How'd You Get the Job You Have Now?
We can talk all we want to about strategy, but sometimes personal experience speaks louder. So I'd like to know, how'd you get your current or last job? Collecting that info should give job seekers some great ideas about how to focus their efforts.
Tags: job_search
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tom Golway on -
Hard to believe, but I submitted my resume at my current employer's HR web site and they picked my resume, went through 7 interviews and landed the job.
Through the process of the interviews we found many mutual contacts and friends, which of course they contacted and I guess receive positived feedback, so here I am!
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Permalink Reply by Julliette on
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The internet is a great way to send a resume. I did this also and got interviews for jobs. :) JUlliette
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I once had to teach, "How to get a Job." This really came in handy when I was out there job hunting. Impression is everything. Employers can form an opinion within 2 minutes of meeting you. Often times if you do not have a "correct" resume, meaning no errors, correct margins and your references, your resume will end up in the trash. Dress Professional, remember blue is the color of choice. Blue has been surveyed to be the color people associate with trust. Lawyers sometimes use it in the court room. Act Professional. Always be on time. Network, get out there and meet people in the profession you want to be in.
O.K. they liked your resume and your in the "First" interview. Often a group of people are interviewing you. Do not panic. Breathe in your nose and remind yourself that they are just people just like you. Some people prefer to shoot questions at you during the interview and others are more gentle. You quickly reply hoping you are giving the "right" answers. The questions are generally psychological, sometimes they are personal or situational. Always use a firm handshake. Follow up after the interview by mailing a letter telling them how much you enjoyed meeting them and thank them for their time. I've had people say, "I didn't think you were interested in this job until I got the letter." You go to the second interview. You got the job When you do not get the job, you can feel kinda down that day but pick yourself up and dust yourself off and get out there and job hunt till you get the job. It can be hard but it is just a little piece of life. hugssssssssssssssssss :) JUlliette
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Permalink Reply by Gene Hyde on
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Contrary to what seems to be common job hunting/finding advice, I found the job on a web site, applied on the company web site, went through a phone interview and a face-to-face interview and received an offer. Then things get a little more interesting. The job required that I move to a new city but I had found another not as good opportunity that didn't require a move. I decided I was willing to try the not as good opportunity in order to avoid moving. So I decided I had nothing to lose so I responded to the offer with a counter offer that included telecommuting instead of moving. Surprisingly, my counter offer was accepted so I got the best of both - the job I preferred and I didn't have to move. Almost 4 years later, I still like the job but telecommuting is difficult in the somewhat old school culture of this company but at least I haven't had to move.
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Permalink Reply by Brent P. Newhall on -
Well, I quit my previous job to freelance full-time. But I only did so because I had 6 months' worth of salary saved up.
And it's taking more than 6 months to spin up, by the way. I am headed towards being "in the black" by the 12-month mark.
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Permalink Reply by Sara Grace on -
I responded to an ad too! But the job I had prior I was referred to by a person who knew the person was looking.
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Permalink Reply by Kim Ann Curtin on -
Not my last job but an interesting slant on how to land one: Years ago, I went to a Country Club on Long Island to apply in person to their ad for a manager's executive assistant. It was a Monday and the club was officially closed for business that day. For some reason the woman at the main house told me that the Club’s Manager was actually enjoying his day off down at the club's swimming pool where some of the staff spent their day off. I thought to myself instead of just leaving a resume I’m going to go introduce myself to him in person. It took a lot of guts for me to go down to that pool but I really wanted/needed the job. I approached him politely and gingerly along with a big smile on my face acknowledging as I approached him that I was either going to lose any chance of consideration or win him over with my fortitude! He said, “Wow, You’re unstoppable! I like that in an employee!” He told me to come back the next day for an interview and offered me more money than he had ever offered for that position before. In the end I actually didn’t take the job due to better offer coming through. But he and I remained friends for quite sometime afterward.
I tell this story because I want folks to realize that in addition to their qualifying skills it is their uniqueness that will have them stand out to a prospective employer. Be it your trip to a foreign land or having been to trapeze school. Companies want their new staff members to bring value with them. See yourself and your life experience as an asset. This is what sets you apart from the herd. You must do something memorable and unique perhaps not as brazen as the above story illustrates, but you must realize that to stand out you must let them see who you truly ARE. As Oscar Wilde says “Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.”
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Permalink Reply by MarkJewell on -
The University I attended has an alumni email list - every now and then, an employer advertises their openings. I saw the email, liked the job description, applied, interviewed - Bammo! Simple enough - but it works very nicely. I can count many people that have gotten new jobs this way!
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Permalink Reply by Bob Sheesley on -
I walked up to the CEO at an event and said, "I see your company name in the paper and it looks like you are doing great work. What do you need?" He told me he needed account management. I told him I was his man. I started off as an account manager and two months later I was head of Business Development.
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Permalink Reply by Andy Yochum on -
I worked for a small digital printing company in Cincinnati, OH. While my primary responsibility was sales, I also did a good amount of material purchasing. It was in this roll that I met the son of one of the partners at LexJet Corporation. As a customer, I was able to witness firsthand the value that was placed on service. I also noticed the growth and success of LexJet. As one of LexJet's earliest customers, I was able to provide feedback on the growing ink jet industry.
When the time came for me to move on in my career, LexJet was an obvious choice. My relationship with the comany not only helped me get the position, it also eased my transition and shortened my learning curve.
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Permalink Reply by YVONNE CHANG on -
I sent my resume and got an interview opportunity. But before I could finish presenting my work, the interviewer threw my portfolio aside and started preaching. I thought the chance was gone. Since it was nothing to loose, so I chatted with him about my thoughts about my previous job, not about what I did, but more about how I think things could be done better. And I got the offer right away.
My 2 cents is that don't hate the job, but look at yourself at a distance. It is kind of professional growth.
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Permalink Reply by Kent McCallister on -
I dropped off a resume long before my employer started only accepting applications online only. I also applied online.
My employer also encourages current employees to refer friends.
One tip I would like to put out there as a former kinko's employee. Save your MSWord files as RichTextFormat (.rtf) before mailing them to prospective employers. RTF files, unlike Word files, cannot carry a Macro Virus attached to them and are more likely to be accepted by prospective companies.
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