By Piper C. Reason

May 5, 2006

Job Spotting - Where to Look for a Job

First thing to know – which might not be very comforting – is that eighty percent (80%) of job openings never get advertised, and well over half of all job seekers find their positions through networking [according to BH Careers International]. Sitting at your kitchen table reading want ads or mass mailing your resumé may be more within your "comfort zone," but if that's the way you spend most of your job-search time, spotting the right job could be a very lengthy ordeal!

The second important consideration is the focus of your search. People who "just want a job" are actually less likely to find one than those who have a target. When you think about it from the employer's perspective, the reason becomes clear. They would rather hire someone who wants to this job for this company – because you're going to be more reliable, probably stay longer, and most likely do a better job than if you just care about a paycheck. Ah ha!

Following are brief descriptions of various job search methods. Please remember, however, that regardless of your job target – or comfort level – nothing beats networking! Start small if you need to, but do start. You can read more about networking here: www.monadnockjobs.com/article/voice.networking.20060109

Want Ads

If you are looking for an entry level job, newspaper want ads are helpful. However, if you are qualified for a job that requires 15 years of experience and/or an advanced degree, there are much better ways to go. Either way, you should know that all the statistics agree that less than 15% of jobs are found this way. (According to past surveys by CareerXroads, it's only 3-7%!!)

The nice thing about want ads is that they usually tell you the most important qualities and/or skills needed. That makes it a little easier for you to know what to showcase in your resumé and cover letter in order to convince them you're the right person for the job. Many newspapers are offering online want ads, and you can even set up an account so that you'll be notified by email when a position matching certain keys words is posted. (More about key words later.)

Be sure to follow the instructions for how to submit your application, but the more personal your approach, the better. Unless they tell you not to, dress as though you were going for an interview and hand deliver a resumé and cover letter. You might get a chance to meet with a manager or an HR person, so be prepared. If you're given the options of mail, fax, or email, the best choice is email because it is the fastest. Just don't do anything fancy with formatting because it may not translate well if the organization uses different software than you do.

Employment Agencies

These folks usually work with entry- and mid-level positions and for a limited number of organizations. (Recruiters/headhunters/executive search consultants target those who are highly skilled and command the big bucks.) Many employment agencies do assessments (depending on the type of job you want), write resumés, and even help clients in building their interview skills. In addition to the several good agencies in the Monadnock Region (I am personally familiar with GFI Professional Staffing Services, Masiello Employment Services, Inc. and Tri-State Professionals), I also recommend the One-Stop Center at the Keene office of NH Employment Security. They have an online Job Match System which is especially useful for entry-level workers. The facility on Key Road in Keene offers excellent resources, several computers, and knowledgeable, helpful staff.

The Internet

Both of the previous job search methods can be included in this category, but here I want to focus on job search engines. If you want to stay local, you'll have better luck using websites that focus locally. The best one, needless to say, is MonadnockJobs.com. Ed note: we really didn't put Piper up to that.

Some job boards have a focus on a specific state. If you're thinking of moving to another part of the country, there are national job boards. Folks who want to stay within their fields can often get leads from a professional association.

In order to complicate matters, you not only get to choose from hundreds of different websites, you also have to decide how to use them. Some job boards give you the opportunity to just go in and search periodically for jobs based on location (zip code or county and number of miles to commute), job type (temporary, full-time, etc.), wage type (salary, commission, etc.), category (career fields from accounting to veterinary services), and key words. Or you can set up "career agents" – they will keep all of your selection criteria and every time a new job is posted that fits, you'll be sent an email. And if you are looking for more than one type of job, you can have multiple agents.

Now for the tricky part: key words. While you need to use key words so that you don't hear about every job there is, you need to think about the various ways a position might be described or named and not gyp yourself out of a good opportunity! Depending on how the website is set up, jobs you want to know about won't be selected if you use the word "secretary" and the position is "administrative assistant." Or if you use the word "trainer" but not "teacher." Picky, picky! So be sure to think of different words that might be used. And if you find you're getting jobs that you don't care about, or maybe getting fewer matches than you think you should, go in and change or delete some of your key words.

In addition to the search engines, remember to look at the websites of the organizations for which you would like to work. A lot of them rely heavily on their websites to attract potential employees. Unfortunately, small organizations (fewer than 100 people) are less likely to have websites, and according to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, they employ 55% of the workforce.

A final word about job search methods – don't limit yourself to just one. Networking is almost always the best method to use, but combining it with checking want ads (which is comfortable), using the internet (which is fun), and/or working with employment agencies (which can help you stay focused) will definitely help you spot a good job sooner.

Additional resources for help with the job search process:

• Job Search Magic by Susan B. Whitcomb, JIST Works © 2006
• The Very Quick Job Search by Michael Farr, JIST Publishing © 2004
• Job Search Methods, US Bureau of Labor Statistics