Q TIPS:
Quick and Quintessential Career & Job Tips
Job-hunting tips from the December 2, 2002 issue of
QuintZine.
Have you been looking in big companies and big cities
to find jobs? Surprisingly, most new jobs are created
in the suburbs, notes Kate Wendleton in her new book,
Kick Off Your Career (reviewed in this issue). Most job
growth is also in smaller companies, while larger companies
are the ones that do most of the downsizing. Of 193,000
companies in New York City, for example, only 270 of them employ
1,000 people or more. Wendleton tells the story of a new
college grad who sent out cold-contact e-mails to 200 firms.
Although 75 percent of the grad's e-mails went to firms in major
metropolitan areas, she received almost no response from them.
"Firms in the suburban area were more responsive because there
were few colleges in those areas, and fewer students contacting
those firms," Wendleton writes.
For those who have succeeded in obtaining interviews
but not job offers, we've often advised writing a letter
to an interviewer with whom you perhaps had especially good rapport
and asking what you could improve about your interview performance.
In her new book, Your Job Search Partner (reviewed in this issue),
Cheryl Cage expands on that idea. She suggests sending a post-rejection-letter
thank you to employers, asking to be considered for future positions and
adding this wording: "...to improve my job search and interviewing skills,
I would appreciate your feedback on my interview and experience. I realize
your comments may be general in nature. However, any feedback would be
helpful." Cage further suggests enclosing a self-addressed stamped envelope
for the employer's reply. Now, be forewarned that you probably won't get
many responses to such queries. But if you get even one that provides
constructive criticism that improves your skills, it will have been well
worth the effort. You'll also be showing the employer your continued
interest.
Revise your resume by forming a focus group, advises Terence C. Reilly
in an article on CareerJournal.com. "Ask professional coaches at the
outplacement center, headhunters, friends, and fellow job searchers
for input about your resume. Most importantly, ask employers you contact
for interviews what they like and find interesting about your resume,"
suggests Reilly in his article,
Seven Steps That Can Shorten Your Search.
Have you been looking in big companies and big cities
to find jobs? Surprisingly, most new jobs are created
in the suburbs, notes Kate Wendleton in her new book,
Kick Off Your Career (reviewed in this issue). Most job
growth is also in smaller companies, while larger companies
are the ones that do most of the downsizing. Of 193,000
companies in New York City, for example, only 270 of them employ
1,000 people or more. Wendleton tells the story of a new
college grad who sent out cold-contact e-mails to 200 firms.
Although 75 percent of the grad's e-mails went to firms in major
metropolitan areas, she received almost no response from them.
"Firms in the suburban area were more responsive because there
were few colleges in those areas, and fewer students contacting
those firms," Wendleton writes.
