As unemployment soars, online job searches are both empowering
and frustrating to job searchers. Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE:PBI)
recommends blending offline tools with online searches for making
connections that land jobs.
�The Web has been a powerful tool for recruiting and sharing job
postings,� said Johnna Torsone, Pitney Bowes Senior Vice President
and Chief Human Resources Officer. �Online tools should not be
relied upon exclusively in a job search; they should be combined
with personal networking and correspondence.�
"In this economy, companies need to attract only the best
performers in a field, so the ability to demonstrate excellence is
paramount," said David Moyer, President of Moyer Sherwood
Associates, Inc., a retained executive search firm specializing in
corporate communications. "The tone, frequency and relevance of
each communication have the power to either build winning
connections or kill them."
Pitney Bowes suggests the following 12 tips for blending online
job searches with offline networking for solid career results.
Resume for you and you and you�
Anyone can blast email a resume to everyone on their contact
list. To really stand out, create a personal message to each and
every contact. Once all the individual emails have been sent,
follow up with the USPS mail version. The personalized note should
be similar, but also personalized with your printed resume. Your
colleagues, friends or relatives will appreciate hearing from you
twice with thoughtful correspondence. Your resume is now far more
likely to stay on a desktop, or better yet, on a desk.
Print your resume on a good paper stock appropriate to the
position
Resumes printed on standard copier paper make a dull impression
on a recruiter�s desk. A textured ivory or even a tasteful colored
paper stands out in the pack. Select a standout look that fits the
tone of the position available. A graphic artist may have a
colorful background. An accountant may select an off white with an
unusual texture. Whatever the new look, be certain that legibility
is never compromised.
Please keep my resume on your desktop
What is your immediate call to action? Each recipient of your
career networking communication needs to know the answer to one
question � what do you need or want right now? By specifically
writing �Please keep my resume on your desktop,� you are creating a
simple, no-pressure activity that easily generates a positive
response. A more direct plea of �Do you have any openings?� may
generate a negative response or none at all.
Who�s that manager?
Once in application mode, follow all of the steps that each firm
requires in terms of online protocol. Register your resume on each
firm�s Web site in the career section. Identify each job listing
that interests you. Then, find all roads that lead to the hiring
manager. First stop is your personal network, second stop is
LinkedIn.com.
Mail call!
Once you identify a name in the organization that is hiring,
mail your resume and compelling cover letter directly to the hiring
manager. If it�s local, drop it off with the security guard or
receptionist at the front desk. Use a large flat color envelope to
make your piece of mail stand out. Which mail piece would you open
first? The email or, the large green envelope on your desk?
Thank you for your�
Interest, your call, the interview, the opportunity to meet with
you. How many thank you notes have appeared on your desk in the
last six months? The thank you note is one of the most
underutilized business tools. It is the most gracious and endearing
form of communication in the business environment. In email, it has
much less impact. Send two thank you notes. One via email and one
in the mail with two distinct personalized messages.
Do you have a business card?
I hope so. They are so easy to create in a format that matches
your resume and stationary letterhead. Hand out business cards at
area networking events and family gatherings. There are often
situations where a calling card or business card is more
appropriate than handing someone a full resume.
Here are my references
On the first interview, always have a printed list of references
� 3 to 5 references is the norm. No family members on this list,
please. By sharing email and phone numbers on the first interview,
this may differentiate you from a competing candidate who may be
waiting for the formal request for references.
I thought you would be interested in this�
If you are being called back for a second interview or, better
yet, waiting for an offer, find reasons to keep in touch. The HR
process may take weeks. Emailing or mailing news articles, white
papers or information that is truly helpful to your future
employer, offers the impression that you are already contributing
as a team member. Often, the HR process may be stalled, but don�t
let your communications pause. This should occur no more than once
per week.
Get it in writing
For the most prudent candidate, there is no job offer until it
appears in paper in the form of a signed offer letter. There is a
reason these important documents are usually sent via mail or
overnight delivery. The negotiations are never final until that
signed offer letter is in your hands.
Send out your new business cards�
After you land the plum new position, remember to keep in touch.
Update your online social networking pages. Share your new email
address and send an extra special USPS-delivered sincere thank you
note to each and every person who helped you along the way. Karma
rules when it comes to your career. Make sure you�re in touch
during the good times as well as during the challenging ones.
Update that resume
Updating the resume at the beginning of a job search is a
looming task that can feel isolating and frustrating. The best time
to update that resume is at the start of a new job. You are
confident and your optimism will translate well in your resume
text.
For more information on how mail helps make business
connections, visit www.pb.com. There�s a lot more here than you
think.
About Pitney Bowes:
Pitney Bowes is a mailstream technology company that helps
organizations manage the flow of information, mail, documents and
packages. Our 35,000 employees deliver technology, service and
innovation to more than two million customers worldwide. The
company was founded in 1920 and annual revenues now total $6.3
billion. More information is available at www.pb.com.
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