Common job search strategies that don't work

By Adrian Tan

With over nine years of experience in managing a Singapore-based recruitment and search agency, I had the opportunity to recommend many job search strategies over workshops and seminars that will complement your resume and increase your chances for finding that perfect job.

I also had the chance to find out some of the strategies that were used before these job seekers came to me. And some of these won’t work:

1. Mass sending the same resume to different companies, and wondering why none get back to you.

In the marketing world, this is called Direct Marketing. It could be offline (the leaflets you received in your letterbox) or commonly online (the newsletter or ads you get in your inbox). How many of them do you personally respond to?

After all you only need 1 job at the end of the day. Why waste time applying for 100 openings to secure 1 job when you could apply for 5 to get 1?

What to Do Instead: Aim for quality, not quantity. Be targeted and be specific. Each resume you sent out should be tailored to present yourself in the more relevant manner to the job description.

2. Re-sending the same resume over and over to the same company, expecting different results.

The line between desperation/not knowing what you want and really passionate can be very blur.

What to Do Instead: Emphasize the right thing. If it is the company you are after, show them the research you done and why you believe you are the right person. It’s still about tailoring your resume to what they want to see.

3. Staying at home and working the computer.

We are so good in following rules dictated by the job ad that we became oblivious that there are more than one way to skin a cat.

What to Do Instead: Get yourself out among people, spreading the word about your job hunt and letting them see what a great employee you would make.

Talk to family, friends and former colleagues; attend business networking events and expos; take on freelance, volunteer, and consultant opportunities (they may become job offers; in the meantime you’re keeping your skills sharp and building contacts)—and that’s just the start of the list.

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