How do most of us look for a job? We decide to look, maybe clean up our resumes, tell our friends, and start calling or sending letters. But there are some simple things you can do before you start communicating with employers, that will give better results in the end. Results like less frustration, better contracts, improved communications, and effective interviews.

  

 Beginning Your Search
     Searching for a job is a complicated process. It is easier if you keep track of everything and keep it in one place. Designate a spot for all your notes and papers,convenient to the telephone.

     One method is to sort your information by job. File folders store letters, newspaper clippings, and faxes better than loose-leaf binders or spiral notebooks.

     Use a phone log to keep track of your phone conversations. Record who you spoke with, the company, the date, and what you talked about. It may seem like a hassle, but you will be speaking with many people. You need to remember (and sometimes prove) details when it is time to negotiate a contract.

      Most of the expenses of your job search may be tax deductible even if you do not take a new job. Plan now to save receipts until the end of the year.

Recognize Your Priorities

     Before you go on interviews, you need to decide what is important to you. Do you want a job where there is room for promotion? Are you willing to devote extra time to your career now, or do you want a job that allows you plenty of time for family and friends? You should be clear on these points before accepting a job offer.

      Other points to consider are the type of supervision you prefer, the amount of responsibility you feel you can take on, and what benefits are important to you.

Preparing Your Resume

     Your resume is the first thing employers will see, so it needs to be impeccable.

     You should have it printed (not photocopied) on good paper. Go to a local printing shop and ask for samples of different paper. The higher the number, the thicker the paper. 80# is twice as thick as 40#. Don't go above 80#, as many fax and copy machines can not handle it. Avoid fancy watermarks, scenic backgrounds and raised papers. They are not professional, and they do not copy or fax well.

     If you are using a recruiter, they will almost always send resumes to employers by fax. You don't need to send them a copy on good paper, but you should still have several copies for when you interview. Use black ink and an easy to read font.

     Keep it simple. Don't use too many bolded or italicized words. You can always make your resume another page longer, so don't make the letter size too small to read. Make sure you check spelling and punctuation, and have several people look it over for mistakes.

     Do put in "white space" on purpose. If the resume is not easy to read, employers will not read it. When listing your past jobs, start with company names, addresses, dates of employment, and supervisor's name and title. List some job responsibilities and any specific results. Remember to mention if you did any employee training or supervising.

      If you make a second resume (see next section), you may want to list volunteer positions. Again, list specific results, such as the amount of money you raised for a cause or the number of other volunteers you trained or supervised. Only include this if it won't make your resume too long. You can always bring this up in the interview , in your cover letter, or on the telephone.

One Resume or Two?

     Many people have a wealth of work and volunteer experience to bring to a job. They may have two, three, even four page resumes. It is normal to be proud of your accomplishments and to want your resume to reflect your experience. However, you want employers to look at your resume and remember you. They will remember very little of a four page resume when they are reviewing five or ten applicants for the position.

      So make two resumes. The first one should be short (one, maybe two pages). It should be easy to read, copy and fax. Start it with a summary or objective of what you are looking for, number each page, and clearly give information on how to contact you (day and evening phone, fax, cellular, pager, e-mail address, etc.) Then list work experience, education, certifications, licenses and awards. Send it with a cover letter in first contacts with employers to convince them to contact you.

     The second resume can be as extensive as you wish. Use it during face to face interviews to provide the employer with more information about your experience.

The Cover Letter

     The same guidelines for the resume apply to the cover letter. If possible, you should write a different cover letter for each job, but if you use a recruiter, send them one general cover letter to use.

     Find out the name of the person reviewing resumes and address your letter to them. Express your interest in the position and tell them any special qualifications you have, but keep it short. People have short attention spans, and most hiring officials are overworked and understaffed.

     Many of us have difficulty in composing a letter to strangers, especially if we are asking them for consideration about a job. When the time comes to send a cover letter, compose the letter to someone you have already spoken to. You will have the advantage of remembering your last conversation with them, even if it was only on the telephone. The letter will flow from you, because we not only remember words and ideas from conversations, but also form a remembered image and level of acceptance.

References

     Employers do check professional references, so make sure you have the right phone number listed. When you ask someone for a reference letter, you should casually remind them of some of the points you want them to cover. Try and be specific, using projects you worked on and results achieved.

     If an application asks for personal references, make sure to let each person know that you have given their name out as a reference so they can be prepared if called.

      Guard your references carefully. Do not put them on your resume. Don't share them with employers until you are certain that both of you are serious about hiring. Some employers pay very close attention to each reference, while others pay attention to only the negative ones.

     Don't allow a recruiter to give out your references without your express permission. If the recruiter puts them out on a computer network, your references could get ten or twenty calls or letters. You don't want to anger the people you are counting on to praise you.

Answering Machines

     If you don't have an answering machine, now would be a good time to invest in one. Employers want to be able to reach you in some way. Once you begin your job search, your answering machine message should be professional. Eliminate any background music, speak clearly, and avoid jokes or cute messages.    Also, let anyone you live with know that you are expecting calls from employers. They should be courteous and take messages. Keep paper and pen by the phone and designate a place for your messages.

     The best answering machines are digital and record your message and calls on a computer chip instead of a tape. The sound quality is much better, and they are more durable than the old type of machine that uses tapes.

Plan What to Wear for Interviews

     You should decide what you are going to wear on your interviews. If your chosen outfit needs to be cleaned, pressed, or mended, get it taken care of now. You should also try it on, with shoes and any accessories you plan to wear. Remember to check the view from the back.

     Let the type of position be your guide as to what to wear. For most professional positions, a suit is a must. For other jobs, women can wear separates (or a dress) with a jacket. Long sleeves are better than short and sleeveless is unacceptable.

     For women, while pantsuits are acceptable to wear to work, a skirt is necessary for the interview. The length should be just at, just above or just below the knee. Nylons should always be worn.

     Dark or neutral colors are safest. Black, brown, navy blue, beige or gray are all good choices. Red is considered a neutral by some, but it is not recommended in a conservative field.

     One thing most interviewers dislike is to see a women in the old navy suit, white shirt, and scarf. Accessories should complete the look. A good watch is always acceptable for men or women.

     Men can add color to their suit with ties. Women should make sure that they are not wearing too much of or the wrong kind of jewelry. No dangling earrings or patterned hosiery. If you are at all uncertain about the number of accessories you have on, the rule is: take one item off.

     Pay attention to the details. Shoes should be in good condition and polished. It seems like a small thing, but many people notice the condition of shoes. For women, flats or heels are acceptable, but extremely high heels, sandals, or open toes are not professional.

     Both men and women's fingernails and hair should be neatly groomed. Long hair should probably be tied back or put up. Men should not wear an earring to an interview and women should not wear clothing that shows a lot of skin.

     This is a lot of attention spent on what many consider to be small things. Remember, the employer is trying to decide, in one meeting, if they should hire you. Make it easy for them. They tend to hire people similar to themselves, and they don't hire people they feel uncomfortable with.

Practice Interviewing

      If possible, use a video camera and have a friend help you do a run through. Dress in your interview clothing to see how it looks. If you don't have a camera, practice answering interview questions into a tape recorder.

     You should expect an employer to ask you certain questions. Many ask about your strengths and weaknesses, your goals, and why you want to work for their company. Prepare your answer now and practice it.

     Concentrate on how your voice sounds. Are you speaking too quickly or softly? Do you sound confident and sure of yourself? Don't end every statement with an upward inflection, like a question. It makes you sound unsure.

     If you are using video, check your posture and gestures. Notice any nervous habits you have, such as pushing your hair to the side or playing with jewelry. Become aware of potential problems and try another run through, rehearsing until you feel comfortable and in control.

Have Realistic Expectations

      Searching for a job in today's world is a time-consuming and lengthy process. You should expect it to take anywhere from two weeks to four or six months. You will need a week to get your resume done and go through the other steps in Chapter 1.

     You could be in the right place at the right time and get hired immediately at the first place you contact, but this is unusual. More likely, you will talk to dozens of people and have many interviews. Most people hired by companies go through at least two interviews and several phone conversations. Realize this process will take time and try not to get frustrated.

     You may want to think of your search as your job for now. Try to have some goals, such as, "I will call ten people today", or, "I will send out five resumes today." If you are only speaking to one person a day, any rejections you get will seem overwhelming. By having more than one thing going on, you will be getting some positive responses along with rejections and delays.

     Keep focused and busy, and don't let yourself get discouraged. All your hard work will eventually pay off.

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