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Master the fundamentals to control your job search

Master the fundamentals to Control your job search

By Arnold Huberman

Looking for a job can be chaotic, frustrating and leave you feeling powerless. Yet you can control your job search more than you think. By employing the right techniques, thinking positively and being patient, you can greatly improve your odds of finding the right job.

Taking control comes from realizing that you're responsible for the success of your search. You can make it happen. Other tactics include remaining open to different career paths, being flexible and having faith in yourself. If you don't think you're good enough for a job, other people won't either.

Conducting a successful search also includes such basics as skills assessment, networking, creating an immaculate resume and developing good interviewing skills. The following tips may be helpful:

Jane Locke was looking for a senior-level marketing position that would use her strong innovative, organizational and managerial skills. Her credentials were impressive: an M.B.A. in marketing from Columbia University and a B.A. with honors from Brandeis University. She'd held senior-level positions in several major advertising firms, had traveled extensively and had several articles on her travel experiences published in national magazines.

After evaluating Locke's skills, an executive recruiter saw assets that Locke didn't see herself, such as her solid interpersonal skills and international travel experience. The firm recommended her for a foreign sales position at a major public television station. Although Locke (not her real name) lacked sales experience, the station interviewed and eventually hired her.

You, too, may have hidden skills and assets that employers value. To uncover them, make a list of all your skills, such as writing, research abilities, ability to think analytically, social savvy, computer literacy, ability to persuade, interpersonal skills and anything else you're good at. Analyze how these skills may be useful to employers.

Also put your favorite activities on your list. If you live for golf or spend every free moment shopping, think about career paths related to those activities. For instance, golf clubs need managers, accountants, instructors and sales support. And in the unsettled retail environment, many new positions may emerge. Says Mimi Baratoff, a Westchester, N.Y.-based career-transition consultant, "In today's world, many skills are applicable to a wide range of professional fields, so why limit yourself?"

Obtaining any job requires first obtaining an interview. The best way to make contacts that lead to interviews is thorough networking. Cultivating contacts and networking is hard work. Start by letting friends and associates know the type of job you're looking for and asking them to keep their eyes open. Then keep reminding them of your goals. Many people forget to connect opportunities with friends who are interested in them.

Trade journals are another vital source of information about jobs. In addition to job listings, they include articles on new products, procedures or markets that can provide leads on new employment opportunities. The more knowledgeable you are about your field, the better your chances of obtaining interviews and excelling in them.

Having an impressive and immaculate resume is essential to landing interviews. There are many opinions about how to prepare resumes. However, many recruiters prefer resumes structured chronologically and in the following order:

Employment
Mention each relevant position you've held, the employer, dates of employment and your responsibilities. Be specific: If you performed a service, list clients; if you managed employees, state how many and for how long; if you had budgetary duties, provide details. Mention accomplishments and other details that convey your value.

Education
The more extensive it is, the more prominent it should be.

Objective and Interests
These traditional resume sections are extraneous. As a rule of thumb, don't include information that isn't related to your goals or an employment opportunity. Objective statements serve little purpose because potential employers know you want a job. And the fact that you like skiing, speak a little French or enjoy cooking is usually irrelevant to an available opportunity. On the other hand, fluency in a foreign language is a plus and should be listed as a skill.

"I can't say lists of personal interests are irrelevant, because they've helped me spot some potential problems. On the other hand, they've rarely helped the applicant," says Joseph Rutledge, vice president of corporate communications for General Mills in Minneapolis. "Those who describe their passion for moonlit beach walks and collecting bars of motel soap raise other questions," he adds. "If it's relevant, include it. Otherwise, save it for the general conversation during the interview."

Salary
It's difficult to decide whether to include salary information on a resume. Such information can be a double-edged sword. It may preclude you from consideration for a particular position or, if the job pays below your salary range, spur you to look elsewhere. However, if your salary range is appropriate, an employer know you're a valid candidate, which may give you an edge over other candidates. "If I see a candidate who fits into our salary range, I'm much more likely to interview," says Richard Rothstein, President of Wang Asociates Healthcare Communications in New York. "The chances are better that I won't be wasting my time."

Appearance
Print your resume on paper that photocopies and faxes well. It should have a simple and professional appearance. Avoid purple paper or other attempts to stand out. "I don't like that kind of razzle-dazzle approach. I want substance, not style," says Connie Colchamiro, director of administration at the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science in New York.

This is your chance to shine in ways that resumes cannot convey. Consider it the personal counterpart to your resume. Says Roz Safran, executive vice president for Ruder-Finn, a New York public relations firm, "A resume doesn't let me get to know a person the way a good cover letter can. And, with the market the way it is, I can't afford to interview someone I don't know."

A well-written letter will bolster your chances of getting the interview. It must exude self-confidence, sincerity and enthusiasm for the job. Avoid using it to simply explain why you sent a resume. Instead, make it a forum for your accomplishments and suitability for a particular job.

Once you land an interview, it's critical that you accurately "read" interviewers, whether they're human resources or hiring managers. Take your cues from their moods, listen carefully to their questions, pause before answering, then volunteer selective, pertinent information. If a meeting starts crisply, then becomes informal, adjust with the mood. However, if your interview remains formal, don't try to informalize it yourself. Present yourself will, but let interviewer set the tone.

Employers prefer candidates who show they really want a job. For Barry Fischer, a 32-year-old entertainment lawyer with an established conglomerate, this was difficult. After a brief stint as head of business affairs in an entrepreneurial venture, Fischer was laid off for the first time in his career.

From the beginning of his job search, he made one of the worst possible mistakes: He showed excessive pride and ego. Fischer's attitude was that he deserved a job. He would interview with potential employers and fail to follow up with telephone calls. He showed little interest in available positions. Instead, he thought employers should seek him out. After a year of unemployment, Fischer (not his real name) swallowed his pride and began to show more interest in positions. Eventually he found a job.

Pride also can be an obstacle to salary negotiations. If you previously earned $75,000, and you're offer a job that pays $60,000, don't let pride prevent you from considering it. Your total pay may include perks and other considerations. And unless you were employed when you received the offer, it represents a $60,000 increase, not a $15,000 pay cut.

An effective job search involved planning, foresight and thought. Excelling at any job requires hard work and job hunting is no exception. Only by investing the necessary time and effort will you reap satisfactory results.