Searching for employment is becoming a full-time job.
The resume is widely considered the primary tool of job seekers to make themselves attractive to potential employers. However, according to career coach Ford R. Myers, people who use only their resumes are going to interviews with a half-empty toolbox.
Myers, author of Get The Job You Want, Even When No One’s Hiring, claims that by incorporating his “10 must-have items” into their repertoire, job seekers can greatly enhance their efforts in finding employment.
“Job seekers over-emphasize the resume because their other ‘tools’ are weak or nonexistent,” said Myers. “But the resume should actually be one of your least used job-seeking tools. Unfortunately, most people don’t know what these other tools are or how to use them.”
At the top of Myers’ “must-have list” are written accomplishments, followed by verbal statements and a professional biography. He advises people to write five or six work-related stories describing challenging tasks they completed at previous jobs, as well as prepare and recite a 15-second, verbal advertisement illustrating their particular strengths and skills and write a one-page narrative of their careers.
The fourth item on the list is an in-depth description of an ideal employer, known as a target company list. Myers recommends creating a portrait of the perfect company by specifying details such as size, location and industry, and then searching for matching businesses.
According to Myers, approximately 80 percent of new opportunities are gained due to networking, making it invaluable to the job-finding process. He suggests compiling a directory of every known personal and professional contact, as well as requesting references and written recommendations from anyone who may “sing your praises.” Furthermore, he advises researching the process of a networking discussion, including what to say and how to react to certain comments.
The ninth tool on the list is the tracking system, a detailed record of any search activities, including phone calls, interviews and correspondence. This tool allows a job seeker to plan their next steps and asses their progress each week. Last, but certainly not least, is the resume, which Myers describes as “indispensible,” despite its lowly ranking.
While Myers is confident his methods will work for job seekers, he warns people not to expect a quick fix or lack the patience necessary to practice his techniques.
“It may take some time to produce these documents and to learn how to use them effectively, but it will be worth it,” said Myers. “Building a satisfying career is much easier when you have the right tools.”
