Considering the over-abundance of advice that job seekers can find on the internet and in books it is no wonder why they get frustrated and confused. Today I read an article emphasizing the benefits of using a headhunter to help find a job. Shortly after, I read an article warning job seekers to stay away from headhunters because they have very low applicant-to-hire margins. Both of these articles incorporate facts and assumptions that job seekers must consider. Headhunters often have already established working relationships with several employers in your area therefore they may have a better chance of getting your resume noticed than simply applying through a job board. However it is also true that headhunters have way more candidates than they have jobs to fill and they are not always guaranteed the right to fill a position with their candidate, since most companies tend to allow more than one headhunter or staffing agency to help them find candidates.
You can easily find as much advice on posting and submitting your resume through major and niche job boards as you can warning you against using these seemingly antiquated tools. Job seekers should embrace both schools of thought. Job boards allow job seekers a quick and easy way to apply to several positions and keep track of all their efforts. However, because of the vast influx of resumes that internal recruiters receive from qualified, unqualified, local and out of country applicants, many companies have drastically minimized the number of positions that they post on job boards. Some have simply shortened the number of days they keep a position posted on a job board. It is estimated that only around 20% of all job vacancies are posted in a public arena and the higher level jobs are often sourced simply through word of mouth. Therefore there is some benefit in submitting through job boards but relying completely on them may cause you to miss other opportunities.
Networking has become the most advised method for finding a great job. It is based on the idea that good employees know good employees therefore managers may feel more confident in candidates who were referred. Additionally job seekers can obtain valuable information about the department, manager, potential coworkers and the organizational culture of a company from someone they know who already works there. This will allow the job seeker to make a slightly more informed decision whether to pursue the opportunity. However networking can take more time and effort than simply applying to job postings. Therefore it is my recommendation that job seekers incorporate networking as a part, but not their only, job search tool.
Right now you may be saying, Coach Kenya, what are the best tools for job seekers to use? My answer is all of them. Yes, as indecisive as that may sound, you can benefit from using a variety of job search tools. Use headhunters to help market you to your targeted companies. Submit keyword friendly resumes through job boards to ensure that you have officially applied to certain positions. And use networking as a first step or a follow up for a resume that you have already submitted.
Coach Kenya 