Avoiding the Black Hole When Job Hunting

One of the biggest complaints coming from people looking for work is the proverbial black hole that exists in today’s job market. You know the one. The black hole that your resume falls into and is never heard from again? Hiring managers, HR reps and Recruiters alike all have an increasing habit of not responding too the many resumes they receive for job openings.

While this can probably be attributed to the countless qualified men and women applying for jobs it doesn’t exactly mean that common etiquette should be tossed out the window. And it certainly doesn’t help ease the already frustrated job seeker who waits eagerly to hear about another job that they had applied for.

There are a few ways to work around and handle the black hole of job hunting. Always remember to keep looking! Don’t set your sights on one great sounding job. These days with so many people looking for work no matter how perfect you may be for the job there’s always the possibility you may not hear back.

Be sure to follow up with email, phone calls or even an old fashioned letter. Those these won’t guarantee you get a response it can sometimes help.

Don’t rely only on traditional recruiting and job ads. We’ve talked about before the importance of building a network, now is the time to use it! Take advantage of the network you’ve built online on the following websites and social networks.

1. Facebook/Twitter: You’d be amazed at how much of a response you can get from your Facebook friends. Put the word out on both networks and let your friends know your looking. There’s a good chance you could right skate in the back door into a great new job.
2. LinkedIn: Their job search feature is getting better everyday. And what sets their job search apart from the rest is the fact that they let you know how well your network is connected to the jobs you find. Say your searching for a Customer Service position and you search your area and find some. LinkedIn will then tell you who in your LinkedIn network works for those companies or is connected to someone who works at them. All the technology of a great job search engine with the bonus of cutting out the middleman and connecting you with someone who can get you in the front door.
3. Ntroduction: Right here at Ntroduction we are all about cutting out the middleman and skipping the whole black hole theory all together. Taking advantage of the services we provide here, you can go straight to the hiring manager yourself face to face and get the job you deserve. Forget the recruiters and answering anonymous job ad after job ad. Get your foot in the door the old fashioned way, face-to-face.

Don’t forget to connect with other friends who are on the hunt as well. Work together to help each other out.  Make a list of friends who you know are also looking for work and in what field they’re looking and ask them to do the same. That way when you come across something or know someone who is hiring for a position they may be suited for you can connect them and vice versa.

In these still uncertain times the best weapon you have in the fight to find work is actual face time with the people doing the hiring.