The secret to job search results isn’t volume!

What will bring job search results? It’s easy to think that more of anything will give you results. More volume will get you heard. But in job search, that isn’t true.

Sending out more resumes does not mean you will get more or better job search results. My most successful clients pick a target matching their talents, find the back door, and make the connections that get them the job.

Job Search results increase with strategic networking

If you panic because your job may end or because you already lost your job, slow down! Sending 70 or 80 or 200 resumes will not get you job search results!

Perhaps you worked with a professional resume writer or researched best practices for creating targeted, focused resume, chock full of accomplishments and solutions to the employer’s pain.

If you did your homework on the resume, do your homework on the job search. Hone in on the targets matching your value-driven resume. Research connections on LinkedIn and use your network to lead you to insiders in the industry to help you find the hidden job market.

Leave the panic behind and use the phone.

Don’t just think because you emailed your resume to 95 people in your network they see the urgency in helping you find your next gig. You have just become the product. Very few sales are made by sending out mass emails and waiting for the phone to ring.

Get better job search results

Quietly, confidently, choose your targets, and use your inside voice. Make the calls to create connections to lead to improved job search results and success in your search.

If you are stuck in your job search, need a better strategy and advice from someone who understands how to get job search results, learn more.

Posted in Resumes and Value-Rich Cover Letters and tagged accomplishment-based resumes, accomplishments, Career Management, Design Resumes, job search, Julie Walraven, Resumes and Value-Rich Cover Letters, Wausau Resume Writer

7 Comments

Melissa Cooley on March 25, 2011 at 6:49 am

Wonderful post, Julie! You know my thoughts on the kind of “spray and pray” method you talk about — it doesn’t work. Picking a target and building meaningful relationships through networking are all keys to a successful job search.

Julie Walraven on March 25, 2011 at 10:13 am

You know what the hardest for me is, Melissa? When I hear job seekers sound so disillusioned because they sent out huge numbers of resumes. They might even think they are networking but a broadcast e-mail to your network (or even individual e-mails without follow-up will never yield you the results that solid research, internal networking with personnel, or external networking with closely associated colleagues in the industry will yield.

Ari Herzog on March 27, 2011 at 8:36 am

What does best practice say about using the telephone if a job ad is specific to not use the telephone?

Melissa Cooley on March 27, 2011 at 3:38 pm

Hello Ari,

Here’s two options for if an ad specifies that no calls are to be made:

-If you have the email address of the HR rep or hiring manager, you could send an email.

-A “warm contact” of yours inside the company could be contacted to find out where things are with the process.

Warm regards,

Melissa
Julie Walraven on March 27, 2011 at 4:00 pm

I agree with Melissa, Ari, she got here first! My rule is always follow directions. If they say no phone calls, don’t call. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use the back door and you always should. Ads are generally the worst potential leads too, the warm contacts for the hidden job market are so much more productive than ads that are already making it hard to communicate and show your true value.

Melissa Cooley on March 25, 2011 at 6:49 am

Wonderful post, Julie! You know my thoughts on the kind of “spray and pray” method you talk about — it doesn’t work. Picking a target and building meaningful relationships through networking are all keys to a successful job search.
- Julie Walraven on March 25, 2011 at 10:13 am
  
  You know what the hardest for me is, Melissa? When I hear job seekers sound so disillusioned because they sent out huge numbers of resumes. They might even think they are networking but a broadcast e-mail to your network (or even individual e-mails without follow-up will never yield you the results that solid research, internal networking with personnel, or external networking with closely associated colleagues in the industry will yield.
Ari Herzog on March 27, 2011 at 8:36 am

What does best practice say about using the telephone if a job ad is specific to not use the telephone?
- Melissa Cooley on March 27, 2011 at 3:38 pm
  
  Hello Ari,
  
  Here’s two options for if an ad specifies that no calls are to be made:
  
  -If you have the email address of the HR rep or hiring manager, you could send an email.
  
  -A “warm contact” of yours inside the company could be contacted to find out where things are with the process.
  
  Warm regards,
  
  Melissa
- Julie Walraven on March 27, 2011 at 4:00 pm
  
  I agree with Melissa, Ari, she got here first! My rule is always follow directions. If they say no phone calls, don’t call. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use the back door and you always should. Ads are generally the worst potential leads too, the warm contacts for the hidden job market are so much more productive than ads that are already making it hard to communicate and show your true value.