come to mind. Some people think a hard job is intense physical labor, while to others, sitting at a desk crunching numbers is a living nightmare. Career analysts like to say that a hard job is one that gives you no personal satisfaction. So how can you know if it's your job you hate and not just work in general? Well, according to FastCompany.com, most of these apply to your life:

·         Your never excited to go to work.

·         You don't feel like you have the 'special' talent for the position.

·         You only stay because you don't want to look for another.

·         You feel burnt out.

·         You hate it when people ask what you do.

For more proof you hate your job, take the scientific formula of job satisfaction created by two economists. The economists came up with four factors for job satisfaction: trust in management, variety of projects, high skill level, and enough time allowed for you to finish your work. The stronger those qualities at work, the higher satisfaction you probably have. Trust in management is the most important criterion.

Tough interview questions, where nearly all fail

It’s difficult to list out all the difficult questions but most commonly asked questions are jotted below here with some fantastic answers. Let’s take a quick review:

1.     Please tell me about yourself?

It is the most obvious and frequently asked question during interview. When you face this question, talk about your personal characteristics and skills that highlight your career strengths. The view behind asking this question is that the hiring manager wants you to tell, why you are the best option to hire. Also discuss about what efforts you have taken to prove yourself the best candidate for this job. Don’t stretch, and make it short.

2.     What are your greatest strengths?

Speak on the qualities you possess that most employers value, such as commitment, initiative, drive for work, communication skills, flexibility, motivation, pleasant personality, etc. Focus on those that directly match the job requirements.

3.     What is your greatest weakness?

This is a tricky question. You have to be really careful while answering this question. Here you need to talk about the weakness which is work related and which you are trying hard to overcome. To give you an example, let’s say, if you get nervous before an important meeting, you can use few relaxing techniques and learn to apply it whenever necessary.

4.     Where do you plan to be in your career in five years? 

Employers like employees who have set goals in life and work accordingly. If you're asked this question, you can talk about achievable objectives and the efforts you are taking to achieve them.

5.     Why do you want to work for this Company?

If you do a bit of research about the company while preparing for your interview, it will surely pay off. Classify some specifications about the company, say about its products, services or management style that appeals you the most.

6.     Why should we hire you over other strong candidates?

One of the toughest interview questions you may face. But not to worry and say it fearlessly that they should hire you because you are the best person for that job. Then back your statement with specifications.

7.     What motivates you?

A much generalized form of question is about your motivation. Give an honest answer to this question. Avoid answering it as “because of money”. Many of the workers are motivated by the nature of work. It may be challenging and interesting also to work.

8.     What are your salary requirements?

In this case, the answer depends entirely on your experience. Interview experts suggest not bringing up salary at a first job interview. But if the hiring manager brings it up, you should be ready to answer. You can be vague here and say that salary isn't your main consideration and you’re open to any reasonable offer. But if you are experienced, depending on your previous salary range and a bit of market research, you can give a confident figure as well.

It’s all about your confidence that you show as to avoid errors and impress the employer. 

10 Things You Must Do Before That Successful Interview

You’ve worked hard to get here. You’ve sent out 31 resumes, networked, attended job fairs, enrolled in school for more education – you’ve taken all the right steps…

Then, one afternoon the phone rings. “Yes, we’d like you to come in for an interview. Is next Tuesday at 10:00 alright with you?” Alright???!!! You can be there in 10 minutes! But you gather your composure, pretend to rifle through your “appointment book” and calmly reply, “Yes, Tuesday at 10:00 works for me. See you then.” Now what? 
The sequence goes like this: the resume gets you an interview; the interview gets you the job. This is when you become more than a bunch of employment dates and workplace accomplishments. This is your opportunity to shine. It’s show time!

Go in cold and you’re working at a disadvantage. You prepped the perfect resume, now it’s time to prep for that all-important interview. Here are ten steps you should take before you show up at the interviewer’s door.
1. Review your resume.

Sure, you know it by heart. But what was it that caught the eye of this recruiter or the HR pro? Specialized experience? Unique training? A steady history of career advancement? Revisit your resume from the point of view of the interviewer. It may provide insight into the company’s employee needs – something that would certainly be advantageous to know going in.

2. Get back on-line.

The Internet served you well in the preparation of personalized cover letters targeted at the recipients’ needs. Okay, visit the company web site again and start taking notes. Corporate officers, the latest press releases, the company’s annual report. Gather as much information as you can on your soon-to-be-employer.

3. Study, study, then cram.

The more you learn about your callback company, the better you’re going to feel walking in that door. Knowledge is power. Knowledge will make you more confident in your attitude and your answers. You know this stuff. You’ve studied it! Knowledge of company products, services, protocols and procedures shows the interviewer that you’re proactive, with an eye for detail and an appreciation for the power of preparation. In other words, you’ll make a positive impression.

4. Rehearse your interview.

How can you rehearse for something that doesn’t have a script? Write one. You know the typical questions you’ll be asked so write down some of your most insightful, witty thoughts regarding the state of your industry and profession. Be prepared to describe past positions, responsibilities and accomplishments. This is not a time for false modesty, so don’t be afraid to highlight your professional strengths and play down your terrible typing skills. Remember: it’s no brag if it’s the truth. Ask your spouse, your child or a friend to play the role of interviewer so you become more comfortable speaking about yourself in front of others. Again, this is a confidence builder. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll be.

5. Develop your list of questions.

Your interview shouldn’t be seen as some type of interrogation. It’s a “getting to know you” meeting, so feel free to ask questions. However, your first question shouldn’t be “How much do I get paid?” or “How’s the 401k plan, here?” Instead, ask questions that show you understand the job and the company’s needs. Be quick to pick up on the interviewer’s comments and ask relevant questions.

Interviewer: We’ve had some issues with field reports coming in late recently.
You: How are the reports transmitted?
(Oh, you’re good. Very good.)

6. Dress for success.

An interview is a performance with people playing different roles. Your role is successful job prospect. Play the part. Whether you’re female or male, the conservative business suit is the recommended attire for any interview. If your business suit needs a pressing, send it to the dry cleaners. If you don’t own a suit (you’d be surprised at the number of us who don’t) go out and get one. It doesn’t have to be an $800 designer suit, but it should be conservative black, blue or gray.

7. Get cut or coiffed.

You’ll have 15 minutes to make a good impression. Treat yourself to a visit to the local hair stylist. You bet looks matter. They’ll be plenty of time to show your talent once you land the job. For now, look like a success, feel like a success – be a success.

8. Practice positive visualization.

Professional athletes do it. So do actors, yoga instructors and new age thinkers who sleep under makeshift pyramids to absorb that mystical energy. It’s called positive visualization – and it works. It really does. In the days leading up to the interview, picture yourself sitting opposite the head of HR. Picture yourself relaxed, comfortable, at the top of your game. Play that clip over and over in your mind until it becomes so familiar, it actually becomes a part of your self-image. It simply can’t be stated too often – your confidence during an interview should be obvious and genuine.

9. Gather your materials.

The day before the interview, gather your materials and place them in a briefcase or attaché. Don’t have one? Buy one or borrow one. It’s another opportunity to project that professional image you wear so well. Bring extra copies of your resume in a manila envelop. Bring a pad and pencil to take notes. Bring a calculator (you never know). Bring your address book and copies of your business card. If you’ve been asked to provide additional information (school transcripts, e.g.) make sure you’ve got clean copies ready to hand over.

10. Sleep tight.

You’ve done it all. You’ve prepared yourself; you’ve built your confidence so you can look the interviewer straight in the eye. You are ready to rock ‘n’ roll! Okay, too psyched. You’ll never get to sleep. The night before the interview, go to bed early. Have some warm milk, coco or herbal tea (stay away from the 3rd scotch). Relax. Set the alarm and sleep comfortably in the knowledge that you’re as prepared as you’ll ever be. No, not every interview will be a success. You won’t get the job every time – but don’t take it personally. It’s not about you; it’s about the needs of the company. However, you can increase the chances of success by presenting a professional, prepared, and confident you to the interviewer. That’s how you turn an interview into a job offer.

You’re hired!

5 Tips for a Safe Online Job-Search

Conducting a job search using the Internet has definitely transformed how jobseekers contact hiring companies.  The availability of copying and pasting a text version resume into a form at a company’s website has laid the foundation for an easier and more convenient process.  No longer does a jobseeker need to spend hours with the traditional method of printing and mailing his resume to countless recipients…

With the Internet’s convenience, a breeding ground for scam artists continues to grow each year as well.  Identity thefts have increased to an overwhelming 10 million cases per year, and many of them are the result of phishing — not surprisingly, the employment industry is under attack as well.

Phishing is an attempt to extract personal information through what appears to be authentic emails.  If you are job searching, an email from a seemingly interested recruiter, for example, may not raise a red flag with you.  You may think that the contact person and company listed are legitimate, yet looks can be deceiving.  Knowing what to look for and how to spot fraud (or potential areas for abuse) can be the best deterrent to ensuring you have a safe experience while conducting your job search.

Be leery of submission invitations.
Scammers and spammers follow the same patterns.  Mass emails are sent to an enormous list of recipients.  Not everyone on the “hit list” is searching for a new job; however, only a small number of people need to be convinced, or tricked into believing, the email is authentic in order for the scam to be deemed successful.  Receiving an email from a recruiter who states, “We saw your resume on the Internet, and we find your skill set to be perfect for one of our clients.  Please complete our online application through the below link.”  Ask yourself a series of questions:  Did you send your resume to this recruiter?  Visit the company’s website (type the web address into your browser, avoid clicking the link in the email); upon further examination are they reputable?  How did they hear about you?  Call the company if necessary.  Always proceed with caution when you receive a cold-contact email from someone.

Avoid responding to requests for personal information, such as a social security or credit card number.
Let’s say you receive an email from what appears to be a well-known job bank.  The email states that your account needs your contact and payment information to be updated in order for service renewal.  You click on the link and you’re taken to a page that looks, feels, and “smells” right. You proceed by submitting the requested information. The link appeared safe, but you were taken to a site designed to defraud you.  Reputable companies will rarely ask for personal information via email so examine every incoming email for validity.

When purchasing from a resume writing or resume submission service, for example, ensure information is encrypted upon hitting submit.
Encryption, in short, ensures the private information you submit online is kept safe.  When at your browser, you can recognize an encrypted form when the root URL starts with “https:” instead of “http:” or seeing the padlock present in the bottom right corner of your screen.  Purchasing from companies having added security measures in place can ensure your private information avoids the hands of ill-willed people.  Learn more about encryption by reading Jeff Tyson’s article titled, “How Encryption Works,” at howstuffworks.com.

Get Aggressive to Get the Job You Want

Job-hunting can be excruciating for the hunter. Especially if you've gone through the utter rejection of losing your previous job, the hunt for a new one can be identity threatening and rejection filled. Depending on your luck and skills, job hunting can tear down the biggest of egos...

The best approach, says Barry Cohen, university employment coordinator for City University of New York, Manhattan, is to tackle job-hunting aggressively. Cohen, who also works privately as a career counselor, said that of the three stages in obtaining your next position, the first is to get the interview. You'll find that your cover letter and resume are not just important but critical. It's a myth that people don't judge you by what you send. Everybody does, Cohen said. The reality is an HR professional will scan a resume of seven seconds, if that long. If they don't like what they see, you're gone.

The second stage is once you're called into the interview, convert that interview into an offer. If you can't get an offer, get a hand off or a referral.

Third, you have to be able to negotiate what you're worth. You never get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate. Use a script.

Starting your aggressive job search

By using the Internet, applying to different employment agencies and recruiters, scanning the want ads and working through referrals, you cover the bases of aggressive job hunting. Recruiters can be helpful in that they have corporate relationships in place. "There are two types of recruiters: contingency and retainer. The contingency type gets paid between 15 to 33 percent of what you'll earn after you accept your position. The retainer types are paid in advance. They generally work for highly specialized jobs. What people have to remember is that recruiters don't work for them, they work for the companies that pay them," Cohen says.

Job recruiting Internet sites are good sources in your job hunt (See Working with Third Party Recruiters on this site). But take note that by putting your resume on the Internet, you're posting your personal information for a world of eyes to see. Learn more about posting your resume on the Net in the article Balancing Risks and Rewards: Putting Your Resume on the Net, which is on this site.

Often, your resume will get you the interview, so it's imperative that it's written by a professional, Cohen says. "Referrals are really the bread and butter. The key is to try and reach the decision-maker through the back door by approaching someone who knows someone," Cohen says. 

Don't stop with one

Consider sending your resume to multiple employers so that you get as many interviews as possible. Do something everyday for your search. Send out resumes, follow up on the phone to make sure that your resumes have been received but don't be a pest. One call will do.

Cohen suggests that those who are unemployed should accept the first offer that comes their way. "You can always jump ship afterwards," he says. "If you get two offers, take them both. Tell company number one that you'll start immediately. Tell company two that you're very flattered however you have a project on the table and you don't feel right just jumping ship. You'll be more than happy to start with them in three weeks. In two weeks, you'll know if company one is right for you. If it is, call company two and say, 'I'm sorry, I decided to stay where I am. Thanks anyway.' If company one is not right for you, call company two and say, 'I was able to conclude my project faster than expected. When can I start?'" 

Cohen's tips continue

• Interview like a jobholder, not a job hunter. Job hunters might come across as needy, dejected and too willing.
• Too much honesty isn't necessarily a good thing. According to Cohen, being too honest and revealing too much can turn against you in the job hunting process--especially, if you've been laid off or let go. When an employer asks you, "Why did you leave your last job?" or "Why were you let go?" he's really asking: "What's wrong with you?" An example response is: "My company suffered a severe downsizing. My immediate boss had no choice but to let me go and after she let me go, she was let go."
• Would you hire this guy? Don't come into the interview cocky. Dress professionally. Go after every interview like it's the last one you'll ever have.
• In salary negotiations, the person who mentions the number first loses. When they ask you how much looking for, say that you don't want to disqualify yourself by a number, can you tell me how much you have budgeted for this position? You can also give employers a ballpark, saying that your current compensation package is in the $60,000 range and that you want to stay in that range. Lump all your compensation together. By throwing out numbers you might sell yourself short. After all, you don't know the company's range of salary or compensation.
• Say thanks by sending thank you letters within 24 hours of each interview. If three people interview you at one company, send three separate thank you notes. Cohen says that when competition for a job is tight, thank you notes have the power of swaying an employer your way.

The 14 Ways to Look for a Job

Not many people realize it, but the job-hunt is one of the most studied phenomena of our time. It is amazing what we know about it…

Acquainting yourself with this research can pay rich dividends to any job-hunter, and especially if your job-hunt is running into trouble. Let me illustrate what I mean.

Most job-hunters think there are basically only three ways to go about their job-hunt: resumes, ads, and agencies. Actually, there are fourteen:

1. Using the Internet to look for job-postings or to post one's own resume. (1%)

2. Mailing out resumes to employers at random. (7%)

3. Answering ads in professional or trade journals appropriate to your field. (7%)

4. Answering local newspaper ads. (5-24% depending on salary demands)

5. Going to private employment agencies or search firms. (5-24% depending on salary demands)

6. Going to places where employers come to pick out workers, such as union hiring halls. (8%)

7. Taking a Civil Service exam. (12%)

8. Asking a former teacher or professor for job-leads. (12%)

9. Going to the state/Federal employment service office. (14%)

10. Asking family members, friends, or professionals you know for job-leads. (33%)

11. Knocking on the door of any employer, factory, or office that interests you, whether they are known to have a vacancy or not. (47%)

12. By yourself, using the phone book's Yellow Pages to identify fields that interest you, then calling employers in those fields to see if they're hiring for the kind of work you can do. (69%)

13. In a group with other job-hunters, using the phone book's Yellow Pages as above. (84%)

14. Doing what is called "the creative approach to job-hunting or career-change": doing homework on yourself, to figure out what your favorite and best skills are; then doing face-to-face interviewing for information only, at organizations in your field; followed up by using your personal contacts to get in to see, at each organization that has interested you, the person-who-actually-has-the-power-to-hire-you (not necessarily the human resources department). (86%)

 There are five interesting things about this list:

1. Researchers have discovered 'the effectiveness rate' of each of these methods.

By which I mean, we now know how often each method 'pays off' for the job-hunters who use that method to hunt for a job. Those figures in parentheses above are the effectiveness rate.

2. We know the failure rate of each of these methods.

That is, how often they don't 'pay off' for the job-hunters using that method. This failure rate is found by simply subtracting each effectiveness rate, above, from 100. You can do the math. 

3. I listed the fourteen methods above in inverse order to their effectiveness.

That is, researchers have discovered that method #1 above is the least effective way to conduct your job-hunt, while method #14 is the most effective way.

4. Generally speaking the effectiveness rate for each method is directly proportional to how much work that method requires of you.

That is to say, method #1 requires the least work, but it is also the least effective; method #14 requires the most work, but it is also the most effective.

5. You want to use more than one method, but less than five.

Researchers discovered that one third of all job-hunters never find a job because they give up too soon. And the ones who give up most easily are the ones who are using only one job-hunting method (such as sending out resumes).

51% of those who use only one method of job-hunting abandon their job-hunt by the second month. On the other hand, of those who are using two or more methods, only 31% abandon their search by the second month. 

Does this mean that you should try to use all fourteen methods, if your job-hunt just isn't working? Not exactly. As I said earlier, it is amazing what we know about the job-hunt.

 Researchers discovered that job-hunting success increases with each additional method you use, but only up to four methods. If you use five or more of the fourteen methods listed above, job-hunting success starts to decrease. 

I have pondered this bizarre finding, and concluded that the explanation may lie in the fact that you can give up to four methods the time each deserves, but if you try to do five or more, you start cutting too many corners. 

Well, there it is. Some of what we know about the job-hunt. The moral for your next job-hunt? Don't just use one method, such as resumes, or ads. Use up to four methods, and especially those that pay off the best.

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