It goes without saying that a well thought out resume and the right job can go hand in hand when getting an interview. But having a job search strategy also goes hand in hand when trying to find the right company to submit your resume too. Today’s most common form of job search is online job searching. While this may work for some people in larger cities such as New York or Chicago; let me tell you this will not work in a small city.
Smaller cities tend to hire by how they know someone. For example, if it’s mainly run by family then family is who will most likely get hired or close friends of the family. A stranger waltzing in and applying will be less likely to get the job since no one knows them.
Now, let’s get one thing straight - Using "ye old traditional way" of searching for a job tends to be "ye more personal way" of finding a job. Simply just clicking on a job with your mouse, submitting an online application and possibly sending your resume isn’t going to get you luck in the job you want. Especially in an economy where jobs are still being cut. To put it simple, get in your car, drive to the company, write out the application and hand it to the boss!
So, I have mentioned online job search and actually walking into the store and filling out an application with your hand. Yes, that still exists. I think that we, as humans, get caught up in trends and technology and find it easier just to sit at home and do things from our computer. But honestly, you won’t find it as effective as seeing real human beings. Even employers can tell you that they prefer applicants to come to their store to do the application and then sometimes have an interview right there.
Another job search strategy is one that works well with "referring". Referring is used when one person tells their boss that they know someone else that would be great for the job. This doesn’t happen often, but when it does, they are usually hired. Why? Well the employer could be limited on how much time is needed before they need to find a new employee or perhaps their current employee does so well they don’t even need to question the validity of hiring their friend.
Another form of job search strategy can be more like "marketing". Where the invidiual actually markets his skills to websites such as linked In, or places his resume on many websites where employers actually do the searching themselves for the right employee. But of course, doing it this way, does not allow many people to realize their is a job opening, since it’s done so privately. But none the less, it works for those that "market" themselves the right way.
