Prospecting Job Search Method

There are essentially three ways to find positions.  They are searching for advertised positions, prospecting and networking.  Research suggests that prospecting and networking may be the most effective methods.  This article will discuss the ‘prospecting’ method.  This is quite effective if you follow all the steps.
 
Prospecting is a proven method of finding employment. When you consider that a very large segment of the job market is ‘closed’ or “hidden”, meaning you can’t find out about available job openings unless you dig or ‘prospect’ for them, this job-hunting method takes on great importance.

The first step in this process is compiling a list of all employers that you might be interested in working for - don't worry if the list is long. In fact, it is better to have a long list as your odds are increased. You can gather this list of employers by focusing on a specific geographic area, a specific industry, a list of top employers or similar related group.  Check out our Employer list and Reference USA in Stout CareerLink or the Quintessential Directory of Company Career Centers for more help. The point is to gather a list of employers that you are interested in.

The second step is to gather names of people who have the power to offer you a job. This is accomplished by calling each employer’s main number and asking for the name and title of the head of the department where your position would be located. Don't let them give you the name of the human resources manager (unless that is the department you would like to work) because your first point of contact should be with the head of the department. This step is essential -- you must get a name and title. Many department heads have said they throw away any letter that is not addressed to them personally. Do you open your junk mail? Be persistent.

The third step in the process is writing a strong cover letter. While you may be sending out a great many letters, make sure that each letter is individualized by addressing each to a named individual. Make sure your qualifications align with those that an employer is seeking and, if possible, say something about the company to show that you've done your homework. Check out job advertisements, the Occupational Outlook Handbook or O’NET Online to find out the qualifications employers are seeking. Remember that your cover letter is extremely important since it serves as the first point of contact with the employer. If you don't have experience writing cover letters, review the cover letter materials on our website, watch a cover letter video and then develop cover letters using Optimal Cover Letters in Stout CareerLink. Enclose a copy of your resume with each letter you mail. if you need help with your resume, attend a resume writing workshop, review the resume writing materials on our website, view a resume writing video and/or develop a resume using Optimal Resume in Stout CareerLink

The fourth step is contacting the people you wrote to in the third step. For many people, this step is the hardest. It means getting on the phone and contacting these people to ask for an interview. If there are no current job openings, you should request an informational interview, where you can gain more knowledge of the field -- and perhaps get names of additional people to contact. Your goal should be to get as many interviews with potential employers as possible.   Be persistent even if you are not getting as many interviews as you like or individuals are less than hospitable. Don’t give up, just move on to the next call. Make sure you are prepared for these interviews by attending an interviewing workshop, watching an interviewing video, reviewing our interviewing materials on our website and doing a virtual mock interview using Interview Stream on Stout CareerLink

If you follow all these steps -- along with all the other rules of job-hunting (phone manners, dressing for success and thank you letters) you'll find prospecting to be a successful method in your overall job-hunting strategy.