If you are like the millions of people who use the major internet job boards each day, you probably (hopefully!) have an electronic resume that you submit to prospective employers in the hopes that they will respond enthusiastically with phone calls, interview invitations and employment offers.
Unfortunately, this seldom happens. The reasons are three-fold: 1) Recruiters are busy– as important as this job is to you, it is far from the recruiter’s highest priority and they give each candidate only a passing glance; the onus is on you to grab their attention; 2) The numbers are working against you- the first line of this blog posting reveals the sheer magnitude of internet job board users and it’s not insignificant; throwing your resume in the stack is a lot like playing the lottery- it doesn’t cost a whole lot and your odds of winning are miniscule; and 3) Often, your resume is insufficient- in some cases it may actually be deficient, but I intentionally used the word insufficient, because even a good resume- alone- is usually not enough.
Despite the impersonal nature of modern employment advertisement, you must remember that every single position you come across is posted by, and reports to, an actual human being. This is surprising to some, but you can increase the chances of success considerably by reaching out and making a personal connection.
You have more options than you think. Ask for introductions from family, friends, family friends, colleagues; even service providers (e.g. dentist, doctor, travel agent). Attend charity events, or better yet, volunteer (executives often sit on non-profit boards). Use sites like Facebook and LinkedIn to find others in the organization working in a similar capacity, call and offer to take them out for a cup of coffee to learn more about what their job entails and gather inside information (if you hit it off, ask if they would be willing to speak to the hiring manager on your behalf, or if you can use their name as an employee referral- these often get precedence). Sign up for mentoring programs- many industry associations offer this service to students and young professionals- or seek an informal mentor through peer recommendations. You may be surprised by how willing people are to help you out. After all, they were young and struggling once, too. Figure out the angle that will get you noticed and get you face time with the right individuals, and don’t be afraid to get creative; you stand to lose nothing and have the chance to really make an impression.
If you remember that doing the same thing and expecting different results is a credible definition of insanity, you will push back from the job boards and the comfort of your computer, and take this pro-active approach. It works. It is the sane approach to job search.