| For Immediate Release
For an interview with Lawrence Stuenkel,
please contact Linda Whitehead Mote at (864) 240-3000
EXPLODING JOB HUNTING MYTHS
Greenville, SC – Ever
since modern man has commenced his search for work there have been
a number of myths associated with seeking employment that have
managed to persist through the years. The following are five of
these myths, which in many cases actually seek to retard the job
hunter’s quest for finding new employment.
Is It
True That . . .
My job search will
take one month for every $10,000 in salary I earned?
This myth has been around
ever since Mrs. O’Leary’s cow was reported to have started the
Chicago fire. The length of the search is directly proportional to
the amount of effort going into the campaign. There are several
factors that figure into the length of the job search. For
instance, the amount of time each day that a job hunter spends
working on his campaign. Those with greater salaries who only
spend two hours a day on the campaign will have a search that
takes a longer period of time to completion. When a job campaign
begins has a bearing on the amount of time necessary to move into
the next career position. The first quarter of the year, as a
rule, is better than the fourth quarter.
The quality of the
materials used in the campaign is crucial in determining the
length of time. Those individuals using a rewritten job
description as their resume can expect to have a longer campaign.
The writer spends too much time telling the reader what the writer
was responsible for instead of what the writer actually
accomplished. Rule of thumb: Quantify, Quantify, Quantify
Accomplishments. Finally, the skill sets of the job seeker are
also critical. Are the skills well oiled, rusty or worse,
corroded?
My resume should be
one page?
This is a great line
coming off college campuses because recent graduates have no
career experiences; therefore, they have very little to put in a
resume. Previous employment is limited to summer jobs, not career
building positions. In developing a resume, the job seeker should
tell his or her story. The story can’t be held to one page if
the person has worked for 20 years or more. Succinct expression of
business accomplishments? Absolutely! Give potential employers
substance, translated as accomplishments, in a resume, not just a
recapping of your job description. The length of a resume should
be determined by what you have to put in it. How long should a
resume be? How long have you worked? A one and a half page is
okay, two pages, or two and a half pages is okay. In general, you
will want to keep it to three pages or less if possible. Just
remember to let your accomplishments shine, and don’t worry if
it takes two or even three pages to do that!
Most people find jobs
today through networking?
This technique is not as
viable as it used to be because everyone has been networked to
death. However, networking is still an important part of the
campaign and accounts for the source of
most newly found jobs.
Use a balanced approach incorporating networking into the mix, but
don’t rely exclusively on it. Remember that your network
contacts also may be unemployed.
Almost all recruiting
is done through the Internet?
Less than two percent
(2%) of the people finding new jobs today are hired through
Internet posting of a resume or responding to an ad found on the
Internet. A balanced campaign consisting of contacting
corporations directly, ad response, networking, using your state’s
Job Service, and search firms produce more opportunities than does
the Internet. The key is using all these tools in your search. Don’t
rely on one method exclusively.
The quicker I respond
to ads, the better my chances for an interview?
Excluding search fees,
posting an ad is the most expensive way to identify candidates to
fill a position. Immediate responses have a tendency to stack up
while the company waits to see the number of responses that are
coming in. Expressed simply, people want to know what their
investment buys, plus there is a curiosity of what the next day’s
mail delivery will bring. When you look at it this way, the first
responses will go to the bottom of the stack. When the reviewing
process begins, it starts with those responses that have been
received most recently – the ones on top. The earliest ones
received may never be considered. The same can be said when
responding to ads posted on the Internet. It’s not unusual for
hundreds of replies to be received on the first day of an Internet
ad posting. With most of those responses coming in by e-mail, the
volume can be overwhelming and, therefore, deleted before being
read. Waiting a few days before responding, coupled with a cover
letter that is customized to the requirements as stated in the ad,
is the best bet for getting the much awaited interview call.
# # #
About The Company:
In 1977, Lawrence A. Stuenkel founded the firm of
Lawrence & Allen, Inc. to provide consulting services to
corporations regarding the handling, separation, and assistance to
employees that are affected by downsizing, restructuring, layoffs,
or terminations. The firm now provides consulting services including
Executive Outplacement, Leadership Intervention, and Spouse
Relocation Assistance to a wide spectrum of clients that range from
multibillion-dollar international corporations to smaller, high
growth oriented proprietorships.
Lawrence & Allen has worked with such clients
as Chicago Faucet, Miller Brewing, Agfa, Briggs & Stratton, Navistar, GTE, Brunswick,
Motorola, Phillips Consumer Electronics, Johnson Controls, Sunbeam, Rockwell, Borg-Warner,
Budget Rent-A-Car, FMC Corporation, SC Johnson, UOP, CNH, and WR Grace. |
