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Here are things I advise every one of my prospective candidates to think about before they go out in the market to apply for a job. They are simple to do, but many people forget and you'd be surprised how it affects the chances of getting hired or noticed for future opportunities.
- Network in Person
Get your self out there and in front of people at the companies you want to work for. Go to trade events and head straight for the trade booths and start talking and networking with people. Be curious about the products and services companies are offering. Ask a lot of questions and do your research and and make sure you grab contact information so you can connect with them later.
Go to job fairs and networking events. Even if the chances of getting meaningful leads are low, you never know. You might make a friend who could help you out later. Facetime is important. It helps create a visual image to your name and resume. Try your best to be likable at these moments.
- Network via Email
Keep in touch with people. List the people that can help you and keep in regular contact with them. Ask them for advice, keep them posted on your progress. Don't complain, be positive and keep your eyes open for any opportunities where you might be able to help the other person.
- Network on the Phone
Pick up the phone and try to get a conversation in with the people whose information you are collecting. Keep it short simple but light. Try to turn these phone conversations into lunch meetings.
- Network Online
At the very least you should have a Linked-In account. Create a complete profile. Try to people you've worked with to post recommendations and connect with as many people to add to your network. Do some searches and connect with recruiters in your area too.
Get on some niche sites like Bytes. Sites like Bytes are a great way to network with others on a one-to-one and build relationships.
- Review the Resume
Review your resume. Make sure all the information on there is correct. Make sure your contact information is correct. Once you've polished it give it to as many people as you can and ask them to review it for you. They might catch something you won't. It also gets your resume in the hands of other people. You never know where they end up.
- Get on the Job Boards
While there is a lot of buzz social networks, remember they are relatively new in the recruitment space compared to Job Boards. Job boards like Dice, Monster, Career Builder and others all provide a lot of value. It's still the #1 place companies and recruiters market and advertise for open positions. Get on there, create profiles and start applying.
Apply for positions that you know you want and that you can do. Don't waste a HR or recruiters time by playing the numbers game and applying for everything.
- Write Thank You Notes and Stay Positive
Apply for jobs is never an easy process. Very few will get lucky and hit it the first time. There will be a lot of rejection from people you'll meet. The trick is not taking it personally and instead appreciating people taking time out of their day to help you score a lead. Fire away "Thank You" every time you encounter some help. At the very least it will showcase your ability to stay positive and focused in the face of rejection.
- Brush up on your Social Skills
You can never spend enough time brushing up on the nuances of social interaction. Learning how to greet people, how to interrupt their conversations politely, how to request contact information, how to request for a referral, how to have small quick conversations. Practicing these skills will put you ahead of the game, especially when it comes to tech jobs. Show you're a people person, or at the very least you can pretend to be one and it will go a long way.
- Get your Sexy On
You spend a lot of time making sure your code looks good, or your user interface is brilliant or your database is optimized. In a similar fashion, spend some time on your personal grooming. Working behind a computer all day might not give you the appeal of a GQ cover man, but there is no excuse for not being able to rock a pair of dress shoes, with slacks and a dress shirt. Get a haircut, do the shave thing and make sure the funky breath has been attacked with a couple Dentynes. Remember you're trying to land a job at company the other guy probably works for. He or she has to work with you so do your best to make yourself presentable.
These tips are really just the basics, but the getting the basics right go a long way for most of the candidates applying for jobs. There are cases when all the above can be disregarded. It's when you're so talented and accomplished the hiring company will do just about anything to get you working for them. Those are people I believe these days are referred to as "Rock Star" developers.
