7.31.2002
From userfriendly.org, a reader's comment
"Try a different approach
By: The Green Fairy
[He's talking about jobfairy.com]
There is great information about everything IT job related, from somebody who spends a good deal of her free time hooking up friends with jobs in the IT field. She and I both have mentored and encouraged many people to get in to this field due to the demands and opportunities. On top of which we hate to see non-lusers stuck in dead-end low paying jobs.
Anyway, think about changing your approach; and here's why...
1. The paper -- I know a lot of people have mentioned this. Please...forget about the paper (except for job fair announcements); openings are already stale, and the company has got to be out of touch with the industry if they are using that avenue. Hence...lower pay, higher competition, and no nifty toys to play with. (Read as - dead-end).
2. Most high-end companies need people ASAP, after all, it is common practice to walk a SA to the door rather than give them notice. We just have our fingers into too much; too much potential to exact revenge...the BOFH reputation/myth. You need to pursue those avenues that will put you in touch with hot jobs.
3. Most high-end IT companies have job finder searches where you can post your resume and criteria and they will immediately notify you of available positions that match. Register and apply for everything. Your resume may be passed on to somebody hiring in another project or department.
4. Search for (Dice.com, computerjobs.com, etc) and apply for specific positions. Sending an unsolicited resume is playing a very low percentage. Companies may scan and file your resume for a short time, but hiring managers will only look through them if they do not find a viable candidate from direct applicants. US West received about 45,000 unsolicited resumes the year I supported their HR department. They were scanned, OCR'd, graded (for buzz words) and filed in categories. Most were deleted after 45 days. The resume database was rarely used.
5. Post your resumes to general/IT job sites. About 3/4 of their positions are filled via resume searches. Hence, they are never posted for open submission. Besides, recruiters may call you and ask to meet you.
6. Talk to your friends and professional contacts. Companies will take chances and give out opportunities based upon their level of confidence that you will pan out. They need to get to know you. Many jobs are filled by referrals from existing employees. It saves the headhunter fee and gets them a better match for their team.
7. Finally -- I absolutely disagree that Contract companies suck. There are some first class ones out there that will bring you on as a FT fully benefited employee and take care of you. Shop around and avoid the temporary agencies. Look for consulting agencies. All of my formal training has been paid for by one such company. And here is food for thought -- would you rather be an expense or a profit? Unless you are working for an IT company, you are a COB (cost of business). If you were a P&L center, you would have no "P". I have received first class treatment from my agency regarding pay, benefits, training, perquisites, and just day-to-day consideration. Most of my friends who work for similar companies feel the same way. One final note, your doorway into a great company may be in a contract-to-hire position. I know that here in Denver, many companies want to try before they buy. Don't close that door too soon."
Awesome advice from the Green Fairy.
7.30.2002
Why not to use any kind of Resume Blasting service...
"A chilling 17 percent of recruiters said they "discard" unsolicited resumes. While the survey did not define "unsolicited resume," it's generally taken to mean a resume that is not sent in connection to an available job opportunity."
That's almost a 1/5 fail rate, immediately. And this is from hotjobs.com, where the recruiters WANT to receive e-resumes all the time! I have always felt it was a lot of money for not a lot of gain. The Aquamarine Fairy used these services a couple of times, even during the hottest part of the tech boom, and still didn't receive any measurable results. So that's why we recommend against. There's just not enough return on investment to justify the cost.
7.28.2002"DEAR ABBY: After reading the letter from "Judy in Tucson," regarding control freaks who insist their weddings be picture-perfect, I have to tell you what happened to me when I was 18. My best friend, "Carrie," was being married and asked me to be her maid of honor. However, she told me I was too fat and I would have to lose weight before the wedding because she didn't want me to ruin her wedding pictures. I went on a strict diet and lost weight, but that was not enough for Carrie. She replaced me with a thinner girl, but told me I was welcome to attend the ceremony. I was very hurt. My parents loved Carrie and told me I was being overly sensitive. They were unable to attend her wedding, but gave me a card with cash to give to the bride and groom. My boyfriend thought the way I had been treated was terrible and suggested we ditch the wedding -- and we did. We took Mom's gift and had a wonderful evening out on the town. My mother still mentions the fact she never received a thank-you note from Carrie. Maybe someday I will tell her the truth -- but I'm still not sorry for what we did. -- TELLING THE TRUTH IN DULUTH P.S. I recently ran into Carrie at the mall. Poor thing, she's put on quite a few pounds. (I have lost 100 pounds -- and look great!)
DEAR TELLING THE TRUTH: I don't condone what you did, but your motive was understandable. Carrie's priorities were misplaced, but it's wrong for you to continue to allow your mother to think your former friend failed to acknowledge her generous gift. You're older and wiser now -- not to mention thinner -- so 'fess up and face the music." - Dear Abby
Note from JobFairy.com: If there is ANY one incident that highlights the difference between the way we Fairies think and the way other advice-givers think, it would be this one. Duluth reacts in classic Fairy fashion. Even though someone she trusted hurt her badly, she does not cause an incident at their wedding, or let this person walk all over her by showing up and accepting a seat in the audience when she should have been maid of honor. Instead, she demonstrates independence and takes the opportunity to gain financially from this painful incident. She should not EVER be sorry for what she did. She should not EVER give in to her misbegotten urgings to "tell the truth". Her parents were wrong not to take her side in the first place. Your parents should always be your most loyal cheerleaders. Duluth thinks enough of herself to stand up to unjust and abusive behavior. She obtained a sense of closure and was able to move forward. No wonder she's lost weight; she feels good about herself because she feels she is worth the effort that it takes to stand up to others. Defending yourself successfully doesn't always mean direct confrontation with your tormentor. She feels she won that round; she has a sense of closure on the incident. And she should continue to let her mother think "Carrie" isn't quite so lovely as she originally thought. She ISN'T. P.S. Good for the boyfriend. Hope Duluth married him.
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