Chris Thoughts

Top 10 Tips for Job Hunting Under The Crisis

Posted on 24. Jan, 2009 by Chris in Career 101

(To those who are in search of job or have been through the same process back then)

Every now and then there is a voice saying getting hired is a no-no under such a market situation. Yes, it is hard, but there is a way. Successful job seekers (well, job hunter to be pricise in this situation) know even in tough economic times, there is opportunity. You just have to dig it a bit deeper, or just one inch deeper than your peers. The following threads shows how it is going to work.

The following sessions are divided into four core parts (bulletpoint clickable).

• Part I – explains basic things to avoid, and basic skillsets to acquire before a real job searching process
• Part II – tells some most frequent situation to which most graduates encounter. Making the right decision would end up saving a ton of time and progress towards your career goal
• Part III – dives into the evangelizing some of the most innovative tool for career advancement, over a long term basis. The immediately effect could also be seen in the short term
• Part IV – advance and jump to another curve by effectively planning your career right from the very start, from being an undergrad to aspiring for an MBA, from MBA to an ex-MBA career path, and etc

Here, based on a variety of tricks, techniques and solid skills most in the college or even working should know, I would use my favorite Top 10 methods to ensure you won’t miss the focus and save time by jumping ahead of the curve or going backwards. The table of content would also help to locate where the focus lies, dependant on your career goal and how you look at it in the near/long term.

Typically, the following content applies based on my understanding of Finance, Consulting and Fortune 500 types of job. If there is any discrepancy, you are welcome to email me or comment following thread below.

Below is a more concise table of content.

#10 The most ineffective – blindly send out 100+ CVs (with fewer than 5 responses)

#9 The most common  -  Google + job board + forum

#8 The longest process – part-time/freelance work/internship first if you can get a relevant one

#7 The biggest dilemma -  master? delay graduation date to catch another hiring season?

#6 The best way to stand out of your peers over a short period -  pay to win –

#5 The most direct – cold call  +  email

#4 The bravest – get your feet in the company + elevator pitch

#3 The most innovative – think social networking tool

#2 The quickest response  – insider referral

#1 The most solid – stack up your belt from the very start

Table of Content

PART I

#10 The most ineffective – blindly send out 100+ CVs (with fewer than 5 responses)

• Basic things to avoid
• Target few, and aim high

#9 The most common  -  Google + job board + forum

• Use Google
  • How Google differentiates from other search engines
  • Search Tricks
  • Things beyond
  • A test
• Boil the Ocean
• Added Component: from Zero to IPO to exit (worth further research)

#8 The longest process – part-time/freelance work/internship first if you can get a relevant one

• The “Myth”
  • Q1: When is a good timing for application? (apply to both FT role & internship)
  • Q2: It is not a hiring season yet, where and how can I find a job?
  • Q3: My CV looks great, and I come from a target school. But, why I am not selected even for the first round?
  • Q4: What are the sourcing processes? I am not from a target school, is that a loophole still?
  • Q5: What makes a perfect resume?
• The “Good”
  • Life is flexible, life is good
  • You will be a well-rounded person
• The “Bad & the Ugly”
  • You are quarantined from people (but you are not an SARS carrier)
  • My workload vs my payroll
  • Work hard, work hard and work hard
  • Network, network and network

PART II

#7 The biggest dilemma -  master? delay graduation date to catch another hiring season?

• Is Master really for you, or are you really ready for a Master?
• Master still good
  • Q1: Is it worthwhile to delay my education just to catch another hiring season? This way it makes me look like an fresh grad and my opportunity will be boosted?
  • Q2: Location matters?
    • I am a native Chinese/other nationalities, I just graduated or on the process to graduation in the US/UK/AU/Other countries, should I come back to work in my home country or try to stay when the opportunity from both sides look slim.
    • I am a Chinese, does location matter alot? What’s my advantage?
    • What else to consider?

#6 The best way to stand out of your peers over a short period -  pay to win

• Know your competitive advantage
  • Q1: What I am lacking, and how to accrue my possibility of getting hired when time is short
  • Q2: When the market is not hiring, where else exists the opening
  • Q3: Should I use career service
• Which is worthwhile to take? My pick

PART III

#5 The most direct – cold call  +  email

• Be in the know
• Where to find the company list
• Where do those headhunters live
• Why headhunters are hated by most
• How to live with headhunters in your early career

#4 The bravest – get your feet in the company + elevator pitch

• What makes a successful elevator pitch
• What make you a seemingly acquaitance to the relevant insider
• What topics to talk about
• How to make up, and to link things together

#3 The most innovative – think social networking tool

• Blog yourself, and build your visual CV
• Open you up to the world
• Your email address matters
• Email management and resource sourcing
• Domino effect. Everything added up and EXPLODE

PART IV

#2 The quickest response  – insider referral

• Where to find your referral
• Who can refer
• What is Email Etiquette? (important across all sections)
• If you fail even with the referral, then what

#1 The most solid – stack up your belt from the very start

• How to prepare
• What to read
• What to put in the CV
• How to combine the above to transform your life
• and etc…

(click on the above link to find post content)

Disclaimer: I am neither an HR nor a career advisor. What I say is my own stuff and not affiliated with any of the companies I worked or am working for. All the thoughts on this site are mine. My company and its affiliated and personnel are not affiliated with this blog in any way. If you appreciate and would like to forward the content, please kindly link back to the original source.

Any other thought? If yes, please feel free to email me or reply on this thread below.

Related posts:

1. Top 10 Tips for Job Hunting Under The Crisis (2)
2. Top 10 Tips for Job Hunting Under The Crisis (1)
3. Top 10 Tips for Job Hunting Under The Crisis (3)
4. From Zero to IPO to Exit Round-up
5. Email Etiquette – Ten Checks Before Sending Out Your Next Email