There are many questions about job searching out there, and unfortunately, a wide range of answers. This is because each employer and every single recruiter is different, and hiring practices change over time. That makes it very hard to nail down one answer to every question. However, among the most common job search questions, the answers that you get will generally be along the same lines. Let’s dive in.
[See: 10 Things They Don’t Tell You About Your First Job.]
“Do people even get hired anymore without knowing someone?” Yes! It is surprising how many job seekers think this isn’t true. You actually can apply to a job online and be asked for an interview and receive an offer, or be contacted by a recruiter and have it lead to a job offer. Shocked? Apply away, but be smart about where you apply and what you spend your time on. If you don’t meet the minimum qualifications, you are probably wasting your time.
“Do I have to tailor my resume for every opportunity?” Yes, but don’t let that scare you! Build a solid resume with a concise career summary and bullets that reflect specific things you’ve done, plus the impact or end goal of your work. From there, the tweaks will be minimal. You’ll want to make sure you use the key words and phrases the company will be searching for as it applies to your background. The exception is if you’re applying to jobs in disparate fields, as you may need two or three copies of your resume to use for each purpose.
[See: How to Follow Up on a Job Application Without Being Annoying.]
“At what point do I mention a scheduled family wedding that I have to attend in one month?” If you are asked during an interview if you’ll be able to work in that timeframe because of a big conference, say, you should be honest. Otherwise, the time off does not need to be discussed during the interview. You should bring it up if you receive a job offer and plan to accept.
“How much does LinkedIn matter, and do I need to use it?” For most of us, the answer is yes. Unless your career dictates that you lead a non-public life, you will benefit from having a profile. As Facebook has become the go-to place to find old friends, LinkedIn has become indispensable for finding connections that could help you learn of, or even obtain, job opportunities. And you can be found by recruiters and co-workers. Bottom line: Using LinkedIn is a key component of almost any job search strategy.
“Should I bother writing a cover letter if the posting doesn’t ask for one, or says it’s optional?” There tends to be more disagreement over cover letters than any other job search topic. But the fact remains: If an employer likes your resume, they may read your cover letter. If you’re the only person who wrote one, and it’s good, you’ll probably get called for an interview. Taking that chance is worth it. Disclaimer: If the posting tells you to only submit a resume, do not send a cover letter!
[See: How to Quit Your Job Like a Class Act.]
“Why am I not getting responses to my applications?” There are an infinite number of reasons for this. Among the most common: the position was already filled; you did not meet the minimum qualifications for the position according to the Automatic Tracking System (ATS) or a person reviewing your resume; you had mistakes in your resume; or the hiring manager is on vacation. What can you take away from this? Don’t assume anything. The best thing you can do from the start is to send your application not only to the general human resources inbox you are directed to, but find a logical contact on the company website or LinkedIn and also send your application to them. Address your cover letter and email to that person by name. If you can’t find someone, that’s OK, but make sure you follow up with the person or people you sent your application to. If it says “no calls,” do not call, rather, email them in a week. Otherwise, call in a week and then follow up a few days later with an email. Be persistent, but not a pain.
While this is not an exhaustive list of the most common job search questions, it should give you some clarity as you slog through the process. It can be discouraging spending countless hours trying to get your resume and materials in shape, networking and then trying to figure out the whole job-search dance, but with the basic principles in mind, you’ll be ahead of the game.
Reprinted from: US News – http://money.usnews.com – 1.12.17
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