So, you’ve decided to change your job… How should you do it with least efforts, waste less nerves and, the main thing, find the job you’ve always dreamed about? To begin with, try not to make the most typical mistakes, based on popular myths concerning this subject.
Myth 1. If representatives of a company liked content of my resume, they would call me for sure.
Reality. You will never get a good job if you simply wait a call next to your phone. In our world of widespread information technologies it is so easy to send a resume via email that people sometimes forget that you need something more than to simply send a resume in order to find a good job. Companies receive hundreds of such resume every day and simply cannot read them all and call everyone back. The main thing at job search is to come into personal contact with a company employee, who is responsible for personnel selection. So, the best way is to send a resume and call.
There may be several companies you want to get a job at, so it would be useful to have a piece of paper with a primitive table at hand: company name, its specialization, when and whom you’ve sent a resume, when and whom you’ve called, the result of phone conversation. As a rule, it is recommended to call to a company in a week after sending a resume, and if you won’t have received the answer by that time, you should call repeatedly every 7-10 days.
Myth 2. If a company doesn’t officially inform about a vacancy, it means that it is useless to try to get a job there.
Reality. Many vacancies are never advertised. Looking through advertisements in newspapers and visiting company web-sites should be only the part of the global job search strategy. You should call and send resumes to companies you are interested in. in this case your chances to get a job rise significantly. It often happens that personnel managers gather information about specialists, who, if it comes to the pinch, can substitute their employees or take up a newly formed position, in advance.
Myth 3. When writing a resume, uou should state duties you’ve performed at your previous jobs.
Reality. Your resume shouldn’t look like a list of previous production duties. A resume is a way to advertise yourself. Employers pay not for things a man can do, but for things he can produce. That is why you should show your abilities and skills, which have allowed you to achieve success at previous jobs.
Myth 4. The more resume you send – the better.
Reality. Job search shouldn’t be restricted by mass resume mailing. Main efforts should be concentrated on establishing contacts with representatives of the companies you consider to be the most perspective.
Myth 5. Each resume should contain chronological enumeration of previous jobs.
Reality. Such form of organization of a resume is suitable only for those who have really impressive professional experience. Many people (especially, young inexperienced novices) don’t have such professional experience. So they should organize their resume on the basis of categories. For example, if you try to get a job in the trade sector, you should add the category “Sales experience” to your resume, where you should describe your experience and skills in the given sphere. So, personnel managers will be able to understand, what real experience you have, without necessity to scramble through the list of previous jobs.
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