Readers:
Dr. Randall Hansen, a nationally recognized career expert, is the Career Doctor.
Discover more about Dr. Hansen, read about the purpose of this column,
and find previous issues of this column at the home of The Career Doctor.
If you have any college, career, or job-related questions or comments that Dr. Hansen could
provide valuable assistance with, please
feel free to email him at: careerdr@quintcareers.com.
Dr. Hansen writes this column on a biweekly basis.
Jarret writes:
Can you tell me the best way to use the Internet in terms of job-hunting?
I have not been having much luck in finding a new job and I am at a loss
for what I am doing wrong. I post my resume on a bunch of job sites and
I reply to job postings… so what am I doing wrong?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
The good news is that the Internet is seeing a kind of renaissance -- if
we can call it that -- in terms of its value in helping job-seekers find job
leads and new career opportunities.
The bad news is that many job-seekers are still using the Internet incorrectly
as a tool of job-hunting.
There are now many ways to use the Internet to assist your job-search,
but I must again state that you will be much more successful in your job-search
if you use all the tools available to you, not just those online… but for the
sake of your question, let’s stick to Net sources.
In my mind, there are two powerful ways to use the Internet in job-hunting.
The first, and just a variation of an old favorite, is networking online. As I have
stated many times before, all studies show that networking -- obtaining job
leads from people you know -- is the most powerful tool of job-hunting.
And, with more and more networking and community sites online, there
are more ways to expand your networking. Sites like
Friendster
and LinkedIn
offer many ways to connect with and expand your network.
The second is the thoughtful use of online job sites -- but not the way you
have been doing it. The best job sites are not the big job boards but rather
company sites or niche sites. More and more employers are developing very
user-friendly career centers on their Websites -- and if I had a specific list of
employers I wanted to work for, this is where I would start. If I had a specific
industry or geographic location where I was searching for a job, I would use
one or more of these targeted job sites.
And please don’t forget about the value of the Internet as a research tool for
your job-search. You can find information about companies, organizations,
and even the people interviewing you.
Mara writes:
I read your article regarding Job Interview Follow Up Do's & Don'ts. I interviewed
with a company for a position I was really interested in. The company has no
more 50 people and I met with 5, two of them were in HR. I sent thank you
notes to each one. After two weeks and hearing nothing, I figured they found
someone else. Then HR emailed me (I would expect a phone call is faster
means of communication) asking me to come in again and when I responded
both by email and phone, I never got a response
Some people have said it's probably not a company you want to work with.
What do you think?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
I might have to agree with some of your friends that this behavior might be
a sign that the company is not right for you. While I talk a lot about job-seeker
etiquette in this column, whenever I meet with employers I also remind them
of the importance of etiquette and respect -- and I feel as though this employer
needs a little lesson in those areas.
Nice job, by the way, in writing a thank-you note to each person… and yes,
for all of you readers, you must thank each person who interviews you -- and
yes, they all need to be original letters (though parts can be the same).
The only flaw I can see in your job-search strategy is that you did not follow-up
after sending the thank-you notes. I’m dealing with a client in a similar situation
right now… you must be proactive, and you must continue (politely and professionally)
to show your interest in the position and the company.
My best guess is that you were possibly a second choice candidate, and when the
first choice either backed out or looked as though he/she was going to back out,
you then received the email from human resources.
And just an aside, but I am a big email person, and chances are someone is going
to find me a lot faster through email than phone, so I don’t see anything wrong with
the company sending you an email.
Tonya writes:
I was browsing your site and really finding the information useful.
My quick question is, do you have a sample cover letter on your site
that includes how to ask for a certain salary. The job asks that
applicants submit their salary requirement? Can you help me?
A template of this?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
Asking for salary requirements help employers screen out job-seekers --
both the lazy job-seekers who don’t bother to conduct any research and
the over- and under-qualified job-seekers.
Your goal as the job-seeker is to uncover -- as close as possible -- the
salary range for the position you are applying for. You can find this information
(or a close proximity) either through a contact within the company or from
industry salary sources.
If the salary range seems acceptable to you -- and you are qualified for the
position -- then you have it a lot easier. If the salary range is not acceptable,
but you still want the job for other reasons, then you may need to approach
the situation differently.
But, regardless, you have a couple of options in dealing with a salary
requirement request. Just remember never to put down a specific number --
give yourself some negotiating room if you make it to that point in the process.
So, here are some options when dealing with a request:
provide your salary requirement (narrow range)
ask for a wide salary range
state that you expect competitive or fair compensation
express your salary flexibility
ignore the salary request (riskiest strategy)
Here’s a sample paragraph I would put in my cover letter: Per your request,
an acceptable salary range for this job, based on the description and my
research, is $45,000-$50,000, not including benefits or supplements. My
requirement is flexible and negotiable, depending on such factors as additional
benefits, faster salary reviews, and increased advancement opportunities.
Carol writes:
My boss is always trying to make me feel stupid by telling me that I don't
understand things etc. He will tell me to do something and then when I
do it the way he told me he tells me I did it wrong. I was on vacation for
a week and when I came back I found out that they were hiring someone
else to do most of my job description. I want to send a letter to the board
of directors but not sure of what I need to say. Can you help?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
I get so many emails from folks with bad bosses that it makes me wonder
where they all come from… and it certainly makes the bad bosses from shows
like The Office or comic strips like Dilbert seem tame in comparison.
Only you can decide whether it’s worth the fight. The sad reality is that in
many cases, even if you have well-documented evidence of abuse, you will
get branded as someone who makes or has troubles -- and depending on the
size of your industry or town, that label could make it much harder for you to find new employment.
So, my advice would be to start documenting everything, including gathering information
from co-workers who have witnessed the abuse, and consider action. Perhaps talk with
an attorney that specializes in labor laws. I would not talk with the folks in human
resources, nor would I make any comments about suing the company. Keep it quiet
and to yourself before -- or if -- you take any action.
Of course, more importantly, for your sanity and self-worth, you should immediately
be searching for a new job with a new employer. Besides, with the new hire, I would
say the writing is on the wall concerning your future with the company. Start
searching today!
For some key rules on all aspects of job-hunting, check out this detailed list of
Job-Hunting
Do's and Don'ts Articles published on Quintessential Careers.
