The 4 best ways to hunt for a job
WE NOW live in a world where there are people who have come to believe that jobs should be easier to get.
They point to the numerous job sites like LinkedIn, company websites, caribbean Jobs.com, caribbeanjobsonline.com, employmentjamaica.com, splashjamaica. com, the career section of this newspaper, and go-jamaica.com/jobsmart. But this is grossly misleading.
Sure, you can get your résumé read, and a quick callback – if it is read – and if it is impressive enough. People do get jobs this way. But the percentages are quite low.
Most of the time, there is no response and people are left wondering what they have done wrong. They wonder if they have done something wrong on their résumé.
In my opinion, they are going about their job search in the wrong way. They are out looking for employment in exactly the wrong way. They are not searching for jobs in the way that employers are likely to find them. They are searching for jobs in the way that they – the jobseeker – would search for it. They should instead search for their job the way the employer should search for a jobseeker – search for employers who have posted their jobs on the Internet on their corporate website or a general job site.
The methods utilised by jobseekers include answering local newspaper ads and posting or mailing résumés to employers. Let’s be clear – they all have very limited success in the job market.
But there are four techniques jobseekers can employ for best results. They offer you a better pay-off in the time, money and energy invested in them. This is based on an anecdotal evidence, and not on any scientific assessment. Empirical data is not available for Jamaica, so these are my educated guesses.
ASK FOR JOB LEADS
You have family members, friends and community people in your network. Draw upon them. Ask them if they know of any job vacancies where they work or anywhere else. Follow up with alacrity on any lead.
SHOW UP AND KNOCK ON THE DOOR ANY EMPLOYER, FACTORY, COMPANY OR OFFICE
This is at a company that you are interested in working for and that is whether or not you know there is any vacancy. They will be impressed with the fact that you are taking the initiative. When you have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with an employer, do so with the goal of impressing them.
USE THE PHONEBOOK
Use the index of your phonebook to identify subjects or fields which you’re interested in or where you want to work. Call up or visit employers in your field of interest and ask them if they are hiring anyone in your field.
JOIN WITH OTHER JOBSEEKERS IN A JOB-CLUB
Use method three, but where you and some others who are organised in a sort of job support group or job club. You can choose a partner to work with. Share with the rest of the group the kind of work you are looking for.
Whichever method you use, always be courteous, no matter the response from the other person. Also, remember to say thank you.