Employment Agencies
Working with employment agencies isn't an effective strategy for all job-seekers. These firms usually place people in entry-, junior-, and staff-level positions. This is where there are the most openings, the greatest turnover, and their best chances of success.
However, if you can find an agency that specializes in your industry or job function, then it may be of assistance to you even if you hold a senior-staff or management-level responsibility. The employment agency business has matured to the point that today there are individuals in it who have the expertise of executive recruiters. Never rule out an agency because it's located far away. When an agency specializes in an industry or field, its clients are often national in scope.
Agencies are especially effective for certain types of job-seekers: recent college graduates, secretaries, general office personnel, sales representatives, engineers, computer programmers and analysts, accountants, and financial analysts. Many firms specialize in placing these types of individuals and will arrange interviews for them within minutes of having learned about their backgrounds. If you fit one of these categories, visiting agencies should be one of the first strategies you consider using.
Trade Associations and Professional Organizations
Sometimes companies list openings with the trade associations and professional organizations that serve their industries. These groups act as no-fee clearing houses between their corporate and individual members. You can advise these organizations of your interest in setting up interviews by sending them a letter or your resume with a cover letter attached.
Some trade associations and professional organizations publish newsletters that announce current openings. Ask to be put on the mailing list. When companies utilize these organizations for recruitment assistance, they're usually seeking specific industry experience. However, because skills can be transferable from one industry to another, this strategy is often effective for the job-seeker who wants to enter a particular industry.
If there's a national association or organization that has a local chapter in your area, or if there's an independent group that's local, contact the president and try to arrange a personal meeting. This person will be an invaluable source for referrals.
Executive Search Firms
In order to fill high-level positions, companies often retain executive search firms to identify and recruit individuals with specific kinds of experience. These positions usually command salaries of at least $75,000 and are at the level of manager and above. Executive search firms will therefore be of use to a minority of job-seekers. These firms will also do nothing to find someone a position. They work strictly for their corporate clients.
If you're at this management or salary level, you should give strong consideration to sending executive search firms your resume. This is the only strategy that doesn't decrease in effectiveness as a jobseeker's level of seniority increases. In fact, it's estimated that companies fill 25% of their management-level openings through these firms. When writing to search organizations, always attach a cover letter to your resume.
If your experience is appropriate for a current assignment, you'll be contacted for an interview. Otherwise, executive search firms will retain your resume in their files and call you when an appropriate position arises.
When you write these firms, it isn't necessary to address any particular person by name and title. However, if you have a contact who is held in high regard by a certain firm, ask him to arrange an introduction. This referral will give you credibility, and when your background is selected for an assignment, you'll be viewed as a preferred prospect.
Unfortunately, the likelihood is remote that a firm will be looking for someone with your background at the time you initiate contact. For this reason, write to between 50 and 100 executive recruiters.
If your objective is to relocate to a particular part of the country, it's best to approach firms located in that area, since these organizations tend to work on openings near their offices (this is especially the case with the smaller firms.) However, positions can actually be anywhere in the country (or in the world for that matter) because clients are often national and international in scope, with subsidiaries, divisions, and plants canvassing the globe.
If you see an ad placed by a search firm, and the organization is local, call to arrange an interview. Otherwise, send a letter that begins by noting the ad to identify executive search firms, see the Directory of Executive Recruiters, which has organizations throughout the country, including the minimum salary levels at which they work and the industries and job functions in which they concentrate. This publication cross-indexes these firms by industry and job function as well. You can also order a copy of The Recruiting 6- Search Report; there are four regional editions, with groupings according to industry and job function. In addition, the Yellow Pages lists search firms under "Executive Search Firms" (a few, unfortunately, will really be employment agencies).
The Alumni Placement Office
Companies sometimes list openings with college and university alumni placement offices. These departments serve two functions: (1) they maintain job banks of current listings, and (2) they match graduates' resumes against these openings and forward them to the appropriate companies.
Sending a resume to your alumni placement office presents three problems. First, there's no confidentiality. Not only are company recruiters free to review the resumes that are on file, but you have no control over the companies that will be sent your background. Second, companies tend to utilize this recruitment source for junior- and staff-level positions. An exception, though, is the alumni placement office for graduate programs. Here, companies list high-level openings. Third, positions are seldom located in the geographic area in which you want to work.
Some alumni placement offices also maintain a databank, categorized by industry, of where graduates are currently employed. This will provide valuable leads, since alumni are receptive to hearing from others and like to help with a networking process.
Forty Plus Clubs
Forty Plus Clubs are nonprofit organizations in which members assist one another in finding new employment. In order to join, you must be a U.S. citizen, unemployed, and at least 40 years old. An initial fee and monthly contribution are required. A member must also devote a specified number of hours to club activities each week.
These organizations act as support groups where members share job openings, arrange interviews for one another, provide contacts, and offer assistance in matters such as resume-writing and interviewing techniques.
The College Placement Office
This strategy is one of the most effective ways for the graduating college student to develop interviews. It provides three advantages. First, the student selects the companies with which he wants to interview. Second, he's assured that an opening is at the entry level and that no previous work experience is required. Third, his educational background will always be respected by a potential employer
Some college placement offices also maintain a databank, categorized by industry, of where its alumni work. This will provide excellent leads. The databank can be used by alumni as well.
Job Fairs
Job fairs are events where employers rent booths or rooms at a central location to meet with local residents who are looking for work. The employers are usually from the immediate area and they often hold these functions at a community center, hotel, or school. Frequently they're seeking specific types of backgrounds and have multiple openings for each position. These events are therefore not for individuals pursuing management- and executive-level responsibilities.
A job fair presents the opportunity to meet with many different companies within a short period of time. It's like doing one-stop shopping. Because it's so easy to talk to people, it's also an excellent way to network. Due to the visibility job-seekers have, though, it's seldom appropriate for people who are currently employed.
If you go to a job fair, bring plenty of copies of your resume. Also get business cards from the company representatives you speak with, and write them thank-you letters the next day. Although the atmosphere at a job fair will be casual and informal, always dress and act professionally. Remember that you're really at a job interview.
On-Line Job-Listing Services
If you have a computer with a modem (or have access to one), you can subscribe to a computer-based service that lists job openings. Also known as computer bulletin boards, these job lists are provided by professional societies, trade associations, trade publications, government agencies, college placement offices, and commercial electronic database companies. Often the positions that are listed have never been advertised. They may also be located anywhere in the country.
Sometimes there's no charge for the use of this service, except for routine charges from your telephone company. Commercial operators, however, always charge an access fee, usually around $50 for a three-month period of time. Some organizations require that you be a member before you can use their service.
Many services list jobs in only one industry or field. Others offer jobs in up to as many as two dozen different occupational categories. A few operators of bulletin boards also list jobs according to geographic area, and/or accept resumes electronically and then fax them to potential employers.
