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SMARTS for a Tough Job Market
It’s a tough job market. Know what you want to do so you don't waste your energy on jobs that aren't going to be a good fit for you. Then, when you find a description of a job you want and for which you meet the requirements, use the Job Search SMARTS method for responding to increase the probability of success.
Job Posting Response Success Strategies
Rather than hastily emailing a bunch of resumes as quickly as you can to every job you find, take the time to demonstrate your SMARTS in responses to the employers and job postings which interest you the most and are the best fit for your career goals, skills, and experience:
S – Sell what the employer is buying.
- In the subject heading, make it easy for the reader by specifying the job you are seeking by stating the title and the location.
- Then, highlight your talents, skills, and experience that are on target with what the employer needs.
M – Market yourself as a potential employee.
- Make it easy for the employer to see how you fit the bill by connecting those dots between their needs and your skills and experience.
For example, they want someone who knows how to use Access databases, and you have 5 years experience with Access. Include that information in the “cover letter” at the top of your message. When you make it clear in your response that you have read and both understand and meet the requirements, you stand out.
- Customize your resume’s “Objective” statement to apply to this position and employer.
- Use the employer’s name and other unique details in your response so it doesn’t look like a “form letter” response.
- And – OMG! – don’t fill your message and your resume with texting jargon, unless you are applying for a job which requires that knowledge and skill (and maybe not even then, if you are responding to a recruiter who might think the jargon is a bunch of typos or the typing of a crazy person).
A – Actively respond to the whole posting as quickly and carefully as you can.
- Read the entire posting, word-by-word: Did they ask a question or specify how to respond to the posting? Do they want the resume as a Word file attached to your message or as plain text, copied and pasted into the body of your message?
Believe it or not, simply reading the posting and responding appropriately will be a big differentiator. Most job seekers don't take the time to pay attention, and by demonstrating that you have paid attention, you will stand out.
R – Research the employer.
You might work there for years, so spend time understanding what they do, how they do it, who they are, and ways they are better than their competition. You'll be better prepared for the interview, too, and you waste less time responding to fake or inappropriate job postings.
- Google the employer’s name to see what you find. What’s in the news about this employer? If you don’t find anything, the employer may be bogus, so proceed with caution!
- Visit the employer’s Website to evaluate the organization. What are they telling the world about themselves?
- Check LinkedIn for a Company Profile.
- If the employer is a publicly-traded company (on a stock exchange), check AnnualReports.com to find the latest anual report published.
- Search through Indeed.com for jobs posted by the company. If you find the same job posted on both Monster and Dice or CareerBuilder, they probably have an urgent need to fill.
T – Think about yourself and that one employer.
What would make you stand out from the majority who just attach their resume to an email and click the “send” button?
- Do you know anyone who works at that employer? Employees may be rewarded through an employee referral program for submitting your resume to HR, or they may be able to hand it to the hiring manager.
- For example, if it’s a sales and marketing job, identify their competitors and do a quick analysis of the opportunities you see. But be humble within your suggestions. Your purpose is to show your initiative and creativity, not necessarily the absolutely right messages.
- And use the telephone to follow up – unless there’s a directive that states No Calls.
S – Safeguard your personal information.
Times of economic stress attract opportunists taking advantage of the situation. Beware of the possibility that the employer, the recruiter, and/or the job may not be real.
- If the employer is asking for something unreasonable (e.g. your SSN and/or bank account number), be suspicious and do more research to be sure the employer is legitimate.
- If the “recruiter” claims to represent a well-known employer but has an e-mail address which is not associated with that employer (e.g. AcmeToolsHR@gmail.com rather than HR@AcmeTools.com) be suspicious, and confirm directly with the employer that the recruiter and the posting are legitimate before you respond.
- For more information, read the articles in Job-Hunt's Avoiding Job Search Scams and Protecting Your Privacy sections.
Use Job Search SMARTS, and you’ll be more likely to land the right job, even in this tough job market.
© Copyright, 1998 - 2013, Susan P. Joyce. All rights reserved.
About the author...
Online job search expert Susan P. Joyce has been observing the online job search world and teaching online job search skills since 1995. A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Susan is a two-time layoff “graduate” who has worked in human resources at Harvard University and in a compensation consulting firm. In 1998, NETability purchased Job-Hunt.org, which Susan has edited and published since. Susan also edits and publishes WorkCoachCafe.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at@jobhuntorg and on Google+.
