The Job-Hunter's Survival Guide: How to Find a Rewarding Job Even When "There Are No Jobs"

Obviously reading a book like this means I am in the midst of trying to find work. This is a short book from the author of 'What Color is Your Parachute?' designed to impart advice to those looking for a job. Bolles provides an overview of eighteen ways of looking for a job (i.e. networking, internet, want ads, etc), rating the least effective and the most. As might be expected, just circulating a resume online or uploading it to a company website is not as effective as establishing personal contact via phone or in person. Bolles number one way to get employed (about 86% effective), is by doing a personal inventory where you discover what you want to do, where you want to do it, and what transferable skills you have. Bolles says keeping show more your eyes on the prize (where you want to be vocationally) is the surest way to get there. show less

Here is a basic job-hunting guide for the growing number of people who are unemployed, and don’t have the time, or desire, to read a lot of details.

Among the first things you should do is to do a Google search of your name, to see what the Internet says about you. If there are any drunken, or racy, photos of you on Facebook, for instance, restrict their availability or delete them, now. You can plan on a potential employer doing the same search.

After that, take some time and do a through self-inventory of what you do best and enjoy most, and your skills that are most transferable. What did you like most about your last job? What would be your dream job? (Please don’t say "A job with high pay and no responsibilities.") That way, you show more can be absolutely detailed about the type of job you are seeking, and use that to focus your job search.

Most people want to limit their job-searching to replying to online job vacancies, mailing resumes, answering newspaper ads or using private employment agencies. Their rate of success is small, so don’t make them your only job-search methods. Much more effective job-search methods include asking your network for job leads, knocking on the door of any employer that interests you (whether or not they have a vacancy), and using the Yellow Pages, alone or with others in a job club, looking for fields of interest.

Before you get on the Internet, know what kind of job you are seeking. There are a seemingly infinite number of sites to visit, including omnibus search engines, sites with jobs in specific fields, and social networking sites. Pick just a few sites, and monitor them (jobs are frequently cross-posted to multiple sites). If a site allows you to fill out a profile, or post your resume, do it. You never know who will read it. Employers prefer to fill vacancies from within, before they advertise for the opening, and deal with a bunch of semi-qualified candidates. If they already have your resume, or have seen you work as a temp or contract employee, your chances have greatly increased.

This book is short, and excellent. To those who bemoan the total lack of available jobs, the author asks "Have you done anything more than rely on the Internet or Sunday want ads for your job searching?" It is very much recommended for all job seekers. show less