I came across an article on CNN Money that exemplified how it is still possible to get hired quickly during the current recession.
I’ve also written a few posts around the topic of job searching. I wrote a post for recent grads that are job hunting. Studenomics guest posted on my site with a few potential reasons why you may not have a job this summer. For those of you trying to get a job by any means, I threw out a few tips on how to use twitter to find a job. And if the recession has you down, you could always apply for a government job.
But, on to the article. 
What did he do to get hired so quickly?
Two conditions he had that you may not have:
- His employer gave him a months notice.
- He was employed as a computer programmer – a technical field.
Regardless of whether or not you get those advantages, you can still learn from how he did his job search. Start with the basic question he asked himself:
"I put myself in the place of the employer," he explained. "What would the employer be looking for, what would catch their eye?"
Using that thought process, he proceeded to:
- Research keywords that hiring managers were looking for. By doing this he made sure to avoid “IT professional” and instead use “computer programmer.”
- Post his resume to Dice.com, Careerbuilder.com and Monster.com. This goes hand in hand with the keyword research. With job posting websites comes the ability to search resumes. How successful was he? He got 20-30 calls on his resume alone. That was people coming to him!
- Network by reaching out to old friends and managers, joining LinkedIn, and joining his alumni association at UCLA to get access to the career services.
- Brush up in his industry by using books and online tutorials.
- Do his homework on each company and keep a binder with all of their information.
- Dress for success and Prepare for questions. He knew they were business casual but went in a suit. He also prepared for every conceivable question to ensure he answered them to the best of his ability.
In the end, he was only unemployed for three days!
Takeaways
"This is a buyer’s market out there right now," said Dan King, principal of Career Planning and Management Inc. in Boston. "Its not always the most qualified who gets the job but the one who knows best how to market their qualifications."
By taking an analytical and methodical approach, you too could have this kind of success. You just need to come to the realization that you will be competing with a lot of people.
What makes you different? Why are you better? What once stood out may not do so anymore… so make it your job to make it obvious.
Anyone else have similar luck searching for a job?
I'm MLR. After graduating from college debt free, I decided to write a blog encouraging people to adapt responsible and sensible personal finance rules.
September 10th, 2009 at 6:15 am |
I definitely think you need to tap into your network these days to find work. Granted, that you network of contacts is a diverse group of individuals. I try to build relationships with people in all areas of life. I find that having a friend that works as a manager at Company X will be more beneficial than any resume you put together.
Studenomist´s last blog ..Work From Home Job Scam Tips For College Graduates
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September 10th, 2009 at 10:18 am |
Great advice – the breakdown of the process is what everyone should do.
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September 12th, 2009 at 10:48 am |
Not bad, not bad. I’m impressed with how fast he managed to go from one job to another. I had decent luck finding a new position after getting downsized, but following this advice probably would have cut down my search time (which was definitely longer than three days). Thanks for sharing.
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September 18th, 2009 at 7:56 am |
Also before I step into any interview now, I try to research EVERYTHING I can about a company. It really does impress the interviewer because you took the time to do that.
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September 18th, 2009 at 3:16 pm |
@Studenomics — Most definitely. A strong network is worth more than the best resume you could possibly put together. Personal relationships speak a lot louder than a one page document outlining a few selected achievements.
@funnelthru — Thanks. Sometimes when you read a story like that your first intuition is to say “Lucky!” But once you break down the process you really get a handle on how you can apply it to your own life!
@Roger — Live and learn, friend. I’m glad to hear you got a permanent position, though! You deserved it, keep on blogging, though.
@Hanna — Exactly! How can you ask informed questions, as you should, if you don’t know all about the company? From financials to marketing to industry shifts… you should have a grasp on company basics. When I was interviewing a lot I kept a binder on each company I was applying to!
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September 20th, 2009 at 10:42 pm |
I have to admit, I’ve grown tired of job-search articles like this one. I don’t like to whine, because I do have some part-time work now ($100/week), and a bit of freelance work, but paying the bills is a big problem right now. I’ve been out of school since the end of January.
The article you pointed out is a lot like others I have read, and yes, I do try to implement as much as possible from what I’ve read. But let’s face it: the field you’re trying to work in matters. I’ve applied for a wide variety of things that I believe I would be a good fit for, but I’ve only had one interview in the past seven months. However, I know that if I had my degree in IT or Computer Science, I likely wouldn’t have this problem (all of my IT and CS friends from college, which is a large group because I went to a tech school, graduated in May and have jobs now).
So I wouldn’t downplay the fact that the guy in the article is a computer programmer. That matters.
Stephanie PTY´s last blog ..$25,000 for College from Upromise
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MyLifeROI Reply:
September 20th, 2009 at 10:57 pm |
@Stephanie PTY,
Most definitely!
I tried to outline that right away by saying: “He was employed as a computer programmer – a technical field.”
Regardless of that, though, the article still has good suggestions for anyone looking. You may not get the same results… as some fields are worse than others.
Do you mind me asking, what field are you in?
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Stephanie PTY Reply:
September 21st, 2009 at 1:44 am |
@MyLifeROI, The million dollar question! ;) I went to school for film, but ultimately found that I just wasn’t a good filmmaker. I added business classes and ultimately got my degree in Film Production and Business Studies.
What field am I in now? Well, there’s the blog, there’s the theatre stage managing position I took (something I’m really very good at, but the pay will never be enough to support myself), and now I’m doing some freelance blog consulting for small online retail businesses that want to get readers for their blogs. I keep my eye out for full-time jobs that I am either interested in (a wide variety of topics) or that I feel I could do well (even if it’s retail or being a receptionist).
So you tell me – what field am I in?
Stephanie PTY´s last blog ..$25,000 for College from Upromise
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September 25th, 2009 at 11:01 am |
Hmm, I have a lot of positive experience in a technical field, and a recent advanced degree in that field, and excellent references. No luck in getting a job, there are just too many people chasing too few jobs. A recent article reported the anecdote of 600 resumes for one engineering job. I’ve networked, searched, gone online, honed skills, talked with recruiters, all to no avail. Don’t need to worry about interview skills since I haven’t had any interviews.
So it’s not just the English majors who are in trouble.
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