need job hunting tips

[rain23]

how much following up is enough?????

i went to a job fair 3 weeks ago and spoke to various employers...most of the recruiters said to email them with our resumes if we dont hear anything within a couple of weeks...i did that earlier this week and received a call last night while i was out with some friends. i called the number they left with my brother this morning and got thier answering machine, so i left a message. i tried back later this afternoon and got thier machine again but didn't leave a message this time...i figured it'd be annoying of me to leave more then one message a day but plan on calling them again first thing tomorrow morning. hopefully i can get a hold of a real person tomorrow so i dont have to leave another message.

anyways, what do you guys think? how much is enough to let a recruiter know you're interested without being overbearing? do recruiters sometimes test to see how much we are interested in a job and wait for us to follow up or are they just too busy to return our calls and appreciate our calling back? me and my friend disagree on this issue, i think a call a day is enough...he thinks i should leave as many messages as it takes....

feel free to post any other tips in terms of looking for a job.

thanks!

[RikuY]

For your first point, no, no, no. There is no such thing as calling too many times for a potential job, if you ask me (you kinda did...) I can say this because I am responsible for hiring new engineering staff and co-ops at my company. Persistence is only one of the best qualities a real good emplyee can have, and you are showing them that. Keep on with it, if nothing else, you will bother them enough to stick out during the interview process and that will also be a plus.
Some tips for you.....I don't really have alot, but I would say hit as many places and or job postings as possible, averages don't matter, just that you get a job. I will never forget that looking for a job is the way I make a life for myself and there is nothing wrong with trying a new path or being"persistent" with an new potential career.
I hope this helps.....

[TankgirlyC]

I disagree.

YOu call once a day leave a message....call back if you want to try and get ahold of someone.....but if you dont DO NOT keep leaving messages!

The people that do hiring have other things going on. If they dont get back to you its probably because they were tending to other work.

Other job tips....register on as many online places as you can...look DAILY.
Register with 2 head hunters.....tell ONE that you will do temp work (another GREAT way to network)
DO NOT list your GPA, relevent courses on your resume. No one cares what you took in college that can be discussed in an interview.
Your cover letter should be 3 paragraphs if you are just starting to job hunt or have had ONE job. First paragraph list the job title and how your interested.
Second---some related job skills and include a strory illustrating one job skill that is important in the job you are applying for
Third....wrap up, leave a number where they can call to ask any furhter questions or comments.

Hope that helps. FYI I worked as a recruiter placing people in temp jobs for companies. I was trained on how to land jobs for people.

[bumper3]

I had roughly the same problem with landing my new job (start on Oct 20). The guy was an internal recruiter for a major corporation and called me after I submitted a resume on the company's website. I did an initial phone screen and then a week went by and I heard nothing. So I sent him an email, nothing. Then a phone call, left a message. I finally got a phone call back and then a face to face interview and then another phone interview. When I finally got the job, it was 5 weeks from start to finish, I asked why there was such a delay in between pieces of the process? The recruiter told me he gets 3500 emailed resumes a day and a ton of phone calls and it takes a bit of time to go through all of his stuff.

Dont get discouraged. I would call every other day, and if you have to leave a message, sound upbeat and you are excited about the company and the position that you are looking for.

[pisces2473]

I agree with bumper. To get my job, which is not prestigious or anything, it took FOREVER. Yale has very stringent HR policies and screens their candidates very carefully. There is quite an interview process. I submitted my resume in mid-January, had my preliminary interview (w/HR) at the end of Jan., the "real" interview a few days later, was notified of the position in early Feb. but didn't start until late Feb. What a pain in the ass.

Bumper, congrats on the new job, btw.

[bumper3]

Thanks. Pays more than I was making before and I get to stay in Chicago instead of flying someplace new every week.

[pisces2473]

Good for you. Now you can spend more time with your family :)

[rain23]

thanks for all the tips...

i guess i can see both sides to the following up issue...i still think that its important to show your interest but i honestly didnt feel comfortable with leaving more then one message a day, if i put myself in thier shoes i think more then anything i would just find it annoying but then again i could be wrong. i'm also realizing that the way you follow up varies by company, some might find it annoying while others may see it as a positive quality, i guess it varies by industry as well....well in case anyone is wondering i did call back twice later that afternoon and the first time i got thier answering machine (i did not leave a message) but the second time a recruiter actually picked up and we scheduled a 30 minute phone interview for tomorrow morning...any tips on what to expect??

[TankgirlyC]

They will just ask you basic stuff like about what you have done. Make sure to sound positive and good on the phone. You want to be sure you are awake and you are putting your most professional sounding foot forward. Answer honest!

[bumper3]

Study your resume. Make sure that if they ask you about information on your resume you know what they are talking about and if possible, relate it to they job you are applying for.

[RikuY]

Rain,
Good synopsis of the comments, and thanks to all that replied as well, because I learned something from all this. This is the real reason I joined this forum in the first place. I am, after all, still learning what I am doing well and what I need to work on.
This makes me feel like I accomplished something today to better myself.......:D

[rain23]

is it pretty safe to say that most of the interview will be based on past experience...and the behavioral ?s will come later like at a second interview?? any other last minute tips...?

i made some notes which i plan to have in front of me while interviewing (just bullet points so it doesnt sound like im just reading) i feel pretty prepared but am sorta worried that i'll be approached with some ?s im not prepared for but i guess thats a risk with all interviews.

starting to get a bit nervous...:neutral:

[RikuY]

I always start an interview with a review of the resume and the past. I like to hear points in the past experience that relate to what I am doing, and possibly how you would add a new dimension to my team by having done something a little different as well (but still relevant to the big picture). For example, if one of my interviewers said they like tinkering with cars and building hot rods, that would be beneficial to me because s/he can, and likes to work with his/her hands. I work in an engineering department with direct manufacturing support, so this is why that is a plus.
Next, I look for the person to comment on our current product line and maybe a question about what we do, or what our responsibilities are.
Then, I like to question what the person's "bigger picture" is and what they want out of the position, and where they want to go with it.
Most of all, during the entire process, I check the resume over and see if there has been any lies,or adjustments of truth.
Beyond that, I expect the person to be a little nervous, but a basketcase is too much....
I know it all sounds like a bit much, but just be confident in your past (as long as you didn't fudge anything) and tell the truth about what you want out of the position and where you expect to go beyond that......
Hope this helps....

[bumper3]

One good thing to remember is that you should never just regurgitate what is on your resume if someone asks to describe your self. They have the resume in front of them so they know your background. Try to come up with something about yourself that relates to the position you are applying for.

Dont worry about the behavior questions, just remember that they want to know how you are going to handle pressure, deadlines, working with a team etc. Interviews are not "won" or "lost" with the behavior questions, they are won and lost with attitude and enthusiasm.

One other point, do some research on the company/firm you are applying to. If it is business related, try to look at some of the financials on their website, etc. If it is a different type position, check to see if there is anything relevant about the company and then bring it up during the interview. For example, if you like to volunteer and the company has a community outreach program, mention that during the interview. Employers love it when they know you have done some homework, it shows that you are interested in working for the company.

Lastly, Dont worry about the interview. You have already stood out to them becuase they selected you to be brought in for face to face. For the job that I just landed, I was one of 3500 resumes and one of three that was actually interviewed for the job. Even if I did not get the job, I knew that I at least stood out from 3500 other people with the same skills.

Good Luck.

[rain23]

thanks for all the tips guys...i had the interview this morning and i think it went okay...there were times where i think i began to sound nervous or on edge but for the most part i was able to answer thier questions with confidence...and i stayed upbeat and positive throughout the interview. i wont know for a good 2 weeks if they want me for a second interview or not...the waiting part always sucks...plus with the way my search has been going the fear that they found someone with more experience is going to haunt me while i wait...anyways thanks again for all the tips!

[bumper3]

Dont stop looking. Use what you learned from the interview and try and get another one in the next two weeks. It is always better to have as many hooks in the water as possible. You never know what will bite.

[RikuY]

Well said bumper....... I'll just say ditto......
The weekend is officially 3-1/2 hours away..... Have fun to everybody, I know I will. Rain, try to get your mind off of the waiting game, it's not going to help you to wonder when they will call and I should've said this, etc. You sound like you did well, so go and do something to forget about the interview......

[rain23]

thanks bumper and riku...yea i plan to keep looking...i have an interview lined up in 2 weeks (for a position i'm really not too thrilled about but a job is a job) and i'm still applying around so hopefully something comes up soon!