The best time to look for a job might well be when you have a job, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to engage in a lengthy interview process while you’re still employed. This week’s roundup looks at ways to do that without tipping off the boss – or at least, without alienating him or her. Also in the roundup: the never-fail job search tips you’re probably ignoring, and ways to include testimonials on your resume, so there’s no way hiring managers can miss how impressive you are.
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Jeff Lipschultz at Job-Hunt.org: How to Find a Job While You Have One
Lipschultz offers a good list of do’s (“leverage LinkedIn discretely”) and don’ts (put your resume on a job board, and you risk getting caught by HR while they’re conducting a search for new talent), but perhaps the most useful part of his article is when he finally gives us a safe, diplomatic answer for prying bosses. If you’ve ever been asked if you’re looking for a new job – especially when you were looking for a new job – you’ll want to add his script to your repertoire.
Mark S. Babbitt of YouTern at LinkedIn: 5 Never-Fail Job Search Tips That (Almost) Nobody Follows
Knowing better doesn’t necessarily mean doing better, especially when it comes to something as arduous and stressful as looking for a new job. It’s no wonder that many of us cut corners now and then. The problem is that some corners aren’t meant to be cut.
In this post, Babbitt reminds us of the things we used to know about job searching … but conveniently forgot, because of reasons. For example:
Personalize EVERY Resume Sent
This is one of those advice gems you hear all the time. And yet, about 75% of the resumes recruiters receive are near-generic, boring documents that fail to show the sender did any homework.
EVERY resume you send should contain keywords and phrases from the job description and company website. EVERY resume should summarize how you are a “must interview” candidate by summarizing how your soft skills match those sought by that employer. EVERY cover letter you send should contain the recruiter’s name.
Don Goodman at Careerealism: 3 Ways to Include Testimonials on Your Resume
You probably cut the “references on request” line from your resume quite some time ago – as well you should. However, that does leave the problem of figuring out how to tell the recruiter or hiring manager that people like you and your work, without having to wait for the reference-calling stage.
Here, Goodman offers a few ways to get some of those testimonials front and center in your application process, by weaving them into your resume.
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