How Do You Job Hunt?

[kermitology]

I've always struggled with this.. the past couple of jobs I've had or have interviewed for I've gotten the opportunity via networking, but those options are pretty limited right now and I'm looking for new opportunities.

What strategies do you use to find work?

[Sliver]

I just walk around downtown in a short skirt and opportunities seem to find me.

[Dion]

Send out resumes and cover letters to any employer you'd like to work for with hopes you can get an interview where you can sell the employer as to why he/she should hire you. It's what i've done when looking for jobs in the past.

[Redliner]

My current job (of 8 years, so it's starting to look a lot like a career) I got because the company was on-campus recruiting at the U of C. Prior to that, I had success going through agencies like Drake or Kelly. It can be kind of a pain to go down there and do all the aptitude testing, but they have access to a lot of job postings that never see the newspaper because the big companies pay them to find people. I found a couple of good jobs this way and recommend it to anyone who is seriously looking.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Even though I subscribe to a job newsletter most of the jobs I've been hired for were just the result of having my resume in a database somewhere. But I've got a pretty unique skill/word in my resume that would cause it to come up for specific jobs.

[DrPepper]

If you have a friend that does what you do, maybe you should let your friend try and put in a good word for you when you apply for hte job.

[awildermode]

might sound creepy, but go to a college campus to look at wanted ads. even though companies may be looking for "cheap inexperienced" people, you may find some good openings.

the best way to get work is through friends and/or co-workers. perhaps try a competitor of your current/last employer.

have you tried calgaryjobshop.ca or other online resumes?

hope that helps, good luck

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

I find any job that ultimately makes the newspaper is a last resort. Further, any job that's posted you really need to get your resume in during the first 2-3 days. I find I've pretty much secured my interview candidates during that timeframe and someone really has to blow me away after that with their resume to get an interview.

[Cheese]

Ive never got a job outside of networking. Never applied for anything from a newspaper or online.
The absolute best jobs with the best pay come word of mouth.

[Table 5]

Cheese is right, it's basically networking or nothing. The best jobs are always passed from friend to friend, and never via a newspaper.Email/call all your friends and contacts in the industry that you are looking into and let them know you are looking...even if they don't have anything now, they will atleast keeping you in mind when (and there is alway a when) something ever comes up.

[JustAnotherGuy]

I am an IT guy. I have had various jobs over the years. Some of them were full time jobs and others I worked as a contractor.

I have found jobs using the newspaper, using online job sites, talking with friends, and by being registered with an IT placement agency.

My point is. If you are looking for a job. Use them all. You never know which method will work for you.

[Flames89]

1. Figure out what you want to do, or what industry.
2. Make a list of people you know who may be in this area (to some degree).
3. Meet with these people to hear more about their experiences, their "thoughts on the industry" (at no point ask for a job).
4. From each person get 2-3 names of people they know who are also in the industry and would be willing to sit down with you so you can hear more about the industry.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you find a job

[SeeGeeWhy]

what type of work are you looking for?

[OilersBaby]

Depends on the career type. When I worked in IT, the jobs were through word of mouth, but now that I work in the Education industry, applying online is the only way to go. However, if you apply and have a solid connection then get them to also call the hiring manager and put in a good word for you so your application is actually looked at. HR Managers/Recruiters get like 2000 resumes a day for jobs posted online and dont look at all of them...so that extra call puts your resume in the "special" pile where it will be read.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Depends on what type of job, industry and how much experience you have.

If you're looking at a broad range of industries and don't have too much experience, classifieds can work.
I found my foot in the door for my industry through Craigslist. It wasn't the greatest position, but it got me networking within an industry I wanted to be in, and movement up from there has been great since.
I turned down other higher paying jobs for the right industry, and I would recommend this approach to anyone. Get in where you enjoy, and then chase the money and it will come.

Once you've gotten to the "career" stage or are looking at specific industries/positions either networking or approaching specific companies is the way to go. If you're resume has experience for the job, companies will be happy to take it and keep it on file if they're not currently hiring.

[kermitology]

For reference I'm an electrical engineer with a background in telecommunications, microwave engineering, radar systems, software development and system architecture.

I've got about 5-6 years of experience.

[Discoste]

personal answer ---> Not well, apparently.

Flames89 has pretty much hit the nail on the head. In addition to that, it never hurts to network with people outside the industry (you might find out that it's more interesting). Example: buddy was working in Petroleum Co...laid-off, got a job (through a contact) at a structural firm - and pretty much found his calling.

It may be hard to get contacts if you're new to the game like me. Any project engineers out there want to go for lunch sometime?

[troutman]

My "agent" calls me, and provides an address.

[ken0042]

You could also contact a recruiter. For fun I haven't told them to stop the auto email for jobs, and usually a couple per week come in that would be suitable if I hadn't found my current job.

Just be sure to inerview recruiters, I had one that I had assumed had just forgotten about me, then 7 months later I got an email from her saying "remember how I had a job for you- here's the details."

[HawkEGoon]

HHHmmm Job hunting strategies...I might have some...remember 100's or maybe 1000's of other applicants want the same job, so you gotta stand out.

Conventional Advice: Research the company beforehand
Unconventional Advice: Research the sh@t out of the company beforehand
Try asking around hacker circles on the Internet for advice on how to break into the company’s servers. Look for information on the company’s financial situation, secret recipes and, in the case of Target, their history of ritual slayings tied to the Winter solstices. See if you can find out personal information about your interviewer themselves - knowing what hobbies he has and claiming you have the same is a great way to establish a bond. How strong is his marriage? Consider sleeping with his wife to establish another common bond.
“Well, I’d have to guess reading, jogging and sticking it to your wife. Ha ha ha! High five brother! Seriously though, she’s got some daddy issues, hey?”

Conventional Advice: Look professional


Unconventional Advice: Look interestingYou want your outfit to cause your interviewer to think, “Holy fook, I bet this guy has some good stories.” The daily grind of office life can get a bit boring, so having someone in the office who’s really knowledgeable about highway rest-stop culture or your town’s Malay machete fighting scene will add a real air of excitement to the work day. Here’s some ideas for outfits that should give you an idea of the potential here:

• Naked
• Sandwich Board warning of doom/incredible savings
• Covered in feces (yours)
• Covered in feces (local politician’s)
• Batman
• Batman covered in feces (yours)

Conventional Advice: Arrive early
Unconventional Advice: Break in to the office overnight, and sleep under a desk
By arriving 10 minutes early you show that you’re punctual, and respect your interviewer’s time. Of course, you get absolutely no bonus points for doing this, but do get to sit at the front of the office for 10 minutes like a dork, reading out of date trade magazines while the receptionist avoids making eye contact with you, and texts all her friends about the dork her company isn't hiring.
By showing up for your interview way before any sane or law abiding person would, you demonstrate just how much you’re interested in this job; an interest which clearly transcends all norms of sanity or legality (Warning: this is not legally true. Or any other type of true.) More importantly, you also get a chance to imprint the office with your scent, allowing everyone to become comfortable with you before your start date. Hiring managers agree that there’s something about the fetid odor of sweat, seman and urine which screams “team-playing self-starter.”

Conventional Advice: Never criticize your past employer
Unconventional Advice: Criticize the fock out of them
If you’re seeking a job in the same industry as your past employment, then your previous employer is likely a competitor of this company. By demonstrating a shared dislike for this competitor, you’re sure to ingratiate yourself. Be careful you don’t come across as bitter though. Instead, you want to give the impression that you’re a concerned citizen who could no longer stand idly by with all that beastiality and sloppy accounting practices going on unreported. Don’t be afraid to exaggerate. Phrases like “laundered Nazi gold,” or “elbow deep in sheep,” help make stories memorable.

I got more tips if you'd like to hear 'em let me know. I'm here to help.