In parts of Canada, telephone wires collect so much snow in winter that they often break under the weight. It’s a massive problem for phone companies. Shaking each pole would be the obvious answer but there are thousands of poles spread across thousands of kilometres of unwelcoming tundra.
So they formed a cunning plan. Enlist the help of the local bears! How do you encourage bears to shake telegraph poles? Smear them with honey. But that would mean trekking to each and every pole with a big jar of honey and a gun. Someone then suggested spraying the honey from a helicopter. Brilliant.
The helicopter flew low over the target area - and the breeze from the blades blew snow off the wires….
It’s a true story. And it’s relevant for job hunting because that too involves trial and error, persistence evaluation and revaluation. Sometimes it involves an element of luck. But you can make your own luck by…
Looking internally first - your own employer knows you best. Talk to your manager about possible openings.
Using your network of family, friends and former colleagues. Keeping this active when you’re not looking makes it easier to tap into when you are.
Signing up for job alerts on relevant websites. Specialist websites and job boards are always better than generalists.
Talk to a recruitment consultant. Again, specialists top-trump generalists every time.
Not all consultancies offer the same services. Choose one that meets your criteria. Ask friends and colleagues about their experiences.
Keep a record of the companies and roles you have been put forward for. This ensures you are organised and efficient in the process. It also reflects well on you as a candidate.
Keep track of the consultants you are dealing with.
Take time to send a thorough CV - the details on it will help form the decision as to whether or not a consultancy can help you.
It is important to register in person. No consultancy can truly represent you without meeting you or gaining a proper idea of how you come across in interviews. It also helps you in gaining valuable feedback on your interview technique that can be the difference between getting the job and not getting the job.
Agree to a time for regular contact with your consultant.
Always respond to email/voice messages from your consultant as soon as you can talk freely, to avoid missing out on a position due to delay in response.
JOB SEARCH
JOBMAIL!
Get the latest hot jobs sent straight to your inbox!
RSS Feed
To subscribe to our RSS Feed add the following address to your RSS Reader or click here to view our RSS feed in your browser.
