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Here is your May 21st, 2013 serving of Career Brainfood.
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Pop Quiz on Search Firms and Job Advertisements

1. True or false: Using search firms (headhunters/agencies) and answering job postings are passive job hunting techniques in that you have to wait for someone to call you. There is little you can do to influence the situation.

2. True or false: Using search firms and answering job postings are a waste and I should just forget about them.

3. True or false: A job search technique is working for you if it results in networking meetings and job interviews.

4. True or false: If you see an ad you like, it’s best also to try to network in to see someone in that organization.

5. True or false. Recruiters at search firms are your friends. They’re on your side and want to do their best to get you a job.

Answers:

1. True. You answer a job posting, and then wait to be called. You hope a search firm will put you in for an interview, so you wait for them to call you. By networking and contacting companies directly, you have more control over your search.

2. False. Search firms and ads are two parts of the job-search mix. In fact, about six percent of all jobs are filled through ads and six percent of all jobs are filled through search firms. So, most job hunters should spend twelve percent of their job search time on search firms and ads.

3. True: If job postings are resulting in plenty of meetings for you, then that technique is working. Getting meetings is the only measure of a technique’s effectiveness.

4. True. If you are truly interested in an organization, don’t stay in that pile of hundreds of resumes. Separate yourself from the competition by getting in to see someone in the organization – not necessarily the hiring manager.

5. False. Recruiters at search firms may be friendly, but they represent the companies that pay them – not you. They’re trying to find a candidate for the employer. You may be lucky and get a job that way, but they are not trying to help you get a job.

The preceding includes excerpts from The Five O'Clock Club website. The Five O'Clock Club, Forty-Year Vision and Seven Stories Exercise are registered trademarks of The Five O'Clock Club, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Celebrating 14 years in business, I lead P.H.I. Consulting, an award-winning international consultancy providing private Career & Job Search Coaching and Résumé Writing Services that support people on their quest for meaningful work. This brings more fulfillment to their lives and empowers them to contribute more to the success of their employers.

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