Three Ways to Get Found and Hired
Before you get hired for a new job, you have to get found by a hiring manager.
That’s obvious.
But how do you get found? How can you get on the radar of top employers and make them call you for an interview?
That’s not so obvious.
You could troll the Web and apply for posted jobs, but those are just the tip of the iceberg. For every advertised opening there may be five or more “hidden” ones.
To solve this problem, here are three simple ways to get noticed — and get hired — by your next boss.
1) Temp is Not a Four-Letter Word
If you’ve never considered taking a temporary or contract position, you should rethink that attitude, according to Jackie Engmark, Executive Director of the Minnesota Recruiting & Staffing Association (www.mnrsa.org).
The 75 firms in the MNRSA fill positions ranging from entry-level to executive, with up to 70-75% of those jobs being temp-to-hire positions, according to Engmark.
“Businesses look to staffing firms as a good source for permanent employees. Regardless of whether they need the talent on a temporary, contract, or permanent basis, businesses tap staffing companies for that talent,” says Engmark.
Approximately 35% of people who take a temp job end up getting hired full-time, according to Engmark. That’s a .350 batting average — not bad.
And smart employers will create a full-time job for the right temp worker. “With the current talent shortage, if a company brings in someone who catches on fast and has the right attitude, more often than not they will find a place for you,” says Engmark.
She says the secret lies in having the right attitude and work ethic — two traits that can’t be taught. “Employers can invest in training you other skills. If you are outgoing, friendly and work hard, jobs will find you.”
To find staffing and recruiting firms near you, Google the following phrase: “YOUR STATE staffing firms.”
2) Get Connected
You may use LinkedIn.com, Facebook.com and MySpace.com. But are you getting all that you can out of these social networking sites?
One way to get found faster by employers is to enhance your profile. For a dramatic before-and-after example, take a look at the Extreme Makeover that marketing guru Guy Kawasaki got for his LinkedIn.com profile - blog.guykawasaki.com/2007/01/linkedin_profil.html
Tip: The more high-quality connections you make on sites like LinkedIn.com, the more likely you are to get found by employers. On his blog, Kawasaki writes: “People with more than 20 connections are 34 times more likely to be approached with a job opportunity than people with less than five.”
3) Keep Your Dirt to Yourself
According to NBC news, 77% of employers will search the Internet to check your background, and 35% of employers have eliminated a candidate for consideration after finding “digital dirt” about them online.
That means you have to be extra careful about what you post in your profile on LinkedIn, MySpace, Facebook and other sites.
“My advice is to post only information online that you would feel comfortable sharing with your grandmother. If you wouldn’t want her to see your photos or learn about your drunken behavior, don’t post it anywhere online,” advises Steven Rothberg, President and Founder of CollegeRecruiter.com.
One hiring professional, posting on a CollegeRecruiter blog, wrote: “My team and I use sources such as facebook.com and myspace.com on a regular basis to screen candidates. We have on many occasions stopped the interview process with candidates based on their online profiles. Think twice before you post anything out there for us to see.”
So, to find your next job, you might want to take another look at temping, get connected online, and get smart.
Kevin Donlin is President of Guaranteed Resumes and the creator of GetHiredNow.TV. Since 1996, he has provided job search assistance to nearly 10,000 people. Author of “51 Ways to Find a Job Fast — Guaranteed,” Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, CBS Radio and others. His latest product, The Instant Job Search System, is available at http://www.collegerecruiter.com/guaranteed-resumes.php copyright (c) 2007 by Kevin Donlin
Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry-level jobs and other career opportunities.
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January 31st, 2008 at 10:18 am
[…] Kevin Donlin wrote an interesting post today on Three Ways to Get Found and HiredHere’s a quick excerptOne hiring professional, posting on a CollegeRecruiter blog, wrote: “My team and I use sources such as facebook.com and myspace.com on a regular basis to screen candidates. We have on many occasions stopped the interview process with … […]
January 31st, 2008 at 2:05 pm
[…] Kevin Donlin wrote an interesting post today on Three Ways to Get Found and HiredHere’s a quick excerptOne hiring professional, posting on a CollegeRecruiter blog, wrote: “My team and I use sources such as facebook.com and myspace.com on a regular basis to screen candidates. We have on many occasions stopped the interview process with … […]
February 1st, 2008 at 2:56 pm
I think that a lot of people these days are thinking of Internet access & job boards as the “newest magic potion”.
There ain’t no such thing!
People hire people, not job boards! Know yourself well, network in giving & getting, research potential employers, submit a proposal after informational interviews, send thank you notes & get a job offer from a real person.
Use: What Color Is Your Parachute? the all time classic about life work planning & use those techniques. I told you so!
Marilyn J. Tellez, M.A., Certified Career & Job Transition Coach
August 19th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
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