Think First!

2012 is proving to be a continuation of 2009,10, and 11 with job prospects very hard to come by. Not one Presidential candidate seems to have a clue how to fix this mess and please do not sit around waiting for Congress to be our Messiah! You need to fend for yourself and put your best foot forward when tackling the job market.

Submitting your resume for a job posting then calling the poster less than five minutes later to ask if they have interest is a gigantic mistake. Although it might appear like you are being ambitious, usually it does not give the recruiter enough time to download and read your resume and, putting it bluntly, is quite annoying! My rule of thumb is to wait twenty four hours before following up on resume submissions to permit the company proper time to review it and perhaps distribute to other managers for their input.

Another suggestion I have made countless times is to make sure you have skill sets listed on your resume that are somewhat related to the job you are applying for. A few days back, I ran a listing for a Mechanical Engineer with machine design knowledge. Among the responses was a resume from an Auto Mechanic, an Interior Decorator, and someone with a degree in Finance and no related experience at all. Recruiters have a tendency to move from place to place and we do remember candidates who stood out to us for all the wrong reasons. Please think first then send your resumes out!