Once you have decided on the kind of job you want, you face the problem of getting from where you are now to the point where you accept the offer of a superior job. If you were traveling to a place you had never been to before, you would get there most easily and most expeditiously by using a road map. In going from your present job (or unemployment) to the position of your choice, you will also use a road map. This road map is the campaign plan.
The campaign plan for job hunting will guide you to logical and effective courses of action, just as other types of plans guide you in reaching objectives on the job. The campaign plan for job hunting has been designed to enable you to get the job you want in the shortest possible time. Do not embark on a job campaign without first developing a plan as outlined in this chapter. If you do, you will remain on your job hunt longer and will limit the range of jobs available to you.
Any job campaign consists of three phases:
- The preinterview phase
- The interview phase
- The post interview phase
Every campaign is different, reflecting different job objectives as well as different professional career goals. Using the outlines and campaign plan detailed, you must tailor your campaign to your particular situation.
The PreInterview Phase Of Your Campaign
Preparing Your Resume
It will take you two to three days (assuming eight hours per day) to get all your materials together and write your resume, as I will instruct you. Once you do, you will have all the data you need to:
- Write sales letters with at least five major accomplishments in support of your job objective.
- Prepare responses to advertisements that are right on target with the requirements listed in the ad.
- Prepare special resumes of your experiences that slant your accomplishments to the requirements of the job.
It will take you two to four days to write sales letters that support your job objectives and mail them to both PEs and executive recruiters.
Printing Sales Letters
Printing your sales letters depends on your printer. This can take up to two weeks, because you will need to order specially printed stationery before your sales letter is added from a soft plate. If you shop around a little, you should be able to find a printer who can do the job in a week or less.
Obtaining Mailing Lists
You should start with a mailing list of 1,000 companies, any one of which you would be prepared to work for if other aspects of the job met your requirements. You do not need to know everything about these companies. Just make sure they are all on target. For example, if you are looking only for a large company, you shouldn't have any small companies on your list. You will also need a similar list of executive recruiters. Preparing these lists can take several days of somewhat tedious work.
Mailing Sales Letters
Mailing sales letters includes the following mundane, but necessary chores: typing your name and address on both sales letters and envelopes. signing the letters, sealing and stamping the envelopes, and mailing. If you do these tasks yourself, you will spend about 5 hours per 100 letters. Therefore, if you mail sales letters to 1,000 companies and 500 executive recruiters, you can estimate 75 hours of work, or roughly nine days to complete this part of the job. This points out vividly the advantages of getting some family assistance if possible, or even hiring some part-time secretarial help.
Answering Advertisements
Begin to collect job advertisements the day you decide to look for a job, but don't start responding until you get your sales letters out. More than likely, you will not start answering ads until the beginning of the third week. Don't worry about this "lost time." As explained fully the fact that you answer ads late is not a disadvantage.
