by jmilinion on 5/1/13, 5:40 PM with 6 comments
Personally, as one data point, I've never found a good job by this system. To be fair, I've been offered jobs but the jobs offered have been less than stellar. Often times, I'm told I'm highly unqualified by the staffing firm except for the most basic of jobs.
I'm curious, has anyone here found a good job via the traditional hiring system? If not, does anyone have a clue why so much resources is spent on this system? What does this system actually accomplish?
Asking jobs from acquaintances I've met throughout my life feels like supporting the "Good ol' Boys" and could be unfair to others who might be better than me but so far it's the one that worked best for me :(
by laughfactory on 5/1/13, 5:58 PM
My approach was very successful. Less than two months after graduating with my BS in Economics I landed a excellent paid internship ($40,000/yr) in Credit Risk Analysis at a large regional bank. Three months later I was promoted to Credit Risk Analyst and given a raise to $51,000/yr + all the nice bank benefits.
So yes, it can be done. My approach included a healthy dose of determination, precision targeting of applications to recruiters and hiring managers, personalization of my application package to the job post, and being a well-prepared candidate who presents well. Apply for jobs you're actually interested, address what they're looking for in your cover-letter and resume, as much as possible get your application materials to hiring managers or recruiters directly, always dress and behave with class (wear a tailored suit to your interviews, shower, shave, and put your best foot forward), and never give up.
The problem is that most people adopt some of the worst job-hunting techniques imaginable. They write one resume and one cover-letter and then just send the combination out to every job they can think of. They bombard "Career" websites with derivative forgettable applications that may not have any apparent relation to the position advertised. Then should they get an interview, they may or may not show up, and may or may not put the time into presenting themselves in the best possible light. In short: many job seekers these days are super lazy (to put it very bluntly). They act entitled to a good job with a minimum of effort.
When I was interviewing I couldn't believe the other candidates I saw out there. They'd show up in ill-fitting ratty jeans, a wrinkled tie, with a three-week overgrowth of facial hair and grumpy demeanor. Just seeing them in the waiting area I thought there's no way I'd ever hire any of those people no matter what they had on their resume.
And sometimes interviewees wouldn't even show for their scheduled interview. When I worked at the bank, one candidate for a very high-paying position didn't bother to call and didn't bother to show the first time she scheduled an interview. Then she had the gall to call later, offer no reason for her no-show/no-call previously and reschedule another interview...which she also didn't show up for. Unbelievable.
In other words, if you are truly a "professional" and convey it in every way in your job hunt, you will find a "good job" one way or another--traditional hiring system or not. I hope this helps!
by LeoSolaris on 5/1/13, 5:53 PM
I've never once found a decent job off of anything other than a personal referral or internal posting. This is for finding skilled individuals who already have industry experience and reputation. It isn't supporting the "Good ol' Boys" so much as a way to gauge potential employees based on those around them. Who you know is a reflection of your value because good people are valued by those around them.
Head hunting on the other hand... that's an entirely different animal. That one depends on the quality of the headhunter more than anything else.
by bking on 5/1/13, 6:17 PM
The best thing to do is properly convey your skills in a manner that is attractive to your target career. I wanted to work in technology integration consulting, so I did research on what is desired in those positions, looked back into my history, and made sure to highlight those skills in my resume.
The best advice I ever received in getting a good job was:
"Make getting a job your job. Wake up, take a shower, put on a suit, and sit down from 9-5 until you get a job."
by shopinterest on 5/1/13, 6:31 PM
This blog makes some good points - And yes, using your network will be infinitely more effective than job searching at CL, jobs pages, etc...
by alanchavez on 5/1/13, 5:59 PM
However, I don't think it's unfair if you make use of your professional network. I'm pretty sure you spend a lot of time building strong professionals relationships at they have to pay off some way or another, so don't feel bad if you get an interview if one of your acquaintances help you to get your resumé noticed.
by codegeek on 5/1/13, 5:58 PM