Shotgun or Laser. The Truth About Job Boards
Monster, Workopolis, The Ladders, Dice, CareerBuilder, the list goes on and on - and if you have posted your resume on any of these employment sites, you will most certainly get lost in the shuffle.
Some research companies have found out that only 4% of applicants to job sites ever get hired.
I had a great boss years ago that has a mantra and that mantra is only one word and that word is “focus”.
This principle enables companies to increase revenues and traction due to the fact that they stay on course and this strategy should be of prime importance when looking for your next job.
The travel and hospitality industry is incredibly unique in the fact that the domain expertise required to garner a position within our industry is so important that when you don’t have the required experience in this industry you may as well look elsewhere.
Our industry is incestuous and insulated. So then I have to ask the question…why would you place your resume up on a job site that has millions and millions of resumes floating around where your expertise and differentiators are not going to get noticed? Sounds insane to me.
One of the other issues with positing your resume on large job sites is how current is the information. There is a great deal of stale information out there on job sites that makes it incredibly difficult for a hiring manager to decipher.
This may lead the hiring manager to discount any number of qualified candidates due to any number of time constrained variables.
So, what should a person looking for employment do?
1. Utilize your network. This is the best use of your time. Make sure that friends, family, ex-coworkers, etc know that you are in the game and they know what you are looking for. Don’t just let people know that you want a job, be specific. It will help them communicate the message.
2. If you are in the travel and hospitality industry, use job sites dedicated to our industry. You are going to have a much better chance and people reviewing your resume when they are looking at your targeted approach.
3. Talk to recruiting firms that specialize in your area of expertise. It would seem crazy to hook up with a tech-recruiting firm when you are looking for a general manager position.
4. Make sure your information is up to date and also make sure that you have a few versions of your resume targeted at each position you would like to be hired for. Make the effort and it will work.
Use common sense. This is not difficult. Make sure that you focus on your objectives and your career and ask for help when you need it.
You will be surprised how many people will lend you a hand when you ask for some assistance.
Monster, Workopolis, The Ladders, Dice, CareerBuilder, the list goes on and on - and if you have posted your resume on any of these employment sites, you will most certainly get lost in the shuffle.
Some research companies have found out that only 4% of applicants to job sites ever get hired.
I had a great boss years ago who had a mantra of only one word: “focus”.
This principle enables companies to increase revenues and traction due to the fact that they stay on course and this strategy should be of prime importance when looking for your next job.
The travel and hospitality industry is incredibly unique in the fact that the domain expertise required to garner a position within our industry is so important that when you don’t have the required experience in this industry you may as well look elsewhere.
Our industry is incestuous and insulated. So then I have to ask the question: why would you place your resume up on a job site that has millions and millions of resumes floating around where your expertise and differentiators are not going to get noticed?
Sounds insane to me.
One of the other issues with positing your resume on large job sites is how current is the information. There is a great deal of stale information out there that makes it incredibly difficult for a hiring manager to decipher.
This may lead the hiring manager to discount any number of qualified candidates due to any number of time constrained variables.
So, what should a person looking for employment do?
- Utilize your network. This is the best use of your time. Make sure that friends, family, ex-coworkers, etc know that you are in the game and they know what you are looking for. Don’t just let people know that you want a job, be specific. It will help them communicate the message.
- If you are in the travel and hospitality industry, use job sites dedicated to our industry. You are going to have a much better chance and people reviewing your resume when they are looking at your targeted approach.
- Talk to recruiting firms that specialize in your area of expertise. It would seem crazy to hook up with a tech-recruiting firm when you are looking for a general manager position.
- Make sure your information is up to date and also make sure that you have a few versions of your resume targeted at each position you would like to be hired for. Make the effort and it will work.
Use common sense. This is not difficult. Make sure that you focus on your objectives and your career and ask for help when you need it.
You will be surprised how many people will lend you a hand when you ask for some assistance.