Be a Squeaky Wheel
So you've been applying for jobs---perhaps hundreds of them---with no response. Not even the courtesy of an automated email to let you know your resume has been received, right? What do you do? Chalk it up to yet another dead-end? Or act like a squeaky wheel and get noticed?
You've probably heard the saying "the squeaky wheel gets the grease", right? Do you believe that squeaky wheels get the grease? If so, are you being squeaky...or (passively) waiting for the phone to ring??
What do you have to lose by assertively following up on your applications? Nothing. In fact, it's not what you have to lose, but what you can potentially gain...such as an interview and a job!
The Fun Times Guide has an interesting take on job searching:
Don't just send a blind resume. As recently mentioned on The Today Show, you should use a technique called sandwiching. This means to call and inform the recipient that you are sending your resume. Then send the resume. And a day or two later, follow up with another phone call. While this tactic works best if you have some sort of previous relationship with the employer, keep in mind that the squeaky wheel gets the grease (...as long as you don't get too annoying).
Are you applying for sales positions, or perhaps jobs in HR? If so, call the sales manager or HR manager and let him or her know you've submitted a resume...but only if you have your elevator pitch ready! Use the opportunity to make this person aware of your interest--and how you are qualified and ready to be interviewed!!
Also, consider this comment from a reader at the Womenforhire.com blog:
"... the right people -- those who would appreciate my employment history -- weren't seeing my resume. I did some research and found the email address of the CEO of a mid-size company in Austin. I emailed him on a Sunday morning with my resume and a quick, to the point email and he responded within two hours. I like to believe it's vision like that that got him into the C-suite. I was a new employee with the firm within the month."
WOW! Now that's a squeaky wheel!!
Readers, how will YOU be a squeaky wheel today??
Guest post by Lorraine Russo of Underground Job Network
Courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates seeking entry-level jobs and other career opportunities, and posted on Practical Tips for Young Urban Professionals.
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