There are a couple of things to keep in mind when using want ads.
The first is that once an ad hits the paper, it elicits many responses, which places you in a large field of candidates. In order to stand out from the crowd, your resume and cover letter must be top-notch, designed to catch the eye of whoever does the initial reading of responses, in many cases a low-level staff member in the personnel department.
Newspaper want ads should be answered promptly, certainly within the first week after the ad's appearance. Because you will probably be answering many ads at a time, it's important to set up a system to keep track of your replies and of any follow-up resulting from your response. The best technique is to clip the ads from the paper and attach them to individual file cards, with a notation on each of the date you responded. If your reply is answered, the names of the people with whom you speak, dates, times, and addresses and phone numbers should be noted on the card. Also, if you're using different versions of your resume for different jobs (which I heartily recommend) be sure to note which version was submitted.
If it is a job for which you are specifically suited and it especially appeals to you, you might consider sending your reply by messenger or overnight courier service. It will get there quicker and, more important; it will stand out from the replies sent by conventional means.
If you haven't heard anything within a reasonable amount of time, make a phone call; if you replied to a blind ad, send a follow-up letter inquiring into whether your resume and letter were received, and whether you are under consideration for the job. At worst, it might prompt a rejection, which will allow you to place that card in an inactive file, forget about that job, and get on to others.
A thought about "blind" ads-these are ads that do not indicate the name of the company offering the job. Be wary of these if you are employed and are looking for a new position. Your letter and resume£ might end up on your current boss's desk, either because the job is with your present company or because a friend of your boss disclosed that you were looking for another job.
Reading, evaluating, and responding to want ads should definitely be a part of your job-search routine, and it should be pursued with diligence and order. Set aside sufficient time to do this work. It can't be sloughed off. However… keep in mind that most surveys and studies show that as many as 75 percent of jobs are never advertised in the papers.
A few final thoughts on want ads:
Large companies take months to fill important jobs. Because an ad that appeared six weeks or two months ago no longer runs doesn't mean that the job has been filled. Don't hesitate to respond to those ads even after many weeks have passed. Assume nothing.
Get to know and understand what certain job descriptions and titles really mean. The myriad of job titles in data processing makes this especially important. Read enough want ads and the various usages of job titles in your area will begin to emerge.
Avoid ruling out jobs that appear in want ads because the required education, experience, and skills don't exactly match up with your own. If you're anywhere near the stated requirements, go after it. Many employers ask for loftier credentials than the job really requires, and readily settle for someone whose real qualifications match the job's real needs. Also, a want ad that calls for an unreasonable set of qualifications, but offers a salary that more accurately reflects a less demanding position, brings in fewer responses.
If you are willing to relocate, either subscribe to the best newspaper for employment advertising in the cities in which you are interested or have friends send you the help-wanted section of their city's Sunday edition. Be aware, however, that you may have to pay your own way to another city for an interview. Once you have decided to fly to, say, Los Angeles or New York for a specific interview, that's the time to launch a concerted letter-writing campaign to other firms there, specifying that you will be in the area and would appreciate seeing them while you are in town. This is a no-cost way for companies to get to interview talent from far away without having to pick up the tab, and the response you will receive might surprise you.
You can even consider placing a position - wanted newspaper ad in selected cities; either use a box number of the newspaper or pay for a service (usually through a telephone-answering service) that will for-ward written replies or phone messages to you if you have responses to your letter-writing campaign. In this way you will resemble a resident, which may encourage greater responses. Your present location will not be held against you if you are prepared to pay your relocation expenses.
