Getting a Great Job June 19, 2013
June 19, 2013
June 19, 2013
“I sent out 200 resumes in the last month and haven’t heard anything!”
“I’ve been trying for so long, I’m about to give up on ever finding a job.”
“My job makes me miserable. I do the work of two employees and theystill treat me like dirt, but I’ve got to pay the bills. My best work is always criticized and I never hear about a job well done. I feel like a prisoner.”
“I just got laid off after 20 years with my company. I’m not too hopeful I’ll find another job soon—companies are looking for young workerswho’ll take lower salaries, not people in their 50s like me.”
Sound familiar? Like many others right now, we have friends and familymembers who are unemployed, underemployed, or simply afraid to leavejobs they hate. These are only a sampling of the comments they’ve madeexpressing their frustration at the current job market. With theunemployment rate at nearly 8%, jobs are hard to come by (and good jobsare even harder). However, things are looking up: the US Department ofLabor reports that employers filled 4.4 million job openings in April2013. This means that there are jobs out there—if you know how to findthem.
With so many people we know in need of employment, we were driven toinvestigate the best ways to find and apply for decent work. However,before you start applying to positions, there are some preparations that all job seekers should make.
Be positive: True, this is easier said than done—butit’s vital to believe that the right job is out there. By envisioning ahappy ending waiting for them, job seekers build enthusiasm and thedrive to succeed. Negative attitudes not only slow progress, but theyare also easily detected by prospective employers…and who wants a“Debbie Downer” working in their office? (If you need a more positiveattitude or feel consistently unhappy, we suggest you read our recentcolumn on depression for tips on diagnosis and treatment.) While apositive attitude is a definite bonus, don’t expect that perfect job tojust come knocking on your door. It will take time, research, andcareful planning.
Don’t quit yet: While it may feel good to tell yourcurrent employer to “take this job and shove it,” you’ll have a betterchance of finding work—and not to mention, a more stable financialpicture—if you are still employed while searching for a new job. Sadly,prospective employers are often suspicious of unemployed individuals, so if you have a job, hold onto it until you’re ready to leave. Also,people who resign are generally not eligible for unemployment benefits.
Over the course of your career, you should work at jobs that will takeyou where you ultimately want to be and stay at them for a significantamount of time. Employers distrust resumes that suggest “job hopping”(staying at positions for less than two years). As Rachel Zupek wrote in a Careerbuilder.com article, “Employers want people in theirorganization to work their way up, so it’s best to show that you want to and can grow with the company.” Employee turnover costs money, andemployers want to make a good investment in hiring you.
Exit gracefully: Be sure to leave a former employer on goodterms, no matter how hurt or angry you may be. Whether you are laid offor you resign, you will probably be interviewed by the human resourcesdepartment. Although the things you say are supposed to be confidential, they may still make their way back to leadership. Focus on the goodthings about the company and its leaders to increase your chances of agood reference or letter of recommendation.
The worst thing you can do during an interview is to speak badly about a former employer. News travels; plus, it makes you look bitter. Count on any negative things you said to former coworkers getting back tomanagement as well. If you resign, give plenty of notice and tie uploose ends before you leave, even if you have to work late or volunteerbeyond your last day. Employers will notice and share their positiveimpressions with people calling to check references.
Perfect your resume: Before you even begin searchingfor jobs, you need to have an outstanding, up-to-date resume. Keep it to two pages (preferably one). We recommend using the name you are called(not necessarily your full name) and last name, no middle initials. Inan easy-to-read font like Times New Roman, start with your name, boldedand in 14 point size, followed by your mailing address (preferably astreet address), e-mail address, and telephone number (with area code)in 10 point font. Caution: make sure your e-mail address comes across as professional—few employers will take “[email protected]” asseriously as “[email protected]!” Continue with the rest of your resume in an 11-12 point font.
If you are a college graduate, first, state your academic institutionand your major/minor (if applicable), followed by any academic honorssuch as a cum laude designation or a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher. In the “Work Experience” section, list your latest job first,followed by the years employed (rather than the months, which isunnecessarily detailed), title, and a brief description of the position. Repeat with prior jobs, but leave out any that were short-term orpart-time unless they are particularly relevant. If you have worked formultiple departments within a company, only list your latest job. Youcan include job responsibilities from your previous positions, butmultiple listings can give a reviewer the impression that you have beenjob hopping, whereas you have actually been with the same company foryears.
Next, describe yourself using key words like “team player,” “positive,”“forward thinker,” “creative,” “organized,” “problem solver,” etc.According to a survey by Careerbuilder.com and Robert HalfInternational, the top assets that employers are looking for incandidates are multi-tasking, initiative, and creative problem solving.Don’t list your hobbies or interests, but include any professionalassociation memberships, athletic accomplishments, scholarships,academic or relevant clubs, leadership roles, and volunteer work (ifnecessary, these can be cut to save space). You want to use most of your one page to describe who you are, so forget the work objective andreferences on your resume. You can explain the work objective in yourcover letter and provide references if you are called in for aninterview.
However tempting it may be, don’t inflate your qualifications. TriNet,one of the largest co-employers in the US (and also our co-employer),reported that “resume enhancement” (lying) was the greatest problem inthe human resource area today. Recently, we offered a candidate a jobafter she aced several tests and interviews with us. However, we wereforced to rescind the offer after a background check determined she hadlied about her college degree.
Finally, have a technical writer, an English teacher, or someone whowrites well proof your resume. Bad grammar and punctuation mistakes canget your resume tossed in the trash immediately. We’ve seen hundreds ofresumes throughout the years, and an amazing number contained typos! Run a spelling and grammar check and read your resume out loud to catchmistakes. Remember, you only have about 5-10 seconds to sell yourself to resume readers, so make your first impression flawless.
Tailor each resume you send: Many employers now usescreening software to scan resumes and applications for key words fromthe advertised job description. Thus, it’s not how many resumes you send out, but rather how well you have tailored each to the job description. Take a little extra time to adapt your basic resume file to addresseach job posting individually.
Write a cover letter that shines: Employers can tellthe difference between a resume that has been sent to 100 othercompanies and one that specifically addresses the job ad and requiredskills. Guess which one we trash? If you are allowed to include one, acover letter gives you an additional chance to show the employer thatyou have studied the company and its website and explain why your skills match the advertised job, how you can benefit the company, and why youare interested in working for them. In other words, you have a primeopportunity to stand out from the others competing for the jobinterview!
Keep your cover letter to one page. As with your resume, make sure it is error-free and written well. When we are hiring at our companies, wereally dig into cover letters because they reveal so much about theapplicants. Ideally, a cover letter should grab the reader’s interestbefore he or she even reaches your resume.
Score points for presentation: Print originals of thecover letter and resume on bright white paper that is slightly thickerthan usual (but not card stock) and sign the letter in dark blue ink tostand out. For documents that you send through the mail, a 10X13”envelope projects the best image. You may even consider havingletterhead and envelopes professionally printed. Each resume and coverletter should be done with care, as if you are applying to that jobonly.
You may want to combine your basic cover letter and resume into a single electronic file that you can customize to fit specific jobs. That way,if employers ask you to submit your resume electronically, you caninclude both documents.
Know what you want: Once you have an excellent basicresume, carefully contemplate the types of jobs that you want. We always recommend following your passion, even if it means less money, power,or prestige. Why go for the big bucks but be unhappy? Don’t let friendsand relatives influence you.
Many people don’t actually know what they want to do until their 30s and 40s. Look at the job-seeking process as a journey that will tell youmore about yourself. Are you willing to relocate? What do you enjoydoing? What salary range would you accept? How far would you drive towork each day? Would you be willing to accept a lower paying job to getinside the company? These are all questions you can ask yourself todetermine what positions best suit you. Keeping in mind that there is no such thing as a perfect job, formulate a comprehensive (but flexible)plan. As the famous baseball coach and player Yogi Berra said, “You’vegot to be very careful if you don’t know where you are going because you might not get there!”
If you need assistance matching your skills to the jobs you are seeking, there are professional testing services and coaches that can assistyou. University career offices also offer this service to alumni andgraduating students, often for free. Use these services as part of youremployment search toolbox.
Update your skills: Once you have developed anexcellent resume, know what jobs you wish to seek, and have a plan inplace, you may want to consider adding some additional experience andeducation. For example, if you have a degree in finance or business,take some courses in Excel, QuickBooks, human resources, websitedevelopment, etc. Local community colleges offer short continuingeducation courses for certifications that can give your resume a bigboost. Think outside the box to gain experience that will add value toyour resume.
Obtain good Internet access: Jobs can be there one week and gone the next, and in this day and age, the best way to find themis online. You need fast, 24/7 access to the Internet so you can checklistings every day and pounce on the ones that catch your eye. You willalso need a relatively new computer with a web browser like InternetExplorer or Google Chrome, Microsoft Word and Excel software, and a good printer. Investing in an up-to-date smartphone with Internet access isalso a wise move.
Clean up your online image: Sometimes, people seemprofessional in their resumes and letters to employers but reveal theirtrue selves on social networks like Facebook. According to aCareerBuilder.com survey, nearly 50 percent of employers examineapplicants’ social network profiles, and of those employers, 35 percentdismissed candidates as a result of what they found. You might think you have restricted who can see your Facebook page, but employers may useindependent assessment firms to pierce your privacy settings. Your bestbet is to delete anything offensive, objectionable, or unprofessionalfrom your social media presence before you start applying for jobs.
Never miss a chance to send a positive message: Whenyou set up your out-of-office notification or outgoing voicemailmessage, speak in a calm, clear, and professional voice. The messageshould be brief, friendly, and positive to project a good image to anyemployers who may hear it. Make sure that you avoid any backgroundnoise.
Let the search begin! Now that you know what positionsyou’re looking for and have prepared your materials, it’s time to findpotential jobs. Finding the right job is like fishing: you’ll catch more fish with a variety of poles, baits, and spots than with a single linein one place. Sometimes, the fish just won’t be biting in one location,so you’ll have to move to another. Data from the Bureau of LaborStatistics shows that people who use several different job searchstrategies (such as a combination of networking, searching online jobpostings, and posting a resume on relevant job boards) are much morelikely to find a job than those who focus on only one or two methods.The wider the net you spread, the better your chance of catching somegood leads.
Decide where you want to work: Local or state chambersof commerce are great places to start finding desirable employersbecause its members are usually quality companies. Conduct research anddetermine 20 places you would like to work. Then, study their websites,jot down relevant details, and come up with questions to ask them thatshow your interest. In a CareerBuilder study, almost 60 percent ofemployers reported being turned off when an applicant came to theinterview without knowing much about the company. Nearly 50 percent said that applicants lost their chance at a job by failing to ask goodquestions about the company. Think of innovative ways to make yourselfknown at the company, such as volunteering as an intern or apprentice at night or on the weekends. For example, some teachers get their foot inthe door by substituting at schools so principals get to know them.
Spread the word: According to the US Department ofLabor, most job openings are not advertised! In fact, BH CareersInternational stated, “Eighty percent of available jobs are neveradvertised and over half of all employees secure their jobs throughnetworking.” Therefore, you need to reach out to all of your friends and relatives to let them know of your job search, explain what you arelooking for, and provide them with your resume. After the initialdiscussion, check in with them every couple of weeks without buggingthem. Ask your entire social network if they know anyone within the 20ideal companies you have identified or if any of their contacts do.Although much of the employment process is now moving online, don’tunderestimate the power of interpersonal relationships! Often, it is a“friend of a friend” who has an “in” that leads to your interview.
Think outside your group of family and friends by joining professionalorganizations, volunteering with high-profile organizations likechambers of commerce, and giving your time to visible charities like the United Way. The key to meeting business and community leaders is towork your way onto a planning committee. You’ll have the opportunity tohelp others, plus you will get to know some decision-makers and showthem what you can do. Finding the right job is much easier when you know people serving in important corporate and nonprofit roles.
Reach out online: Often, you can find great jobpostings simply by paying attention to what your friends post onFacebook and Twitter. In fact, in one of our companies, DuBose WebGroup, our team members share job openings through their personalFacebook statuses. Alternately, you can post a status briefly describing what kind of job you’re looking for, your location, and any specialskills you have, and someone may see it in their newsfeed and makerecommendations to you.
LinkedIn is a social networking site that is like a business-orientedFacebook. It is great for networking, and the connections you can buildon the site can be helpful in job hunting. If one of your friends getsthe scoop on a job about opening up at his or her company, you can getthat information (and maybe even a recommendation) faster and with lesseffort than combing through pages of ads.
Check the classifieds: In the past, most job listingswere found in newspapers. Now, a look at the “Help Wanted” section ofmost papers yields much fewer ads than it would have 20 years ago. Inkeeping with a larger trend, many employers are now posting their jobads solely online. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t skim thenewspaper classifieds (especially on Sunday). But gone are the days when newspapers were the major source of job leads.
Search the web: In the digital age, most people begin their job search online. There are many job search websites available, most ofwhich are free to use. Visitors can either search for a job by location, keyword, or other terms, or post their resumes to the website so thatemployers are alerted when matching jobs open up and vice versa.
But which sites to use? Several of the largest includeCareerbuilder.com, Monster.com, and Indeed.com. According to PCMag.com,Indeed sees 100 million visitors per month (53 percent of jobsearch-based web activity in US), making it the most-used of thosethree, but Careerbuilder and Monster are also very popular. Another idea is to look at a site specifically tailored to your field, such asMediabistro.com (for journalism, marketing, and public relationsprofessionals) or Dice.com (for technology and engineering jobseekers).
One of the best things about using these websites is that they areconstantly updating to keep up with current technology. For example,even though Monster.com is almost 20 years old (ages, in technologyyears), it owns the BeKnown app, which brings the job search toFacebook. In fact, several of these sites have apps that can be used onsmartphones, making it possible to stay aware of new openings whereveryou are.
Mike, who had never used an electronic job search site before, logged on to Careerbuilder for the first time for this column and was surprisedat its offerings. Users begin by setting up an account withCareerbuilder.com with basic information like name, city, and the typesof jobs they are seeking, then upload a resume. CareerBuilder alsoprovides users with a plethora of tools like job quizzes, a salarycalculator, and career advice, in addition to a smartphone app. Most ofthese sites are free, so we suggest joining several to diversify yourefforts. Once you post your resume, employers are alerted about you andyou, in turn, are also informed about positions relevant to yourinterests.
Check local job boards: Many states offer theirresidents searchable job banks. For example, South Carolina’sSCworks.org features job listings in many areas and advice on how tosearch for and obtain a job. States also have sites where applicants can learn about and apply for jobs specifically within state government (in South Carolina, www.jobs.sc.gov/OHR/OHR-jobs-portal-index.phtm). The federal government also has a job list (usajobs.gov), and majorcities maintain lists of jobs online. Use Google to find the rightresources in your area.
Utilize your university career center: If you graduated from a college or university, contact their career center and ask ifthey can help place alumni in jobs (ask to work with a senior advisorrather than a student). Although this is often a great starting pointfor recent graduates, even people who have been out of college for years can access job listing databases like Clemson University’s alumni jobsite, http://career.clemson.edu/clemsonjoblink/alumni.php, or the University of South Carolina’s JobMate (www.sc.edu/career/jobmate.html).
Contact professional job placement agencies: Professional headhunters are trained to match employees with employers(for a fee). However, check with your local chamber of commerce so thatyou only employ ethical, professional agencies with good reputations.(Mike once worked with a terrible employment agency that made up falsejob openings and sent people to interview for jobs they could never getto “break” them into taking any job. He promptly quit.)
Keep salary requirements reasonable: Too many folkshave salary expectations that are way too high and price themselves outof the market immediately. Consider the intangible benefits oflower-paying positions, and always list your desired salary as“negotiable.”
Don’t sit at home feeling sorry for yourself! If you are unemployed,establish a purpose for each day, such as volunteering or working for atemporary agency. It may not pay well, but you need to get out of thehouse and feel like you are doing something productive. Being unemployed or stuck in a job you hate can negatively impact your mental andphysical health unless you keep a positive attitude, so don’t whine orcomplain about your situation. Success is often defined as hard work—ifyou want something, you have to go after it with gusto!
Pray: If you are spiritual, reach out for some help from above. If God created the universe, He can surely help you find a job!
The bottom line: Rarely does a person graduate fromhigh school, college, or graduate school and step right into their ideal job. Often, it’s just the opposite! Finding an exciting role in acaring environment requires a series of experiments, so use the thingsyou like to do as your guide. The right job is out there, but it takestime, research, and work to find. However, the payoff is worth it tentimes over. We’re so glad that our team members found us—and that wefound them!
About the Authors: Our corporate and personalpurpose is to “create opportunities to improve lives” by sharing ourknowledge, experience, success, research, and mistakes.
Blake DuBose graduated from Newberry College School of Business and ispresident of DuBose Web Group. View our published articles at www.duboseweb.com.
Mike DuBose has been in business since 1981, authored The Art ofBuilding a Great Business, and is a field instructor with USC’s graduate school. He is the servant owner of three debt-free corporations,including Columbia Conference Center, Research Associates, and TheEvaluation Group. Visit his nonprofit website www.mikedubose.com.
Katie Beck serves as Director of Communications for the DuBose family of companies. She graduated from the USC School of Journalism and HonorsCollege.
© Copyright June 18, 2013 by Mike DuBose and Blake DuBose–All RightsReserved. You have permission and we encourage you to forward the fullarticle to friends or colleagues and/or distribute it as part ofpersonal or professional use during the year 2013, providing that theauthors are credited. However, no part of this article may be altered or published in any other manner without the written consent of theauthors. If you would like written approval to post this information onan appropriate website or to publish this information, please contactKatie Beck at [email protected] and briefly explain how the articlewill be used and we will respond promptly. Shorter versions of somearticles may be available upon request.
