Jobs @ Career Consulting Limited

Return to career-consulting-limited.com
Managing
People
Managing Your Career
CV Examples
Coaching
Cover Letter Examples
Pre-Employment Tests


Looking for Work in All the Wrong Places


The Question: After identifying a potential employer, I get contact information, do my research and send out my resume and cover letter, requesting an interview for a management or human resource position. I am listed with recruiters and staffing agencies and call them every week.

I attend local networking events but end up meeting people who are also unsuccessful job-seekers. And I search the Internet bulletin boards, sending my resume and following up a few days later. Help!!!

The Answer: Remember the story about the man who was searching for his keys under a bright street light? He explained to a passer-by, "I lost my keys in the parking lot - but it's too dark over there!"

Job-seekers need to leave the brightly illuminated paths and delve into the dark corners where they will find their own keys to success.

First, you need to network before you hit the mailbox. I know -- that dreaded "N" word. However, if you're applying for a senior level job, you're often expected to arrive via an introduction.

Second, a vague set of goals will win your resume a one-way ticket to the wastebasket. You need a separate resume and cover letter for each position, carefully targeted to showcase your skills and your unique ability to fill that position.

Third, seasoned professionals often make simple grammar and spelling mistakes because they're operating on overload. A resume is just one more hassle in a crowded day. You probably know these mistakes can kill your chances, even if your skills are stellar. Think "proofreader!"

Fourth, employers pay recruiters and staffing specialists when they need unique, specialized, hard-to-find employees. These resources account for only a tiny percentage of placements, even in boom times. Calling once a week may backfire: you come across as needy and pushy. Believe me, their fingers will start punching keys the moment they need you.

Finally, choose a networking group with a leader who knows the score and promises to provide fearless feedback.

You may be reluctant to hire a coach or career counselor because one-to-one guidance doesn't come cheap. But if you keep hitting a wall, your investment may help you save time, money and hassle. And sometimes it's nice to have someone who can hold a flashlight when you're groping around in the dark.

I offer one-to-one consultations on career strategy.

About The Author

Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and career/business consultant, helping midlife professionals take their First step to a Second Career. http://www.cathygoodwin.com.

"Ten secrets of mastering a major life change" mailto:subscribe@cathygoodwin.com

Contact: cathy@cathygoodwin.com 505-534-4294


MORE RESOURCES:







Careers  Schnucks


Careers  University of Northern Colorado

Compensation & Benefits  Lowe's Careers


Careers  US Forest Service (.gov)


Careers | Career Opportunities  West Virginia University

Careers  City of Phoenix (.gov)




Careers  City of Ontario, California (.gov)


Employment at WKU  Western Kentucky University

Careers at J&J  Johnson & Johnson Careers

Technology  Lowe's Careers


Careers | Home  USDA (.gov)

Employment Opportunities  Alabama Department of Public Health (.gov)

Careers and Jobs at CRS  Catholic Relief Services

Careers  UC Santa Cruz

Work at Fairfield  Fairfield University


Careers - MDOT  Maryland.gov

Careers  Baxter

Careers  Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Working for ICE  ice.gov



Careers at USCIS  USCIS (.gov)

Employment Opportunities | Game Commission  Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (.gov)

Careers  Johnson & Johnson

Store Hourly Job Areas  Target Corporation

Careers at TWU  Texas Woman's University

Work for Us (U.S. National Park Service)  National Park Service (.gov)

Work at Butler  Butler University



Employment | Department of Corrections  Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (.gov)

Explore Store Careers  Target Corporation

Careers at Simon & Schuster  SimonandSchuster.biz

Work With Us  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (.gov)


Water Services Careers  City of Phoenix (.gov)

Jobs  City of Rochester (.gov)

Careers at Willamette  Willamette University


Career Opportunities  Gilead Sciences

How to Apply  FEMA (.gov)

IOM career gateways  International Organization for Migration


Careers  BASF

Jobs at Liberty University  Liberty University

Careers  Washington State University




Careers and Employment  Willamette University


NASA Careers: Pathways  NASA (.gov)

Student internships at J&J  Johnson & Johnson Careers


Our Hiring Process  Target Corporation



Careers  The Ocean Cleanup


UF Health Careers  UF Health Careers




Store Leadership Job Areas  Target Corporation

KPMG Careers  KPMG

Careers  West Virginia Department of Education

Careers at Union  Union College


Work for the City of St. Louis  City of St. Louis, MO (.gov)


Current opportunities  Turner & Townsend

Interview Guide and Tips  Target Corporation

Job Opportunities  Bellevue School District

Job Seekers  Illinois Human Resources






WORK AT LVMH  LVMH

Careers at Sinai Health  Sinai Health

Work with us  JPMorganChase

Internship Opportunities | Careers  Boston Consulting Group

Work at UI Health Care | University of Iowa Health Care  University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center

Need More Information?
Site Home | Site Map | Links | Contact Us | Privacy Policy
© Career Consulting Limited.com 2011

tumblr visit counter