Four Methods of Job Search

There are four methods of job search and I encourage job seekers to use all of them…but not dedicate an equal amount of time to each. When you are in search, looking for a job is your full-time job and you should plan to dedicate 35-40 hours per week in search or a percentage of that it you are searching while employed. Here’s a quick rundown of the four methods of search.

Job Boards – While this is a method of search, the statistics around the percentage of job seekers who actually get their jobs off the boards is relatively low…about 5-10%. When using the boards, job seekers need to be as efficient as possible. By using aggregate boards like Simply Hired and Indeed, job seekers can quickly cull a great deal of information on posted openings from various boards. Another strategy is to set up job alerts based on keywords and geographical preferences to streamline the amount of search time spent on the boards. Dedicate no more than 5 hours per week to this aspect of your search.

Recruiters – About 10-20% of people in search find their jobs through recruiters. A recruiter can be a great ally during a search, but job seekers should keep in mind that recruiters are generally only going to be interested in their candidacy if their skill set matches a position in the recruiter’s current job requisition portfolio. In addition, recruiters can only expose you to the positions from the companies that are willing to pay a recruiter to manage the search process. When you partner with a recruiter, you only get to see a small percentage of the available jobs in the market. Spend no more than 5 hours per week working with recruiters.

Cold Calling – Approximately 10-20% of people in search find their jobs by cold calling on potential decision makers in companies. By creating a marketing letter that communicates your skills, accomplishments, and value-add, job seekers can attempt to forge relationships with key people in the companies they would like to work for. The goal of the letter is to build a relationship with people in companies  where no relationship existed before. If you can create and nurture a relationship before there is a need to fill a position, you are much more likely to be considered as a candidate when there is an opportunity because you are now part of the inner circle of contacts within the company. This method takes work and may not yield immediate results, but if these new relationships are nurtured over time, they can grow into opportunity with the company down the line. Spend up to 10 hours per week on this method of search.

Networking – Close to 70-80% of people in search get their jobs through networking…the art of exchanging information continuously and graciously with members of your professional and social communities. People are more likely to share information with people they know and trust. So sharing information about job leads comes naturally in networking circles. Attempt to give more than you get and don’t keep tabs on your goodwill versus someone else’s and eventually you will find that you can almost always find a connection for whatever you need…whether it’s a recommendation for a great restaurant, advice on a project, or a tip on a job lead. Yes, it’s a lot of work, but it is quite rewarding to help others and receive their help in return.