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Subject:RE: No job response -- what would you do? (long) From:"John Rosberg" <jrosberg -at- interwoven -dot- com> To:"Condo, Candis" <ccondo -at- c-cor -dot- com>, "Ken Munro" <kenmunro -at- gmail -dot- com>, "Martha Rogers" <marlynrogers -at- gmail -dot- com> Date:Mon, 23 Oct 2006 08:02:15 -0500
Ken
Good data in the responses -- look at your job hunt as a full time job, and bring to it all the skills you would to your "day" job -- while it's not anyone's favorite gig, think about what life will be if you *don't* succeed at it. Waiting for the employer to find you is a lengthy process.
A good friend once suggested I look at it as if I were a sales person (at which I would definitely not succeed). For every X cold calls, Y (smaller than X) will show interest (respond). For every Y responses, Z (smaller than Y) will call you in for an interview. For every Z interviews, you'll get an offer. Numbers.
While this is cold comfort while contemplating your return to KFC, it works, beyond a doubt. The numbers may change given the present employment climate, but the concept is sound.
At the risk of repeating clichés, don't forget to work the heck out of your network. If this sounds too cold and calculating, rather than work your network, contact all your friends and colleagues and ex-bosses and your dry cleaner, and let em know you're in the market. This is also a first rate method to find employment.
Good luck with your search.
John Rosberg
-----Original Message-----
From: Condo, Candis [mailto:ccondo -at- c-cor -dot- com]
Sent: Friday, October 20, 2006 1:40 PM
To: Ken Munro; Martha Rogers
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: No job response -- what would you do? (long)
I would "bother" them again. But I really agree with Ken's statement
"Job hunting is a numbers game." Thirty years ago, I read that very
sentiment in Richard Bolles' book, "What Color is Your Parachute." This
book is updated every year and is well worth a read. I look at it again
every couple of years. As Bolles points out, you have to go through X
number of "Nos" before you get to a Yes.
Candis L. Condo
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+ccondo=c-cor -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+ccondo=c-cor -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf
Of Ken Munro
Sent: Friday, October 20, 2006 4:52 AM
To: Martha Rogers
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: No job response -- what would you do? (long)
I wouldn't bother them again. If they don't get back to you, then
perhaps you are not what they are looking for, despite the fit you
think you have based on their job ad. Or they might just be slow, and
if you make inappropriate emails and calls, then you might get in
their bad books and ruin any chance you had.
I would keep applying to other places. Job hunting is a numbers game.
The more jobs you apply for, the sooner you will get one.
I would start identifying other possible employers in my area and cold
calling them, or networking at industry events and such.
On 10/19/06, Martha Rogers <marlynrogers -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
> Three weeks ago today, I submitted a cover letter and resume to a
> local software company. The job seemed very well-suited to my work
> experiences and capabilities. Initially, I'd found the posting through
> a little ingenuity and a good memory. I made a mental note about this
> company while reading a newspaper article a few years ago. Sadly, when
> my company started laying off people a few weeks ago, I figured it was
> time to start looking. I did some googling and found the Web site of
> the company I'd read about a few years back, despite their name having
> changed. Their employment page listed several open positions,
> including the one that seemed perfect for me. This isn't a huge
> company; I think they employ about 30 people. When I e-mailed my
> resume and cover letter, I used the company's employment@ e-mail
> address provided on the Web page, marking the message for a read
> receipt. Subsequently, I found the same position advertised on
> Dice.com. After a week without getting a read receipt for my message,
> I used the e-mail address of the POC on the Dice.com listing to send a
> second resume and cover letter. In the second message, I expressed
> concern that my first message might not have been received and offered
> apologies for sending a second message.
>
> While I understand that not receiving a read receipt doesn't
> necessarily mean a message didn't get read (for example, reading via
> the preview pane in Outlook), I am wondering what, if anything, I
> should do now? I would like to call the guy identified as the POC on
> Dice but don't want to seem pesky or pushy. But, Mom taught me that
> followup is important after applying for a job. I'm pretty sure that's
> how I got my job at KFC. Granted, that was high school and about 30
> years ago but a week after I dropped off my application, she drove me
> back to the KFC, waited in the car while I asked to speak to the
> manager, and when I got back in the car, I had a job. But, I digress.
>
> I really think I'd like this job; I'd at least like to get an
> interview. The position no longer shows up on Dice.com. The company's
> employment page lists the same undated positions as when I first
> visited over three weeks ago. I haven't had to look for work in 12
> and a half years. The whole job search process is oppressive to me.
> Frankly, I'm not very good at it. Would you call the POC? Or do
> *anything* to follow up?
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