Stop applying for jobs on-line immediately! You are wasting your time. Here's why. A civil service agency in Rochester received over 1000 resumes for one entry level job.
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Your chances of getting a call for an interview are slim to none.
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You will get lost in the shuffle.
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It is the least desirable way for companies to hire. They will try everything else first, including offering the job to "Aunt Mildred".
Instead spend your time building your network and your self. Dr. Rita Carey gave a great seminar last night to a group of job seekers at the Employment & Career Club's first meeting. (She also delivers teleseminars) She provided many great insights and suggestions. One thing she recommended was that job seekers spend more time developing their network. She knows how the market is. Dr. Carey is realistically setting the expectation that it might take longer for professionals to find their "ideal" job. Dr. Carey predicted, and I agree, that when we are out of the woods and companies need to start hiring again, they will look to their networks first. In other words, these employers will be asking "who were the talented people we met over the past few months" and let's hire them now, we're ready. Invest time in building a strong network for the future.
Dr. Carey also recommended polishing professional skills by taking classes as one of the best ways to invest in yourself. What better way to network as well.
I am sort of kidding when I suggest to stop applying for jobs on-line. What I really mean is that there are so many other better ways to spend your time. Limit or cut back the time you are spending applying for jobs on-line.
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.