Winning in the Job Search

Today's economic state has made the job search difficult for many. It seems that there are 100 qualified candidates for each open position. You absolutely need to find a job, so what can you do to help make sure you land a job? Winning the job search involves a few different rules one must be willing to follow.

Job search #1: Create a phenomenal resume. Your resume must stand out from the myriad of others. For resumes that you deliver in person or through the mail. spend the money and purchase good quality resume paper. Regular old copy and print paper will not do. Research resumes and create the best one you can. Have a friend or family member that may know a thing or two about resumes crtique yours. A professional service can also help you with your resume.

Job search rule #2: Winning the job search is often a numbers game. Make several copies of your resume and find several different companies to send them to each day. Search multiple places, such as careerbuilder.com and monster.com, along with the websites of different companies.

Job search rule #3: Think outside the box. Drive around to different areas and write down names of the companies that appear to be busy. Then, follow up by researching them on the Internet. Most will likely have online job listings and most will only accept resumes submitted electronically. Make sure you follow their guidelines.

Job search rule #4: Consider registering with a staffing agency. More and more successful companies have outsourced their recruiting of new employers and staffing agencies are becoming bigger and bigger. Find one or two in your area that focus on your area of expertise.

Job search rule #5. Be patient. Many companies collect resumes for a few weeks before looking at them and calling candidates in for interviews. Just because they haven't called you the week you submitted it, doesn't mean they won't call you in week or two (or three!) down the line. Just keep sending out more, until you get a hit.

Job search rule #6: Follow up. If there is a position you really, really are interested in, follow up. Follow up with either a personal telephone call, or stop in to inquire about the status of your resume. This is best done a few days after you sent your resume in. Following up has landed many people a job right there, so don't neglect to do this!

Winning in the job search in today's economic state can be hard work. Those who often win at the job search are the ones who enact the above six rules. Keep at it, keep a positive attitude and something will happen. Good luck in the search!