Job Hunting and Hiring Tips

Open Positions that Need to be Filled

Unfilled jobs cost companies a lot of money, and the longer the position remains open the more money is drained from a company's bottom line. However, while an unfilled job is seen as a liability for companies, it is viewed as an asset by a person looking for a job. The solution to this problem is to match up job seekers with open positions. While this solution seems elementary, it can be difficult to do if hiring and job hunting marketing strategies are not used. Fortunately, these strategies are easy to both identify and implement, you just need to know what they are.

Marketing and Hiring

Marketing is key to maximizing the quality of applicants for any given open position. This means that in order to find quality candidates for your company you need to first invest in developing a quality marketing strategy for your company. When you develop a marketing strategy for your company you need to (1) establish a budget, (2) use current job descriptions to identify desired candidate criteria, (3) identify marketing options and (4) develop a timeline for your hiring project.

1. The first step of this process is to develop a budget. Your employee search budget will not only determine what marketing options you will be able to use, but it will also determine how extensive your search can be. For example, a company may want to invest more money is a nationwide search to fill one of their key positions.
   
   
2. The second step is to identify what qualifications applicants need to have in order to apply for the position. Make sure that you include all of the qualifications that applicants have to have to get the job, as well as a short list of optional qualifications that you would like the final candidate to have. When advertising these qualifications you need to specify which ones are required and which ones are preferred.
   
   
3. Step three is to identify your marketing options. There are a lot of hiring tools that you can use including: online job boards and websites, head hunters, print media advertisements and local employment agencies. Personal referrals and past applications can also be used to identify potential candidates.
   
   
4. The final step is to develop a hiring timeline. This timeline will need to include how long you will accept applications, how long you will conduct interviews and how long you give your hiring team to select a candidate. To stay on budget, and to get your open position(s) filled and contributing to your company's productivity, you need to stick to this timeline.

Job Hunting Strategies

Just like companies need to market their open positions in order to fill them, job seekers need to market their skills in order to get hired. When you are searching for a new job, whether it is to kick off your career or to take the next step in your career, you need to develop your own marketing strategies. Generally you will need to (1) determine what type of job you are interested in, (2) create an application package, and (3) utilize available job search tools.

1. The first step in hunting for a job is to determine what type of job interests you. If you are just starting your career then you will want to focus your job search on a specific industry or a specific genre of job, like technical support, customer service or management. On the other hand, if you are looking for a change, then you will want to spread out your search to look at new industries and new job genres.
   
   
2. The second step is to create your application package. This package will include a resume, cover letter, and a business card. As you find jobs to apply for, you will need to mold your resume and cover letter to fit the criteria presented in the job announcement. A business card is a great, inexpensive tool for individuals interviewing for a new job. Potential employers will know you mean business when they see you've already invested in yourself. Take a few minutes to carefully think about the way you want to present and promote yourself and your abilities. While building your business card, treat it as a "mini-resume". Use the front of the card to list your name and contact information. Then, use the back of the card to promote your credentials, degrees, professional abilities, etc. This application package is going to be the cornerstone of your job hunting campaign.
   
   
3. The third step is to utilize the available job search tools in your area and online. Locally you can use employment services, headhunters, and even the classified ads printed in your local newspaper to find a job. Your online options include job search websites, job message boards and employment opportunity pages on specific company sites.

Conclusion

Job hunting and employee searching both require an effective marketing strategy. Fortunately, both tasks can be assisted by online employment tools. The next time you are searching for a new employee or a new employer, remember to develop a marketing plan before you start your search to minimize the amount of time you waste during your search for your perfect match.