Want More Interviews and Better Job Offers? Remember These 3 Steps

Your job search can be either long and stressful or efficient and satisfying. The good news is, you get to decide. Here are some strategies to consider: 1. The smarter, less crowded way to look for your next job Looking for a job on the Internet and replying to ads is fine, but keep in mind that each job posting attracts hundreds (if not thousands) of interested applicants. This competition dilutes your chances of being noticed, even if you have an impressive background. Alex recommends spending less than 25% of your time replying to advertised positions and, instead, focusing on market trends that can help you identify more opportunities in less time. Start with analyzing advertised positions and, in addition to applying for them, contact other companies within the same industry to determine if they have similar openings. This powerful technique works because companies within the same industry often have comparable requirements and looking for matching executive talent (executive recruiters understand this strategy very well when they try to 'steal' managers from one company to another!). Summary: Don't follow the herd. When you are considering advertised positions, be aware of the big picture. Look at INDUSTRIES rather than single companies. Then, contact top decision makers of non-advertising companies to establish if there is a genuine need for your experience. You may be surprised to discover how many hidden opportunities are waiting for you. 2. Make your candidacy shine in a sea of competition It's unwise to use a canned marketing message if you want to get yourself noticed. Yet, many executives are still promoting themselves with out-of-date, template-based, and plain ineffective resume formats. Considering that you are asking employers to make a six-figure decision, do you think an 'average' presentation is sufficient? It's not. While some executives think that a resume is a mere formality, many are discovering that not having a truly compelling message immediately reduces their chances of getting noticed. Imagine this common scenario: Two executives are applying for the same job. Executive A has better experience but his resume is mediocre. Executive B has a superior resume, presenting his lesser experience more persuasively. Who is more likely to get hired? You already know the answer. Employers have no time to guess if a candidate is good, they need to be convinced quickly. Summary: If you are planning to get results in this job market, don't let your resume sell you short. Your message needs to compel cautious employers to consider YOU as a serious contender. A properly structured resume reduces your job search time by up to 80% and increases the quality of job offers. 3. Keep in touch with potential employers If you follow the strategy outlined in the first point, you will no doubt establish many valuable contacts. While some of them will result in quick success, many will not. Don't just let them go. They are your goldmine for the future. In this unpredictable market, having your own industry connections is essential. Many executives are positioning themselves as hot candidates simply by keeping on-going contact with several companies. Summary: Following up and keeping in touch (even if there are no immediate opportunities available) is a sure way to guarantee long-term results and protect yourself in the even of job loss. Remember, if employers know about you, they will inform YOU first of any new openings and give you priority over other candidates. Copyright (c) http://www.ABCExecutiveResumes.com This article may be downloaded and distributed providing the copyright notice is displayed. All rights reserved.