Page 27 - Complete Idiot's Guide to The Perfect Resume

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Chapter 1 ➤ Mapping Your Job Hunt

Online Out-Posts

On the Internet, you can post your resume in databases for thousands of employers to see.
These Web sites also offer job listings by profession and location.
For more on this type of resume distribution, turn to Chapter 23,
“Banking on Success: Online Resume Banking.”

The Recruiting Game
Collaborating with a recruiter (sometimes called a “headhunter”)
is a free and usually painless way to submit your resume to Terms of Employment
employers. Most recruiters specialize according to industry (for
To post your resume means to
example, computer or pharmaceuticals) or profession (for exam-
place an electronic version of
ple, sales or executive management). When showing your resume
your resume on the Internet for
to a recruiter, be open to his or her suggestions for adapting it to a
employers and recruiters to view.
particular field or company. The best way to find a recruiter is to
get a recommendation from a friend, career counselor, or career
center.
Fun at the Fair

Attending a job fair can be an efficient way to talk to representa-
tives from several companies in one day. Be sure to bring many
resumes, comfortable shoes, and lots of stamina, because you’re
likely to find yourself in large crowds and long lines. Job fairs are Career Casualties
usually advertised in the newspaper and on radio and television.
Before approaching a recruiter,
make sure you understand his
Classified Information role: A recruiter is not in the
business of finding jobs for appli-
Although classified ads are considered by many to be the least
cants; he finds applicants to fill
effective place to land a job, don’t exclude them from your job-
jobs for his client, Mr. Employer.
search strategy. Many prominent companies use the classified ads
So don’t ask or expect the
as a successful recruiting method. A well-written resume accom-
recruiter to run around finding
panied by a cover letter can grab the reader’s eye and secure an
you a job. Rest assured, he’ll be
interview, in spite of the overwhelming amount of competition
happy to connect you with an
that newspaper ads generate. Besides, once you have your resume
employment opportunity if he
circulating inside a company’s human resources department, you
knows of one that’s a good
may be considered for a range of job opportunities.
match.
The Mass Message
To conduct a mass mailing, you need an up-to-date mailing list of potential employers.
Several books that catalog employers by industry and location are available in libraries and
bookstores. Be sure to check a book’s copyright date to know how recent its listings are.
You can also hire an information researcher to create a mailing list to your specifications.
Locating an information researcher isn’t easy. I suggest asking at a career center or looking
online under career-related subjects to see if one is listed. In Appendix C, I recommend a
few research services.

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