Getting in front of recruiters
Surfing the web one can find more than a dozen job boards, including CareerBuilder.com, Monster.com,Indeed.com, Ziprecruiter.com, Crunchboard.com, Jobsonthemenu.com, Workpop.com, andHealthcarejobs.com.
The other option is contacting one of the many local staffing and recruiting agencies and having someone guide you through the process on the phone and in person.
But experienced recruiter, Kevin McCann, president and owner of SearchStone Partners in Warminster, says there are other methods that may be more successful: such as networking and sending your resume directly to the company's hiring manager or human resources director.
"After 22 years in the business, I do not advise the 'shot gun approach' of downloading your resume to one or more job boards. As an industry professional, I believe that the last thing you want to do is take your resume to the job boards," McCann explained. "I feel doing this is exposing yourself to a company's 40-50 data entry folks, where your resume is dumped into the company's black hole of a data base."
Instead, he advises job seekers to narrow the playing field. "You don't want your resume in a pile of 6,000 others; instead it is far more effective to call the hiring manager and say, 'I am extremely interested in working for you, who should I call about a potential interview?' "
McCann recommends that job candidates at all levels of education and experience not just rely on their resumes. "I have said to my clients, 'this resume is not going to knock you out, but I have talked to this job candidate and she will knock you out.' I would keep in mind that in a typical job interview situation, at least 50 percent of the hiring situation is based on chemistry."
He said the key to finding the right job or career is figuring out what else you love, in addition to your family and friends. "I always say that once you find your passion you will find the right fit. I am a huge advocate for doing what you love!"
Office Manager Michele Kalapos, of Classic Staffing Service in Quakerstown, said being prepared is the first step no matter how you get yourself or your resume to a prospective employer. "Know why you want that job and follow-up afterward. You would be surprised how many applicants come in with a large take-out coffee or leave their cell phones on," Kalapos said. "It is always important that you make the right impression."