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I
interviewed David Perry, an accomplished recruiter,
author of "Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters," and
my partner in "inplacement" training for displaced
employees, to find new, unconventional ways for you
to find a job.
David's tips follow. They're as effective as they
are interesting, so pick at least one and take
action today ...
1) Send an
"Over-qualified" Letter
Yes, that's right, tell employers you are
OVER-qualified for their job opening. This will
surely get their attention.
Perry suggests that you send your resume with a
cover letter that says, "It will appear from my
resume that I'm over-qualified for the job you
advertised, so let me tell you why you should
interview me and consider ‘super-sizing' your
opportunity." Then, include a bulleted list of 3-5
benefits you think they might be interested in.
Close your letter with language like, "I am old
enough to have learned from my mistakes, so my
experience will save you money in the long-run. In a
few months or years you'll need to train a
more-junior employee to upgrade their knowledge, but
I come fully equipped to do the next job, too."
When in doubt, send this letter to a company that's
not atop your most-wanted list, so any rejection
won't sting.
2) Call Human
Resources
"I
know this sounds like heresy, but there's method in
my madness," says Perry. Call the personnel
department of the companies on your target list. Ask
their HR manager what recruiting firm they use.
Why? For two important reasons.
First, any HR person will immediately ask why you
want to know. Answer, "I've been to your Web site
and I see that you're not looking for someone with
my skill set now, but the recruiting agency you use
may be dealing with other firms who could use my
skills -- so I guess I'm looking for a
recommendation from you."
After they get over the compliment, they will likely
ask you about your skills and experience, in which
case you should tell them, "I didn't call looking
for a back door into your company, but if you want
to have a cup of coffee, I'd be happy to share my
achievements with you."
Second, if they don't press you for an interview,
insist on knowing whom they use and why. "HR
managers love saving money on fees, so they may try
to hire you directly," says Perry.
3) Send Articles
Sending a newspaper or magazine article to a hiring
manager with a simple note like: "I thought you
might be interested in this ..." is a great door
opener.
"The trick is to find an article that's truly
helpful to them in their work. You can uncover needs
by searching Google for position papers they may
have presented or to see what their competitors are
announcing -- and then let them know. I know several
people who have landed great jobs doing this," says
Perry.
You
can find articles by searching the Web editions of
magazines and newspapers. Also, try Google Alerts to
keep updated on subjects of interest to your
targeted employers: Google.com/Alerts.
"I
find that mailed photocopies of articles work best
because most people simply use email. Also, a hard
copy will stay on a recipient's desk longer and it
may get passed on to other staff members who could
be hiring," advises Perry.
4) Use a Web Site
In
the 20th century, you needed a business card. Now,
you need a Web site.
Be
sure to make yours look professional. If you're not
artistic, visit TemplateMonster.com and buy a
ready-to-go site layout for $20-$60.
"Customize your site to fit your needs, or pay
someone to do it for you. Use a Web site design that
matches the industry you want to go into," says
Perry.
You
can hire a good Web designer inexpensively at
Guru.com or RentaCoder.com. Can't afford one?
Consider setting up a free blog site at Blogger.com.
Include any articles you have written, summaries of
successful projects, case studies, testimonials from
past clients/managers -- anything that qualifies you
for your target job. Finally, make sure to include
your contact information, so employers can call or
email you directly.
"Your site's content should focus on your industry
knowledge and your ability to do the job you want to
be hired for," advises Perry. "Make it easy and
compelling for employers to contact you -- and they
will."
Kevin Donlin is
President of Guaranteed Resumes and creator of
GetHiredNow.TV. Since 1996, he has provided job
search assistance to more than 10,000 people. Author
of "51 Ways to Find a Job Fast -- Guaranteed," Kevin
has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street
Journal, CBS Radio and others. His latest product,
The Instant Job Search System, is available at
www.gresumes.com/instant.
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