Helpful, Miscellaneous Job Search Tips

Since April, Judi Adams of RightChanges “The Affordable Job Search Coach” has been publishing lengthy articles on essential topics related to the new job market. There are miscellaneous tips, however, that do not rate an entire article by themselves so we have been accumulating them to publish together. Here you go:

How to handle an unexpected phone screen or phone interview

You worked hard to network into the company and when you least expect it you get a phone call from a company representative to ask you a few questions. Some job seekers make the mistake of taking the call unprepared because they are concerned if they don’t speak right then, they will not get the chance again. This can be a fatal
mistake.

Human Resource representatives and recruiters realize that if they call without an appointment, you may be in the middle of something. It is totally acceptable to say (without elaborating) that you welcome the chance to talk with them and propose alternate times asking which works best. Even if you are not in the middle of something, this will give you time to organize your materials and thoughts and get to a quiet room where you can talk without background noises. You will interview better with that moment of preparation.

Another use for your business cards

Personal / job search business cards are an essential job seeker’s marketing tool especially for networking. Even once you are employed you should have personal
business cards available as you continue to network.

If you want to change information on the card such as job title or brand statement, you may wonder what you can do with the old cards. If the contact information is still current consider using the extra cards this way: place a card in every pocket of your luggage and briefcase. Even if your luggage tag gets separated from your luggage during transit, the airline will have the information they need to reunite you with your valuables.

A great resource for identifying your target companies

If you live in one of the following metro areas, you have the great fortune to have a BizJournal as an invaluable source of information on what is happening in the businesses in your locale. Job seekers should subscribe or visit a local library and read cover to cover this weekly journal to find out what businesses are moving to town or starting a new project. If you are considering relocation to one of these cities, the BizJournal is a great source of information.

BizJournal publications:

Albany, NY
The Business Review (Albany)
Albuquerque
New Mexico Business Weekly
Atlanta
Atlanta Business Chronicle
Austin
Austin Business Journal
Baltimore
Baltimore Business Journal
Birmingham
Birmingham Business Journal
Boston
Boston Business Journal
Buffalo
Business First
Charlotte
Charlotte Business Journal
Cincinnati
Business Courier
Columbus
Business First
Dallas
Dallas Business Journal
Dayton
Dayton Business Journal
Denver
Denver Business Journal
Triad
The Business Journal
Houston
Houston Business Journal
Jacksonville
Jacksonville Business Journal
Kansas City
Kansas City Business Journal
Louisville
Business First
Memphis
Memphis Business Journal
Milwaukee
The Business Journal
Minneapolis
Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal
Nashville
Nashville Business Journal
Orlando
Orlando Business Journal
Honolulu
Pacific Business News
Philadelphia
Philadelphia Business Journal
Phoenix
Phoenix Business Journal
Portland
Portland Business Journal
Raleigh / Triangle
Triangle Business Journal
Sacramento
Sacramento Business Journal
San Antonio
San Antonio Business Journal
San Francisco
San Francisco Business Times
San Jose
Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal
Seattle
Puget Sound Business Journal
South Fla
South Florida Business Journal
St. Louis
St. Louis Business Journal
Tampa
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Washington
Washington Business Journal
Wichita
Wichita Business Journal

Another resource that is invaluable for identifying your target companies is the Book of Lists. BizJournal and other business publications (like Crains in Chicago) compile and publish on an annual basis a list of all companies in a metro area grouped by various categories. Job seekers should read this book cover to cover and list companies that are of interest to research further as possible target companies.

The following is a list of the available Book of Lists:

Albany
Albuquerque
Allentown
Atlanta
Austin
Baltimore
Birmingham
Boston
Buffalo
Charleston
Charlotte
Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Columbus
Dallas
Dayton
Denver
Detroit
East Bay
El Paso
Grand Rapids
Greensboro/Winston-Salem
Greenville
Honolulu
Houston
Indianapolis
Jackson
Jacksonville
Kansas City
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
Louisville
Memphis
Milwaukee
Minneapolis/St. Paul
Nashville
New Brunswick
New Orleans
New York
Oklahoma City
Orange County
Orlando
Philadelphia
Phoenix
Pittsburgh
Portland
Providence
Raleigh/Durham
Sacramento
San Antonio
San Diego
San Fernando Valley
San Francisco
San Jose
Santa Barbara
Santa Rosa
Seattle
South Florida
St. Louis
Syracuse
Tampa Bay
Washington DC
Western Michigan
White Plains
Wichita

Make the most of these resources in your job search.

Naming your e-mail attachments

Too often job seekers name the resume and cover letter documents for their convenience without consideration for the person receiving the documents or what the name used may communicate.

Consider the following real file names: (note: MyName is the person’s name)

Resume1.doc – Hiring managers get thousands of documents with this exact name making it hard to store electronically

Resu.doc – Resu was not part of the person’s name. Were they too lazy to even spell out the word resume?

TheRightManager.doc – too cheesy

MyNameOct12007 – It may be handy to you to have the date you revised or posted the resume however, on the resume it indicates how long you have been looking. It will end up being your expiration date.

MyNameVersion99.doc –version 99 indicates the person has gone through a lot of revisions and is not confident with the resume.

Naming the file using your name, the job title, and the word “resume” in any order is a safe way to go. Be careful when abbreviating words such as assistant so you don’t spell something unintentionally.

A step toward corporate independence

One of the truths about the new job market is that your next job will not be your last; you will be on the job market again. The job market has gone the way of the home phone. In the past, the phone was hard wired in the house and there was usually only one phone that served the entire house. Today, if there is a home phone, it is modular and there is an outlet in every room. You plug the phone into the outlet, it works well and if needed you unplug it and plug it into another outlet where it works equally well. This is an analogy for the new job market. No longer do people have only one company or job. It is estimated that in today’s job market, people will have 4 careers and 18 different jobs in their life.

One of the aspects of corporate life that makes the transition harder and more complicated is benefits. If an employee or family member has a preexisting condition, the employee may feel handcuffed to the company. Since longevity at a company is now not as likely, and as companies are cutting back on benefits such as pension plans and 401K company match, employees have already started creating their own retirement plans. Everyone should consider going one step further and get independent life and health insurance. Do not let dependence on company benefits keep you from making a move that benefits you, your career, and family.

It can be the little things that make or break your job search or make you more productive. If you have other ideas and are willing to share them for possible publication by RightChanges, send them to Info@RightChanges.biz