Hi Guys,
Its high time that you guys picked up speed on your job search. Even
after 2-3 months of search, I hit upon a new website for jobseekers.
This triggered in me the idea that I should let you guys be aware
of the resources that you have to do a sustained, organized search and
share couple of points based on my own experience and hear say.
Few pointers:
Resources are plenty, so being organized is the key. My suggestion
for keeping your search methodical and organized is by maintaining a
Log Book. Every time you hit apply or send a resume to a company, enter
the name, contact and date of application in your log book. I recommend
you maintain a note book and Excel document for this purpose.
Instruments for job search : Resume and Cover letter, You should have by now pruned and revised these atleast 3 - 4 times. If not its high time ( Catch hold of your seniors).
Resources -
www.monster.com
www.hotjobs.com
www.dice.com
www.flipdog.com
www.riley.com
http://peopleslink.net/services.htm
http://peopleslink.net/services.htm
http://www.jobsearchworld.com/
www.telecomcareers.net
www.brassring.net
www.careerbulider.com
www.recruiterscommunity.com
Recruiters:
www.kforce.com
http://www.brilliantpeople.com/
You can always google and find more about these sites.
Also, another advise, is that you should also look for opportunities
available back home (Its equally competitive if not more to get a job
in India - This observation is based on my experience and in my
field).
www.jobsdb.com is India's Monster.Com.
In the above mentioned websites, there is option of paying a small premium
to get a "better" service for job annunciation. Your resume is
made more transparent. I have not used this option.
Lastly - Follow Up
This is an art, which you have develop and perfect. Each application
should be followed up, but you have to be sure that you are not all
over your contact. First reminder could be weekly and later it could
Biweekly over email. If you have talked to person, make sure to ask
them a convenient time for them that you can get back.(Fact : Human
resources is the biggest hurdle :).
Remember this being a recruiter's market you have to very patient and only a sustained and long term effort will fetch you a job. Keep in mind as per NPR average time to find a job is 6 months right now. I would also advise all of you guys to have a back up option- It could be either pursuing higher education or probably a job at home.
Fix yourselves short time target or goals - like by the next 15 days I should have applied to at least 50 companies, or I should have spoken to at least 15 people regarding jobs or how to find one. This will help you do self status checks. You can also talk to your friends about the search and tell them how things are going, their comments would be valuable. Each short time target when accomplished will motivate you to keep going. Job hunt is hard and at times demoralizing, so when you think you are tired of this, step back and take a couple of days off , speak to friends or got to movie, take your mind of it, 2 days break - this loss of time is nothing as compared to a weeks unfocussed job search.
All right guys, I just wanted to share these thoughts with you, hope you find this information helpful.
As always,
Sumugam
January 29, 2003
