NETWORKING WITH COMPANIES THAT YOU KNOW ARE HIRING

In a previous post, I discussed networking and how contacting companies who you know are hiring can be an effective part of your job-hunting program.  I told you that I would provide a sample letter that could be used to develop your own for this purpose.

Now understand, this is not a substitute for the networking that we have talked about before.  Contacting company executives to arrange information-gathering meeting and expanding your contacts in your target industry is a critical part of any effective job-hunting strategy.

In this case however, we are combining your review of published want-ads (in the newspaper, Wall Street Journal, or New York Times, among others) with the approach you take in developing your employment network of contacts.  This is a more targeted approach with keys on the content of the want-ad, and the indication that it holds that the company running the ad is indeed hiring.

If a company is advertising for a Marketing Manager, then there is a possibility that the company is also looking to fill other marketing or sales positions.  The same is true if a company is advertising for production managers, maintenance engineers, accountants, or research scientists.  There could well be other positions in the same general discipline that the company is trying to fill.  You, of course, cannot know that for a fact, but it is certainly worth the time it takes to write a letter to the department head or manager to see if other opportunities exist.

If not, you’ve added another name to your industry contact list.

Here is an example of a letter that you can use to contact a manager who might know if his company has openings it is trying to fill:

Mr. Harold P. Jackson

Director of Marketing

Eloquent Corporation

234 Carriage Path Road

Hudson Hills, Missouri  63009

Dear Mr. Jackson,

As a Regional Sales Manager for Megalith Corporation, I noted your ad for the Marketing Manager position that appeared in the January 13, 2010 issue of the Wall Street Journal. 

While my background in sales might not be exactly what you are looking for in candidates for this position, I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss my background with you and the possibility that there might be other positions at Megalith Corporation where my background and experience may be useful.

I have known Megalith Corporation as a leader in the chemical industry, and see employment with your company as an opportunity to contribute to its continued growth and leadership in the industry, as well as a opportunity for personal growth in my career.

I have enclosed a copy of my resume for your review.  I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you at a convenient time to discuss my background and possible opportunities in sales and marketing at Megalith Corporation.

With this in mind, I will plan on calling your early next week to arrange an appointment.

Sincerely,

Quentin Hollister

You can find the name of key people at the company by looking them up in various directories  or other sources (State Industrial Directories, materials in the research section of your public library, on line directories like ReferenceUSA, etc.).

You will want to include your resume with this letter, unlike the networking letter we discussed before.

Mail it…DO NOT E-MAIL IT!  This is a time to be as personal as possible.  You need to make sure that the manager you are writing to knows you care about working for his/her company, and that you are personally inquiring about available employment.

Try this.  I think you will find it effective, and yet another useful too as you seek your next employment opportunity or career change.

If you have any questions or comments, let me know at execmgmt.search@gmail.com.

YOUR JOB SEARCH WILL BE SUCCESSFUL...REALLY!

On thing that one needs to realize when looking for a new job is that a successful search requires effort.  You cannot wait for someone to offer you a job.  And you cannot assume that simply because you answer want-ads and respond to listings on job search websites, you have done enough to assure that you will get a job as soon as you would like.

The success of your job search will be in direct proportion to the amount of effort you put into it.  You need a strategy and appropriate tactics to go with it.  As has been discussed before, you need to decide what kind of a job you want, and in what industry and what kind of company. 

You need to decide what tools you will use in your job search.  Will you dedicate your time and effort to networking?  Will you mix it with answering ads and contacting companies you know are hiring?

You need to match your expectations to your strategy and tactics.  Remember, if you are unemployed, then looking for a new job is your job.  The conventional wisdom holds that if you make a good-faith, full time effort to find a new job, then the time it will take will be the number of months equal to your intended salary divided by $10,000.  For example, if you are making $100,000 then it will take you about 10 months to find a new job.

This time can be shorted, of course, because, as I said earlier in this post, your success will be in direct proportion to your efforts.  The more time you dedicate to your search, the shorter it will be.

Lastly, you should not get discouraged if you are making every effort you can in your job search.  If you use networking, answering ads posted on job search websites, contacting executive search firms and contact companies who are hiring, then you will find a new job sooner rather than later.

Believe me, you will feel like you are making significant progress, and will appreciate your efforts, if you note even your smallest achievements, and see success in your daily efforts.

And before you know it, you will be getting that offer you have been looking forward to!

CONTACTING COMPANIES THAT YOU KNOW ARE HIRING

In addition to networking to establish contacts with companies and managers who can assist you in building a contacts network, you can also contact companies that you know are hiring.

There is value in contacting companies that you know are hiring. They many not be hiring in your field or discipline, but the fact that they are hiring can increase the probability that they either have a job that might fit your background, or they may have one sooner that those companies who are not hiring at present.

How do you know which companies are hiring?

There are several sources of information that will give you that information. If you are looking for a job in your local area, look at the want ads in the Sunday paper. Make a list of the companies that are running ads that you might like to work for. Be sure to note the address, and any names that might appear in the ad.

If you are looking beyond your local area, then your choices multiply. Get a copy of the Wall Street Journal, particularly the Wednesday edition, which has the national want-ads in it. Again make a list of the companies that interest you and any names that might appear in the ads.

Also, go to the library and look at trade journals and magazines, such as Fortune Magazine, Business Week or Forbes. These will also have ads for jobs in the back of the magazines.

Once you have your list of companies, you will want to find the names of the key managers for those companies. If you do not already have the names on your networking list, go to the library and consult the State Industrial Directory, or find Annual Reports (libraries sometimes have annual reports for local companies). Ask the research librarian for additional references that will give you managers’ names.

Once you have the names and addresses, you will need to write a letter of introduction. I will cover that in the next post.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, write me a execmgmt.search@gmail.com.

LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB IF YOUR SPOUSE IS WORKING

I know that there are many of you who are looking for new jobs or are looking to change your career, but are concerned about your options because you are married.  Those looking for new employment are legitimately concerned about whether their spouse will be able to get a new job if relocation is required. 

So what is the best approach for the two income family, in which one spouse is looking for a new position and knows that relocation will be necessary? 

If you and your spouse have decided that your source of income is primary, and you are the one who is seeking a job, then it will be necessary to find your spouse a job near your new home.  Your spouse needs to do 3 things:  1)  Find out what kind of industries and/ or companies are located near your new home; 2) Contact as many of those companies as possible and 3) track the job listings for your new location in the on-line job boards and local newspapers. 

FIND AND CONTACT POSSIBLE EMPLOYERS 

 As you may have done (or are doing) during your search, your spouse should visit your local library and refer to the Industrial Directory for the state or states you are likely to relocate to.   He/she should then find out what companies are in nearby communities, get the names of key managers at each of those companies from the Directory, and begin writing networking letters, as we have discussed in earlier posts.

He/ she should then follow up to make appointments to visit those contacts.  These appointments can be arranged, if opportunity presents itself, to coincide with your in-person interviews with your prospective employer and/ or visits for follow up discussions and house hunting trips. 

PUBLISHED OPENINGS ARE ALSO A GREAT SOURCE OF LEADS 

In addition, your spouse should not ignore the on-line job sites and local newspapers.  Answer those ads and listings, as well, targeting opportunities near your likely home location. 

Your spouse can conduct his/her search in parallel to yours.  He/she will likely be starting later than you, so employment might come some time after you start your new job.  One thing is certain, however, with a targeted effort, your spouse will either get a job at the same time you do, or not long after you start your new job. 

Your spouse should not delay their own job search once you have decided that your next job will be located in one of a few places. 

I hope this is helpful.  If you have any questions, let me know if you have any questions at execmgmt.search@gmail.com.