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The job boards are a great way to find jobs. They are also one of the most inefficient ways to get noticed as you are competing with hundreds of other people who saw the same ad. So you submitted your resume for the 'perfect job' and now you are waiting and wondering why you didn't get a call. One reason is that your resume is sitting in a pile of over 500 resumes in the HR department. Here's a great tip to move your resume from the HR pile to the decision maker's desk.
First, find out who the hiring manager or key influencers are. There are a number of ways to do this, and with a little imagination and effort, it isn't hard to do. Alternatively, if you cannot determine the decision maker, you can call the senior HR person in the firm.
Once you have their name and phone number give them a call and say something like:
"A friend told me you might be interested in someone with my background. I have (insert your 2-sentence pitch), and I have just a few questions for you."
Then ask them some questions that show you've done some homework on their company. This is important. Go to their web site, check out their recent press releases and show that you know something about them.
Be very friendly, down to earth and personable and get into a conversation with them. The point here is to build some rapport.
At some point they will ask you for your resume at which point you have now put yourself at the top of the decision maker's pile and skipped the HR screeners.
So in summary, you:
1. Get the name and number of the decision maker.
2. Develop a 2-sentence pitch that positions you appropriately for the job (a whole other topic).
3. Research the company and get a feeling for what some of the challenges someone in this position would face.
4. Call them and get into a conversation. Build rapport and impress them with your knowledge of the company and your job experience.
5. Send them the resume both by email and by mail.
Lastly, and very important, ask politely if they would mind if you checked back in a week to see how their search was progressing. Using this trick can make all the difference between being screened out and getting noticed.
Don Goodman, President of About Jobs (http://www.GotTheJob.com ) is a nationally recognized Career Coach and Resume Writer. A graduate of the Wharton School of Business and Stanford University's Executive Program, Don has helped thousands of people secure their next job. Read his blog at http://www.GotTheJob.com/blog/ or contact him at 800-909-0109 or by e-mail at dgoodman@GotTheJob.com.
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Ask anyone at a party or any social gathering "So, what do you do?" Most people reply with a job role or title. When further pressed, they will list for you the things they are responsible for or some of the activities they carry out in their role. What you will never hear is a short and complete list of the results they are accountable for producing. - Buying a Business Franchise. What to Consider. (Richard McMunn)
Before you invest in any Business Franchise there are certain considerations and factors your must take into account. This article will provide you with a essential hints and tips on the key areas to consider before parting with your hard earned cash.
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