The Job Hunt

For my current one follower and the millions to come! First, my endeavors into self-employment are moving at a brisk pace. I've been able to secure my domain name and am well into the process of developing my web site. I hope to have these ready to share with the world within a week. One the other side, I have actually been contacted by several companies, four to be exact, for job interviews as of the first of the year.

I stumbled upon an article at Jobing.com about the frustrations of the online application process. Check it out.
http://phoenix.jobing.com/blog_post.asp?post=15498&j=18821099&e

The comments listed after the article are what really surprised me. Maybe they shouldn't have. I've heard similar comments through many of the networking groups I've attended in the past 4 months, but I've also learned a lot about how these Applicant Tracking Systems work and I think this author did a dis-service by not expanding on a few items. The answers listed do little to re-tool candidates to conduct an effective modern job search.

Here are a few additions I would have listed as a part of this article:

• Key Word Searches - This can be the single most important variable in an Applicant Tracking System. These systems typically disqualify applicants if they do not meet a high percentage of key work matches that the recruiter has established for the position. For example, a position might require a particular accounting or HRIS system experience. If you only list "accounting system" or "HRIS" experience and not "Peachtree" and/or "SAP", be prepared to be left off the list of qualified candidates. Don't just be thorough, be REALLY REALLY thorough when it comes to your experience. It is now commonplace for a resume to have a dedicated section for key words. Feel free to have a paragraph of specific skills, software and capabilities that you possess. You can label this section "Technical Knowledge & Experience" or some other variation.

• Networking - Most of the respondents mention a familiar cycle......... Blindly apply for a posted position.......wait.......hear nothing........get frustrated. Here's what I've learned through a lot of in depth HR networking over the past several months; 1) A lot of the positions posted on the job boards may not even exist! Some are posted by agency recruiters just trying to enhance their database of candidates. If a posting is confidential, there is a great chance this is the case. 2) The economy has not only caused companies to be extra-cautious when hiring, it has also swelled the applicant pool. Don't be surprised if you are 1 of 300 or 400 applicants for a single posting. 3) The one sure fire way to distinguish yourself from other candidates, or maybe even to get a courtesy look, is NETWORKING! Use the various resources like LinkedIn on the web as well as good old fashion talking to those you know and those you meet. I've heard a lot of figures quoted, but somewhere around 70%+ of those who find employment have done so through some form of networking. Use church, industry groups, the grocery store, the PTA, and talking to neighbors be a part of your networking activities. Find an in with a company and then target your efforts at making contact through your source.

Certainly, be thorough on your application, but don't leave your chances in the hands of a recruiter who doesn't know you from Adam (or Eve). Network hard and be positive. Complaining won't improve the situation and often will keep you from being the best job seeker you can be.

BTW, I love the folks over at Jobing.com (they're the best in the business).