The un-posted job market

While there are job leads on Craigslist, CareerBuilder, and Monster there really isn't any guarantee that the postings are real jobs, or even timely job leads.  Don't get me wrong-not all job postings are bogus and certainly one can obtain a job using these leads, but in this kind of market I think it would be prudent to try to unlock the mystery of the un-posted job.  That's the job that gets filled by word of mouth and never gets on that job board, newspaper, or recruiter requisition form.

Monster and CareerBuilder will try to sell you services such as resume blasters and other tools to get your resume in front of a high number of recruiters across the board.  I've never bought into these services, but I have listened to the feedback from people that have used these services. Some feedback was positive, but some feedback was not positive, so I came to the conclusion that finding un-posted job leads may take a different approach.

In this mindset I'm convinced that the M.O. is to get your marketing materials out to your desired audience.  I know this sounds crazy, but the last thing I want to do in this scenario is send my resume to the HR Manager or the HR Director of a targeted company. I know-I know-sounds crazy.  This week my goal was to identify at least one lead that could generate an opportunity to interview for a job in the un-posted job market.  I wrote out a plan and this is what I came up with:

Industry (Research)
My first step was to identify an industry.  I decided to go with the 3rd Party HR related vendor industry.  This is very broad, so I narrowed it down to companies that provide payroll/HR services to mid size companies.  Pick whatever interests you.  I picked this industry because I have friends in this industry to help me carry out my next step...finding trend/activity/newsy resources to tell me what is going on in the industry.  Get in touch with the industry. Pay attention to the news and read smaller local magazines (if your search is local).  The goal is to identify business trends.  Look for the acquisition of new contracts, changes in laws pertaining to the industry, or even when a non-profit lands a grant for a new project.

Contact (Networking)
This isn't about acquiring a list of every CEO in the county.  This is about finding out who in the industry is responsible for developing or executing the plans that resulted in some sort of movement in the industry that is now being showcased in your resource reading.  Who was just named the new business development manager? Who just opened up a new of business in your target region?  Who was just promoted?  Who just retired?  With every business action there is a name or a set of names associated with that business action.  I don't want phone numbers-I want names and email addresses.  Remember: the M.O. is to get your marketing materials to the right audience. Call the front desk of the company, and just ask for the person's email. They will provide it, and if they don't pay the company a visit.  Most companies list a directory or have business cards out on the reception office.  If that's not available...do a Google search or a LinkedIn search.  The information is out there waiting to be found!

Show your knowledge (Anticipate needs)
After doing your reading you should be able to identify a trend or a new development.  Sit back and think--can you anticipate the company's need resulting from this new development. Monitor the competition.  What is the market doing and what is the competition doing as the company you are researching is rolling out their new initiative or new business model.  This is the hard part---to see the relationships and to perhaps even anticipate the business need before they do!  It sounds unlikely, but sometimes companies move forward and don't fill in the gaps of details needed until much later.  Once you have identified the need (which you can fill), you now need a cover letter and a customized resume of your skills and background that will communicate your proposed solution (you being hired) to the key players in that organization.

Outcome
After going through these steps I sent out 5 cover letters and resumes to various contacts. The research and extra leg-work paid off.  I have secured an interview for an un-posted job lead. Mission accomplished.  If it doesn't pan out--then back to the plan. I'm sure results can be duplicated. This plan works!

Unemployed: Week 3

Being unemployed has its advantages and disadvantages. The top disadvantage of being unemployed is an obvious one---a shrinking savings account.  The advantages are the blessings because I get to spend more time than I've ever spent with my daughters and I'm there to see their smiling faces each day when I meet them after school.  The other advantage is that I'm able to work out regularly and can do it when most people are at work. With that being said, week 3 of being unemployed took an interesting turn as I participated in more phone screenings and face to face interviews.

I saw two offers come my way, that were hopefully just a fluke and not a sign of things to come.

In each scenario a certain pay range was introduced but not followed through when it came down to receiving a written offer.  I was very disappointed that in both offers the pay rates were significantly lower than the pay scales we had conversed about in earlier meetings.  In one case, the budget has been adjusted and changed from the time that they did the posting of the opportunity and from the time when the offer was finally extended.  In both cases I couldn't make ends meet with the offers on the table.  Fuel costs, childcare, and my basic need to pay my rent pretty much dictated my having to decline the offers.  I'm in disbelief that employers in San Diego County would offer such low paying wages.  I mean, how exactly can someone live in San Diego on the wages they were offering?  I was sort of taken back because I don't have a very high cost of living arrangement currently, and I'm debt free and I don't have a car payment.  The one thing I do have is a child care cost, but it is very reasonable and would not be an issue if these employers would have offered a competitive salary.

This week I also received some follow up emails from employers that will not be considering me further in their recruiting process.  That was brutal feedback, but it was much appreciated, because it's nice to know which interviews are actually viable.  Of the original 6 positions I originally interviewed for.....2 gave horrible offers, 2 disqualified me, and two remain viable.  I'm grateful that I continued to send out resumes, since now I look forward to seeing if any of my new submissions will become phone screenings.

I'm keeping my head up and not letting these two negative offer experiences and the 2 rejection notices impact my morale.  There are other opportunities and I have to focus my energies on those and not dwell on the failed attempts of other opportunities.  I have to look to the horizon and believe that an offer that makes sense is just around the corner.