Bad Job Search Techniques
The Pareto Principal says that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. This holds true in hunting for a job, just as it does almost everywhere else in the business world. If you are searching for a job full time, this principal says that four days each week are virtually wasted. That means that only one day worth of your efforts each week has a chance of leading to your next job.
To make your job search more successful, it is important to evaluate your efforts. Then focus on what works. Surprisingly, the job hunt techniques that many people swear by will not pass a basic evaluation. To help in your evaluation, the following outlines some of the most common misguided job hunting efforts.
Job Board Spam – Job boards can be one your greatest allies. They can introduce you to opportunities that you never would have found on your own. Unfortunately, it is very easy to misuse job boards in a way that wastes time and yields little results. Spamming the job boards is the most common problem. Posting your standard resume to every potential fit on the job boards will likely get you nowhere. Instead use the boards to identify opportunities to expand you network of hiring managers. Reach out to them directly. Customize your resume to fit the position. Then, submit the custom resume directly to the hiring manager or HR rep. This will increase your response rate 10 fold.
Job Fairs – Job fairs used to be the most effective way to find a new job. However, in today’s market, you have better odds in some lotteries than at a job fair. HR people at job fairs will receive an average of 100 – 500 applications per job. This is in addition to all of the resumes they have already received. If job fairs are used to expand your network, they may be useful. Otherwise, you are better focused calling members of your network.
Bulk Email/Fax Solicitation – Just like other forms of resume spamming, bulk emailing or faxing is unlikely to increase your odds. Most of the emails or faxes you send will end up in someone’s recycling bin. The few hiring managers that read your resume will most likely be aggravated by your unsolicited spam. In some cases, this approach could even cost you a job.
Each of these tools may help your job search, but they could also get you disqualified by a potential employer. To increase your odds, evaluate your job search regularly. Then re-focus to make sure you are using your time wisely.
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