How To Get Job Leads And Get Your Resume Seen

Search job boards and the Web sites of employers that appeal to you. Print out the job postings that you're interested in pursuing before you apply.

Use a highlighter to mark the keywords and industry language used to describe the requirements and responsibilities.

Compare those words and phrases to the language that appears now in your resume.

Figure out how and where to add the most important keywords to your resume, assuming you have that knowledge, skills, and experience. Applicant tracking systems will search for keyword matches – the more matches, the better -- which often determines if a recruiter opts to view your resume.

Once you're confident that your resume reflects a strong match, go ahead and submit that targeted resume online. Don't be a serial applicant -- someone who applies for every job (or too many of them) at the same company because you'll be flagged as unfocused and disqualified. If there's more than one opening that matches your skills, limit yourself to applying for just a couple of closely related positions.

If the system requests a cover letter, write a short one that expresses why you're a strong match and why you'd like to join the organization. This is a chance to tout your research on the role. Never submit a generic, one-size-fits-all resume or cover letter. If you really want the position, you'll customize all documents for each job.

Once you apply, get to work to find an internal referral to make a personal introduction. How do you do that?

Make a list of fifty people you know and ask each one if they know someone who works (or has worked) at that employer
Attend job fairs to meet face-to-face with employers and other professionals
Create a free profile and become active on LinkedIn.com or Facebook.com, which boast a combined sixty million users. Surely you can find someone who knows someone to make that connection
Create a free Twitter.com account and "follow" friends and post requests for help
Join an association in your field and network with like-minded peers
Connect with your high school and college alumni groups. Old pals could be new connectors
Talk to your unlikely network. For example, look at the class list of the parents of your kids' friends

Follow up with a call or e-mail to the recruiter responsible for filling the position. Never say, "Did you get my resume?" Instead be ready to reiterate your strong qualifications and interest in the role. You'll have just a brief moment to sell yourself, so rehearse before making the call or sending the e-mail. To reach the right person, cold-call the company and ask an operator to put you through. If that doesn't work, Google the term "recruiter" or "HR director" along with the name of your employer of choice. The results may reveal the name you're trying to find.

Stay at the top of their mind. Every recruiter is different, which makes this a challenge. Some say you're welcome to follow up weekly. Others say every other week is enough. And then there are some who'll tell you to never call. Find the right balance so you're politely persistent without crossing over to being a pest.

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