Responding To "Help Wanted" Ads

Another job-hunter recently asked if our career-coaching guide, “Knock 3 Times,”
available at http://stores.lulu.com/propman01, offered advice on answering Help
Wanted placements in newspapers and magazines. I told him it did, and the two
most important points to remember are to respond to the specific criteria requested,
and to do so by discussing the benefits he brings to the position. For example, if
the advertisement requests “experience,” this is the ideal location to briefly outline
the types of similar work he successfully had performed. For example, “…in my
current position – which I have held for five years – I doubled sales revenues in
my territory.” Or, “…in the two years I have been with XYZ Company, there
have been no ‘lost-time’ accidents recorded. In fact, we received an ‘OSHA
Commendation’ for the on-the-job safety procedures I developed, implemented,
and oversee.” Select the pertinent items outlined in the ad, and make certain you
respond to as many as possible. Keep in mind, these placements represent the
“ideal candidate” in the eyes of the Human Resources person, and don’t necessarily
reflect the wishes or hot buttons of the final decision-maker. Again, this is why
you must research the organization as much as you can, so you can tailor your
benefits to what you know the company is seeking.

Contacting Targeted Employers By E-mail

A job-hunter recently asked if she could follow guidelines provided in our career-
coaching guide, “Knock 3 Times,” available at http://stores.lulu.com/propman01,
and apply the sample materials in e-mails. I told her “yes,” if the employer were
receptive to receiving e-mails. Since she was doing her leg-work researching the
organizations to which she would send her campaign materials, she easily could
find out if e-mailing her letters would be acceptable. If so, it would be a simple
matter of tailoring our proven job-hunting pieces to fit an e-mail format. I
advised her that the critical element was applying the “three knocks”
strategy – contacting the company with three separate communications – to
ensure her message was received, noticed, and remembered. I appreciate
her raising this question, because it means job-hunters probably can cut
7-10 days off their scheduled snail-mailing campaign.

New E-Zine Article For Job Hunters

We recently posted a new article (http://www.ezinearticles.com/) that includes solid job-hunting tips from the Director of Human Resources for a well-known international corporation. She offers excellent advice on how to succeed in the interview process. Her interview also is available on our "Effective Interview Techniques" CD, disk two, at http://stores.lulu.com/propman01

Immediately Apply For Unemployment!

One of your first priorities during the job-search process should be finding
an immediate source of income. If you've been employed up to this point,
you probably have unemployment compensation coming from your state.

Admittedly, it's a difficult thing for people who have worked hard to request
unemployment. "Go on the dole," as they say in Europe. It's like there's a
stigma attached to being laid off, down-sized, or let go. However, while you
were working you paid into a fund for this exact purpose, and now is the time
to take advantage of those payments.

Swallow your pride, visit your local Department Of Labor, and sign up. It's
your money, so use it to cover expenses while you're job hunting!

Our time-tested, easy-to-use approach involves upfront planning and hard
work. However, you can implement it in only a few weeks, with positive
results possible within a month.

As soon as possible after you become unemployed, stop by your closest
Department Of Labor (DOL) office and sign up for benefits. You earned
them...you deserve them...go ahead and collect them!

In addition to income, you'll have access to valuable DOL information
sources, including office equipment, work space, and services you can
apply in your job search.

Another reason for you to go to the Department Of Labor is to avail
yourself of the services offered through its Career Center. At the Center,
you'll get help with job hunting, veteran's groups, Job Corps Training,
and vocational rehabilitation.
And, if you don't have access to a computer, the Internet, copy and fax
machines, and other office equipment, you'll find all these items there,
as well as a resource room and myriad job listings. Again, you've paid
for these services, so take advantage of them!

Above all, good luck in your job search!