1. If you see a classified ad that sounds really good for you but only lists a fax number and no company name, try to figure out the company by trying similar numbers.
2. Send your resume in a Priority Mail envelope for the serious prospects. It costs only around 100 bucks, but the envelope will stand out and get you noticed.
3. Check the targeted company’s Web site; it may have postings there that others without computer access haven’t seen.
4. If you see a classified ad for a good prospective company but a different position, contact the company anyway. If it is new in town (or even if it is not), it may have other nonadvertised openings.
5. Always have a personalized card with you just in case you meet a good networking or employment prospect.
6. Always have a quick personal briefing rehearsed so you can speak to someone.
7. Network in nonwork environments, such as a happy-hour bar (a great opportunity to network) or
an airport.
8. Network with your college alumni office. Many college graduates list their current employers with that office, and they may be a good source of leads, even out of state.
9. Most newspapers list all the new companies that have applied for business licenses. Check that section and contact the ones that appear appealing to you.
10. Call your attorney and accountant and ask them if they can refer you to any companies or business
contacts; perhaps they have good business relationships that may be good for you to leverage.
11. Contact the Chamber of Commerce for information on new companies moving into the local area.
12. Don’t give up if you’ve had just one rejection from a company you are targeting. You shouldn’t feel
that you have truly contacted that company until you have contacted at least three different people there.
13. Join networking clubs and associations that will expose you to new business contacts.
14. Ask stockbrokers for tips on which companies they identify as fast growing and good companies
to grow with.
15. Make a list of everyone you know, and use that list as a network source.
16. Put an endorsement portfolio together and mail it out with targeted resumes.
17. Employ the hiring proposal strategy (see another of our books: 101 Best Cover Letters).
18. Post your resume on the Internet, selecting newsgroups and bulletin boards that will readily accept it and match your industry and discipline.
19. Don’t forget to demonstrate passion and enthusiasm when you are meeting with people, interviewing with them, and networking through them.
20. Look in your industry’s trade journals. Nearly all industries and disciplines have multiple ones, and most have an advertising section in the back that lists potential openings with companies and recruiters. This is a great resource in today’s low-unemployment environment.
21. Visit a job fair. Although there won’t be recruitment for managerial positions, there will be many
companies present, and you may discover a hot lead. If they are recruiting in general, you should contact them directly for a possible fit.
22. Don’t overlook employment agencies. They may seem like a weak possibility, but that may uncover
a hidden opportunity or serve as a source to network through.
23. Look for companies that are promoting their products using a lot of advertising. Sales are probably
going well, and they may be good hiring targets for you.
24. Call a prospective company and simply ask who its recruiting firm is. If it has one, the person will
tell you, and then you can contact that firm to get in the door.
25. Contact every recruiter in town. Befriend them, and use them as networking sources if possible.
Always thank them, to the point of sending them a small gift for helping you out. This will pay
off in dividends in the future. Recruiters are always good contacts.