So, you have applied to as many jobs as you can think of, but still have not received a phone call or email back from any of the employers. Now what? Here are a few suggestions to be considered while job hunting.
It seems obvious, but as a staffing agency, we have more resumes that are not up to date than ones that are current. Especially for candidates that recently moved, but the resume still has their old address. Recruiters may want someone from their local area, and if they see that you reside in a different state, they won't take the extra few seconds to review the rest of the resume. The same goes for your current position. Some openings must be filled immediately, and if they review your resume that shows that you still currently work at your most recent employer but you are no longer there, you may get skipped by the recruiter assuming you have to give your current employer a 1-2 week notice.
Public profile pages are great for getting more followers. But what if an employer saw it? Would they be in shock to see what you do in your spare time? Are there party pictures, illegal activity, provocative photos, immature tweets, racist comments, etc? One thing can turn them the wrong way. Review your pages, and make sure they are as professional as possible...now and in the future. They can check on them at any given time.
You would be surprised to see what types of websites pop up when you search your own name on Google.com. You may come across your old social media page like Myspace or xanga.com that you forgot was still active that has several embarrassing posts.
Getting an extra set of eyes to review your resume gives you a chance to see if anything can be improved. Maybe a phrase can be worded differently or they noticed a spelling error that you didn't see originally.
I know we are not all English majors and looooove writing papers, but a cover letter is a great way to introduce yourself to the recruiter and explain your situation and what you are seeking. This is highly recommended if you are applying to a position out of town. You can tell the recruiter that you are looking to relocate to their area and give them specific dates as to when you will be moving. This refers back to the first suggestion of updating your resume. Also, you can explain a little bit more of the type of experience and skills you have that are related to the position that would make you the best candidate. Remember to sell your experience. Tell the recruiter why they should pick you over the other applicants. What makes you stand out? What do you have to offer to the company?
So many applicants just apply once and then never contact the employer again. It's important to follow up. If you apply online, you may be able to call the main office a day later to double check it went through. Of course, there's a difference between contacting once in a while to sounding desperate. Try to balance it out the best you can.
We are sure there are several more we could have mentioned, but these are a great start to hopefully get your phone ringing while job hunting. Roebuck Staffing in Eastern North Carolina is hiring for several positions at the moment! If you have not already, you can apply with us online at www.roebuckstaffing.com.
