Job Seeker Do's and Don'ts

I had to bite the bullet and get Googled. No other free news server would let me post for a long time now. Anyway, back to the subject. A couple of people have called me since I posted a help wanted thing. I did get a message from a guy in Alabama. When I get some free time I'll call him. I got a couple of calls from a guy in Canada. To protect his annonymity I'll just call him Fernando. Fernando did leave the impression he was interested, and he left me a toll free number to call. Too bad it only works in Canada. Sorry, Fernando, I tried several times, but the call wouldn't go through. As for the e-mail you sent, either it had an attachment my virus software rejected, or you didn't fix the e-mail address. Why have I had time to call Fernando, but not Alabama? Alabama didn't leave me a toll free number to call. Again, back to the subject.

Do's:

Call back a few times if all you get is voice mail. Sometimes I'm in the shop sanding parts.

Send e-mails with text in them

Be persistent

I'm sure there're others. This list not all inclusive.

Don'ts:

Give phone numbers that don't work.

Send e-mails with attachments that do things. Virus software tends to see e-mails from strangers in a guarded light.

I will reserve the rest of the Don'ts list for after such time our FNG (which we have yet to obtain) has earned "keeper" status.

Later,

Charlie

I like this subject and would like to go further with it. Rather than trying to give a blanket list, it might be interesting to get a 1 right and 1 wrong from people's experiences. We all end up looking or hiring at some time so sharing experiences may be a slight help

Right: On initial contact (especially a blind search), talk with me and not at me. Turn it into a conversation about job seeking, what skills we might be looking for at some point, a little about your background WITHOUT detail etc. I would rather talk with you than hear your sales pitch until *I* ask further. Think of the first conversation as talking to a neighbor over the fence. The details and interview part come later if I am interested.

Example: I've had about 1 out of 10 call and be honest that they are doing a blanket (phone book) search. They ask about the INDUSTRY and appear to be trying to learn more rather than push about a specific job. I am usually happy to talk, even if I don't have anything for them at this time.

Wrong: Telling me how good you are and how much you will bring to my company. That's stuff for me to decide. I get enough sales pitches from vendors and I don't need more (which I will probably perceive as bent truth anyway) from a job seeker.

Example: About 9 of 10 start out telling me their skills and experience and how they are the right person to work for me...many before they even see if there is a job opening. The more these guys seem to blast about their skills the quicker they are to hang up when I say there are no openings at this time. These guys get about as much time as long distance companies when they call.

Koz