Jun
26
A Job Hunting Plan
Filed Under Job Hunting
Ron Coleman asked:
If you suddenly find yourself out of employment, you need a plan in order to find suitable work as soon as possible. Here are procedures you can follow which will increase your chances of a fruitful job hunt.
1. File For Unemployment Benefits
You need to start money flowing in as soon as possible so you can keep up with the costs of living and the costs of job hunting. In most states you have a week or two waiting period, and the waiting period doesn’t start until you file. So the sooner you file, the sooner you will begin to receive payments. When you are out of work this should be your first priority.
2. Register With Employment Agencies
Usually you will file for unemployment benefits at your state employment agency. While you are there register with them as seeking work. Check their job boards, if they have one, or their website where jobs are often posted. Talk to any of the counselors who might be able to help you in your search. For example, if you are a veteran, you should talk to the V.A. representative at their office. Very often these counselors know of programs which you are unaware of — for example, an acquaintance of mine wanted to work as a truck driver. Through the V.A. counselor he found out about two federal grant programs which would pay for his truckdriving training.
After you have registered with the state employment agency, register with private employment agencies. You want as many people as possible looking for you when you are seeking employment. Don’t forget about temporary employment agencies. It doesn’t hurt to have temporary work assignments while you are looking in order to keep the money flowing. Many employers like to try out employees on a temporary basis and quite often temporary employment can lead to permanent employment. One thing to keep in mind, however — legitimate employment agencies don’t usually charge a fee to employees for registering. If an agency asks you for money up front, don’t register with them.
3. Let Friends and Acquaintances Know You are Looking
Your friends or acquaintances may learn of employment opportunities where they are working.
Oftentimes these openings are not advertised and having a recommendation from one of their existing employees is a big plus for you.
4. Search The Internet
There are a number of good job search websites and you should register with some of them and upload your resume. Internet jobs are very competitive, but on the other hand you save a lot of time by applying this way.
Check Newspaper Ads
Usually you won’t find your best opportunities through the newspapers but it doesn’t hurt to look. One problem with newspaper ads is that a lot of people apply for each job that is advertised. You must be prepared for heavy competition for these jobs.
Consider Union Hiring Halls
Oftentimes union employers hire through union rosters. Although these jobs are usually only open to union members there are times when a union must hire from outside their base, especially if all of their members are currently employed. For example, the motion picture craft unions work this way. If you are a carpenter and apply with the motion picture propmakers union, you won’t find employment unless all of their members are currently working. There are times, frequently, when production is heavy, where all of the members are working and they need more people to fill job requisitions from producers. In these instances, an outsider will be hired as a “permit” employee. After working for a short time as a “permit” he is allowed to join the union roster. Union jobs are worth pursuing because the pay and benefits are often better than you would find in non-union jobs.
7. Hit the Pavement
Once you have other people looking for you, it is time for you to begin looking for yourself. You should make it your day’s work to apply for jobs. Hit as many places as you can, and consider places others might not consider. For example, everyone wants to apply with the town’s biggest employer but there are lots of small companies in industrial parks of which most job applicants are totally unaware. When you apply with these companies you have less competition for the jobs.
As you make your rounds you should carry a notebook. After a while you won’t remember what different prospective employers have told you and you need notes to refresh your memory. For example, if one employer tells you to check back in a week, you want to be sure to do that.
8. Follow Through
A big mistake many job hunters make is to sit back and wait when an employer indicates he may be
calling them. Until you have an actual job offer, keep looking. If you have a cel phone, employers can reach you even though you’re out looking for work.
An important part of finding a job is to keep checking back with employers. Rarely does an employer hire you the first time they see you. If you leave an application or a resume, don’t assume they will call you when an opening occurs. You should check back at least once a week to see if anything has come up. Pretty soon that employer will begin to remember you and they will know you are serious about wanting to work for them. Then when an opening does occur, you may very well be the first person they call. How well you follow up will be critical in how many job interviews you get. After you get your interviews, don’t stop looking. Keep looking until you have an actual job offer.
The techniques I have just outlined are ones that I learned mostly from a class I took in high school and they have worked very well for me in the past. In my forty years of working I was only unemployed a couple of times and in each instance that period of unemployment lasted less than two months. I have only two years of college and no degree, yet I was able to quickly find employment following these techniques. It’s easy to panic when you find yourself unemployed, so the first thing to do is organize and follow a plan such as this one.
Dominic
If you suddenly find yourself out of employment, you need a plan in order to find suitable work as soon as possible. Here are procedures you can follow which will increase your chances of a fruitful job hunt.
1. File For Unemployment Benefits
You need to start money flowing in as soon as possible so you can keep up with the costs of living and the costs of job hunting. In most states you have a week or two waiting period, and the waiting period doesn’t start until you file. So the sooner you file, the sooner you will begin to receive payments. When you are out of work this should be your first priority.
2. Register With Employment Agencies
Usually you will file for unemployment benefits at your state employment agency. While you are there register with them as seeking work. Check their job boards, if they have one, or their website where jobs are often posted. Talk to any of the counselors who might be able to help you in your search. For example, if you are a veteran, you should talk to the V.A. representative at their office. Very often these counselors know of programs which you are unaware of — for example, an acquaintance of mine wanted to work as a truck driver. Through the V.A. counselor he found out about two federal grant programs which would pay for his truckdriving training.
After you have registered with the state employment agency, register with private employment agencies. You want as many people as possible looking for you when you are seeking employment. Don’t forget about temporary employment agencies. It doesn’t hurt to have temporary work assignments while you are looking in order to keep the money flowing. Many employers like to try out employees on a temporary basis and quite often temporary employment can lead to permanent employment. One thing to keep in mind, however — legitimate employment agencies don’t usually charge a fee to employees for registering. If an agency asks you for money up front, don’t register with them.
3. Let Friends and Acquaintances Know You are Looking
Your friends or acquaintances may learn of employment opportunities where they are working.
Oftentimes these openings are not advertised and having a recommendation from one of their existing employees is a big plus for you.
4. Search The Internet
There are a number of good job search websites and you should register with some of them and upload your resume. Internet jobs are very competitive, but on the other hand you save a lot of time by applying this way.
Check Newspaper Ads
Usually you won’t find your best opportunities through the newspapers but it doesn’t hurt to look. One problem with newspaper ads is that a lot of people apply for each job that is advertised. You must be prepared for heavy competition for these jobs.
Consider Union Hiring Halls
Oftentimes union employers hire through union rosters. Although these jobs are usually only open to union members there are times when a union must hire from outside their base, especially if all of their members are currently employed. For example, the motion picture craft unions work this way. If you are a carpenter and apply with the motion picture propmakers union, you won’t find employment unless all of their members are currently working. There are times, frequently, when production is heavy, where all of the members are working and they need more people to fill job requisitions from producers. In these instances, an outsider will be hired as a “permit” employee. After working for a short time as a “permit” he is allowed to join the union roster. Union jobs are worth pursuing because the pay and benefits are often better than you would find in non-union jobs.
7. Hit the Pavement
Once you have other people looking for you, it is time for you to begin looking for yourself. You should make it your day’s work to apply for jobs. Hit as many places as you can, and consider places others might not consider. For example, everyone wants to apply with the town’s biggest employer but there are lots of small companies in industrial parks of which most job applicants are totally unaware. When you apply with these companies you have less competition for the jobs.
As you make your rounds you should carry a notebook. After a while you won’t remember what different prospective employers have told you and you need notes to refresh your memory. For example, if one employer tells you to check back in a week, you want to be sure to do that.
8. Follow Through
A big mistake many job hunters make is to sit back and wait when an employer indicates he may be
calling them. Until you have an actual job offer, keep looking. If you have a cel phone, employers can reach you even though you’re out looking for work.
An important part of finding a job is to keep checking back with employers. Rarely does an employer hire you the first time they see you. If you leave an application or a resume, don’t assume they will call you when an opening occurs. You should check back at least once a week to see if anything has come up. Pretty soon that employer will begin to remember you and they will know you are serious about wanting to work for them. Then when an opening does occur, you may very well be the first person they call. How well you follow up will be critical in how many job interviews you get. After you get your interviews, don’t stop looking. Keep looking until you have an actual job offer.
The techniques I have just outlined are ones that I learned mostly from a class I took in high school and they have worked very well for me in the past. In my forty years of working I was only unemployed a couple of times and in each instance that period of unemployment lasted less than two months. I have only two years of college and no degree, yet I was able to quickly find employment following these techniques. It’s easy to panic when you find yourself unemployed, so the first thing to do is organize and follow a plan such as this one.
Dominic