Best methods to find a job and what you can do now to find a job you want
In my recent research I found some very helpful statistics that will direct us towards using the most effective ways to find a job. It states that 90% of people find jobs using word of mouth, directly contacting companies, responding to internet listings or using employment agencies or recruiters. Although each of these methods can produce desired results, it is more likely that you will find a job through word of mouth and directly contacting companies than using the other methods and so it is important to spend most of your time using the most effective methods. So here is the breakdown of the methods and how successful they are:
35% – Word of Mouth
30%- Direct contact with companies
14%- Advertisements and internet listings
11%- Employment agencies and recruiters
10%- Other methods
When it comes time to find a job you should try to make finding a job a full-time job. You should set goals and record your progress. Below is a sample of goals and actions you can take to help you find a job.
Sample Simple Job Searching Plan:
Contact 5-10 people each day (5 days/week)
Get 1-2 new referrals from each contact
Set up at least 1 interview each day
Social Networking has made it easier to contact and connect with people that may be able to assist you in your job search. In the last 6th months I have received a few requests via email, facebook, and LinkedIn and each request was very different. In the next post, we will discuss a little about some of the things to do and not to do while using social media to search for a job. Let me know if you have good or bad examples of friends or associates using social media to find employment.
What does “Direct contact with companies” mean?
How do you do it without knowing anyone at the company?
Thank you.
David,
This is a good question. There are a few ways to contact a company directly.
1) Call into their main number and ask if you can speak to their human resource department, owner, or office manager. Simply explain why you are a value to their company and then ask if they are hiring. If they are not, then ask if you can submit your resume anyway, so that you can be considered for openings that could happen in the future.
2) Physically drop in and ask if you could speak to the person in charge of hiring, and ask if they are hiring.
3) Email them your resume (you can usually find an email address on their website)
These are in order of what I think is best and most effective. This is not the easiest way, but it can be very effective. I know a company that is very good to work for, but they don’t advertise positions. If somebody calls in they will definitely give them a chance to apply. It is difficult at first to call companies directly, but it is a good way to find a job.