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Working the System: What's wrong with spamming your resume
Subject:Working the System: What's wrong with spamming your resume From:Kelley <the-squeeze -at- pulpculture -dot- org> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Wed, 01 May 2002 16:41:44 -0400
Richard Nelson Bolles, author of What Color Is Your Parachute, observes
that job-hunters prefer to job-hunt in exactly the reverse order that
employers do. Below, in decreasing order, are the ways a typical employer
prefers to fill vacancies (Adapted from Bolles).
From Within
Transfer or promote an existing employee.
Hire or reassign a temp or contract employee who is currently on assignment
at your company.
Advantage: A known quantity who knows the project, the people and the
corporate culture.
Disadvantage: Absolutely none.
A Job-Hunter Who Offers Proof
A referral by a colleague, trusted friend or respected worker.
A highly qualified candidate who walks in the door with a proven track
record and portfolio of prior work.
Someone the manager has already met and likes personally.
Advantage: Next best thing to a known quantity.
Disadvantage: How well does the manager trust his/her sources?
Search Firm For Higher Level Jobs
Engage the services of a search firm, contract agency or employment broker
to recruit and screen outstanding candidates.
Advantage: The search firm does all the leg work, and their service is "free".
Disadvantage: Their real cost is hidden in their high bill rate. Can they
be trusted to refer quality candidates?
Employment Agency For Lower Level Jobs
Sift through candidates submitted by employment agencies and one's own
personnel department for someone who might grow into the position.
Advantage: The search firm does all the leg work, and their service is "free".
Disadvantage: The candidates they supply require more supervision and
direction.
Unsolicited Resumes
Sift through reams of unsolicited resumes of dubious quality that arrived
by snail mail and e-mail with virtually no documentation or pre-screening.
Advantage: What advantage?
Disadvantage: Time consuming and almost completely futile.
Newspaper Ads & Internet Postings
Buy classified ads, post jobs on the Internet, wait for the responses to
roll in, read, review, interview, screen, check references and cross one's
fingers.
Advantage: Sometimes even desperate measures work out.
Disadvantage: Absolutely the method of last resort.
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