Today I would like to share with you the first steps in creating a great job search – a quick, effective one – from scratch, to take advantage of the
biggest hiring quarter of the year (January through March).
STEPS TO TAKE IN THE NEXT WEEK
Below are many of the steps I recommend to our clients to help get them on the right foot in starting a job search from scratch. These are things that they can be doing while we’re writing their resume and overhauling their online presence to be highly visible to recruiters and employers.
Below are many of the steps I recommend to our clients to help get them on the right foot in starting a job search from scratch. These are things that they can be doing while we’re writing their resume and overhauling their online presence to be highly visible to recruiters and employers.
GET A PROFESSIONAL HEAD SHOT
The first thing to do is schedule a professional head shot, if you don’t have a recent one. This will be used on your LinkedIn profile, as well as your job seeking business card. Two chain photography stores I recommend are The Picture People and Portrait Innovations. They will give you three poses that you choose on a CD for around $75, and are much better than anything you can get at Target or Sears for $50.
The first thing to do is schedule a professional head shot, if you don’t have a recent one. This will be used on your LinkedIn profile, as well as your job seeking business card. Two chain photography stores I recommend are The Picture People and Portrait Innovations. They will give you three poses that you choose on a CD for around $75, and are much better than anything you can get at Target or Sears for $50.
I recommend wearing a dark suit (or ladies, a dark blouse or suit jacket) and ask for a lighter background. This will define your shoulders and will keep you from looking like a “floating head” against a dark background. Be sure to smile and show teeth. It really makes a difference!
GET A FREE LIBRARY CARD
Many library systems allow you to access their business databases from home through their websites, and all you need is a library card number. The two main databases you are looking for are the D&B Million Dollar Database and Reference USA. These will allow you to find companies you want to reach out to based on the criteria you select; size (annual revenue or people), industry and geographic location. This information can be priceless in conducting an effective search!
Many library systems allow you to access their business databases from home through their websites, and all you need is a library card number. The two main databases you are looking for are the D&B Million Dollar Database and Reference USA. These will allow you to find companies you want to reach out to based on the criteria you select; size (annual revenue or people), industry and geographic location. This information can be priceless in conducting an effective search!
ORDER BRIGHTLY COLORED GREETING CARD ENVELOPES
One of the big secrets I have only told my paying clients is to send their resume by hard copy to the person that would be their boss, and put their resume in a greeting card envelope. Don’t buy the cards – just use the envelopes!
One of the big secrets I have only told my paying clients is to send their resume by hard copy to the person that would be their boss, and put their resume in a greeting card envelope. Don’t buy the cards – just use the envelopes!
This bypasses the gatekeepers like Admins and Secretaries, and makes sure that the person you hand address it to is the one that is actually reading your resume. This is because no one is rude enough to open someone else’s personal mail, and it’s the first thing they open when they get their stack of business mail in the morning. When I came up with this idea about 8 years ago, the response rate from sending resumes doubled overnight! You can find these envelopes in several places online for a small cost, and direct mail studies have shown bright yellow to get the best response rate.
ORDER JOB SEEKING BUSINESS CARDS
I would recommend getting these cards from Vistaprint.com, and paying extra for the premium stock, which is a thicker card, with glossy on the front and matte on the back. Put your picture in the upper left or right hand corner, and include your contact information. However, the largest print should be your name and the title of the job you are seeking (not the one you have now, or your most recent one). These can be paper clipped to your hard copy resume, or given out in any networking situation. Always keep them with you, as you never know when you will run across someone that may be able to help you!
I would recommend getting these cards from Vistaprint.com, and paying extra for the premium stock, which is a thicker card, with glossy on the front and matte on the back. Put your picture in the upper left or right hand corner, and include your contact information. However, the largest print should be your name and the title of the job you are seeking (not the one you have now, or your most recent one). These can be paper clipped to your hard copy resume, or given out in any networking situation. Always keep them with you, as you never know when you will run across someone that may be able to help you!
If you can check these to-dos off your list in the next week, you will be well on your way to creating an effective job search – one that will find you your perfect job quickly and will pay you what you’re worth!
And don't forget, we have lots of free resources on our website, including a brand new page I just put up with the 2016 job market forecast, which you can see by
clicking here. It's in an infographic you can view, download and print for yourself.
Here’s to your success in the New Year! If there is ever anything we can do to help you in your search, call our offices at (816) 600-2478 a team member will respond to you quickly. Or, you can click on the "take
