Welcome to the modern age of the job search. Where computers and the Internet do all the work while we get all of the gain!
Don’t you wish that was totally true? Sure, it’s 2011 and technology has made everything a lot easier. Today’s job seeker saves time and energy with a computer or smartphone instead of pounding the pavement everyday. Technology truly has reinvented the job search for the better.
That said, some job search practices will stay true for decades. Check out four “old school” job search tips that are still relevant:
Follow-up
The unfortunate trend for job seekers is submitting an application or resume, and then sitting and waiting for that interview request or job offer to come sailing in immediately. If you do this, here’s your wake-up call: employers are inundated with hundreds or thousands of resumes, and some employers don’t even consider applicants until after they’ve followed up. Following up gets you on their radar and tells the employer that you are interested in this specific job and want to pursue it. Sending a quick email or even calling that prospective employer a few days after applying or interviewing is a great way to follow-up without being a pest.
Check out: Impressing HR on Interview Day: 4 Easy Ways to Do It
Use your manners
You probably didn’t attend cotillion when you were younger, but that’s no excuse for bad manners. In an interview or phone call, remember to say please and thank you and to call people by “Mr.” or “Mrs.” and their last name until they tell you otherwise. Remember, a good handshake and a courteous disposition can charm any prospective employer.
Check out: 8 Etiquette Rules for the Job Seeker on Google+
Follow the rules
You don’t have to look far to find some job search advice blog or column that tells you to “Unleash your creative side! Don’t just turn in an application, wow prospective employers with a viral video/personalized t-shirt/crop circle!” Sure, some people do some creative things to get a job, and some of those people might even get the job. They are the exception to the rule. If all forty applicants for a single position choose a creative application approach, the employer will have a hard time deciphering who the best candidate is for the job. You are not auditioning for a talent competition. When applying to a job, pay attention to the criteria listed in the posting and give the employer what they want. Hopefully, by doing so, your application materials will bypass the trashcan.
Check out: 3 Old School Job Search Tools That Should Stay
Networking in-person
Welcome to Web 2.0, where you can network with executives and entrepreneurs, all at the click of a Tweet button. With social networking, it’s super easy to connect and maybe build a rapport with industry leaders you haven’t met face-to-face. That said, social networking platforms should not — and will never — replace old-fashioned, face-to-face networking. Join a professional organization that helps you connect with others on a personal level. A conversation at a networking event is worth 1,000 Tweets.
What other “old school” job search tips are worth keeping? Which tips should be retired?