Where to Find a Great Job

December 08, 2009 | Comments 0

Once you’ve made the decison that you do want to go work, the focus changes on where to get work. These days, that may seem to be difficult, because of the poor economy. However, there are jobs out there, and with diligence, preparation, and a huge dose of siyata dishmaya, they can be yours.

[Most of these tips regarding job hunting and resume preparation come from Dan Miller's great book, 48 Days To The Work You Love. Dan is a career coach who has successfully guided thousands of people along their career paths.]

The most common method of looking for a job is to scan the Help Wanted ads in the paper. However, according to published statistics, answering an ad in a local paper leads to 8 jobs out of 100. Also, the higher level job you seek, the less effective this method becomes. (If you don’t believe me, look at this week’s Hamodia Help Wanted section.) This is the lazy man’s way to look for a job. Don’t bother looking there, all you will accomplish is to get discouraged.

The hands down most productive method of finding a job is to apply directly for a job without it first being advertised. Sure, it puts you on the tough end of the bargaining table, but it beats everyone else to the chase. First you research the companies that will need your skills the most, and should be a good fit for you to work there.

Second, you need to apply for the job that you feel you can be a great fit for. That means either finding someone who knows someone, or a person of influence to speak on your behalf, or getting yourself in the door for an interview. Using methods like this lead to over half of all jobs, and it ensures that both you and your employer get the best person for the best job.

It takes research, fine tuning, and a dose of chutzpa, but finding your own job is within your reach. Even if you’re just coming out of kollel.

P.S. More tips on creating a resume and finding a job to follow.

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