Job Search Tip #3

This may seem like a silly or dated analogy, but courting companies is a lot like courting girls at a school dance. The most popular companies - like the most popular girls - are going to get many requests for dances with many different boys. There are only so many slow songs in the night to dance to, and just like selecting candidates foa a job, the popular girl has to select from her suitors to find a dance partner. The more popular a girl is, the less likely that you'll be able to dance with her. Perhaps you think you're a real stud and you're a shoo-in for a dance with the most popular girl, but really, you don't know for sure what kind of boys she likes to dance with or how she will make her selection.

The job market happens a lot like this scenario. Popular companies that have presence in the media, or a 'name brand' get the most applications and smaller companies (analogous to the lesser known, lesser popular girls) receive quite few applications. Before even considering the selection criteria, a job seeker has a far poorer chance of landing with a popular company than with a lesser known company.

To better your odds of getting a good job, apply to some lesser known firms. Your odds of being offered an interview are likely far better. The job at the lesser known firm may very well be just as valuable to you as the one with the popular firm. Not everyone can work at Apple or Google or with Donald Trump. There are great experiences to be had at smaller or lesser known firms, and they're often far more receptive to attention from applicants.

Leaving an Impression #1

Oftentimes when you're applying to jobs, you're just one of a sea of candidates who will likely have quite similar credentials. The ability to distinguish yourself as a candidate can be the difference between getting the job and missing out. There are infinite creative ways to distinguish yourself through the application process and in interviews. One of my favourites - a secret that I will share - is to bring a 5-minute elevator pitch presentation to an interview on the topic of 'Why I am right for the job'.

This article presents another creative approach that somebody has used with great success.

www.thestar.com/living/article/809441--is-this-the-smartest-job-application-ever?bn=1

Remember that the even best creative efforts only leave an impression if they maintain the overall integrity of the application process. Make sure that you don't compromise your resume, interviews, or the security of your potential employers in the effort to get noticed.

7 Little Known Reason's You're Not Getting Hired

This is a fantastic article. I could not have said it better myself.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/7-LittleKnown-Reasons-Youre-usenews-863973864.html?x=0