With 12.1 million people, or 7.8% of the country unemployed, finding a new job has become more competitive. For the countless people who either lose their jobs or leave in search of greener pastures, the challenges may seem insurmountable. It’s not impossible, and we met a job seeker willing to share his experience in the hopes of helping others.
Matthew Hopson is an engineer who survived a job search that took over 8 months. Our intern, Amir Naderi, sat down with Matt for an in-depth discussion about the job-hunting experience and what helpful insights he learned along the way.
Amir: During the 8 months you were searching for a job, how many positions did you apply for?
Matthew: I applied for 314 positions. I kept track of my applications in Excel. For each position, I listed the following: Company Name, Position, Salary (if listed), Date Posted, Date Applied, Job Location, and Company Website. When a company called me, I recorded who I spoke with and when. This was a great idea because I was able to avoid applying for the same position twice.
Amir: It seems the landscape has shifted to an online recruiting process rather than traditional cold-calls or walk-ins. Did you fill out online or paper applications in your search?
Matthew: I’ve filled out both applications, but most have been online. The majority of places require you to complete an online application, even if you give your resume to an employer in person at job fairs. Interestingly, you may submit a resume online, and some companies will have you fill out a written application when you interview with them.
Amir: I’ve heard you should have more than one resume in your arsenal. Did you have many different resumes or just one?
Matthew: I had one main resume that I used. I only changed the objective section of my resume for each job application because I focused on a specific field based on my work experience and skill set. Many people have more than one resume, and it is a great idea to have more than one version, especially if you’re applying for vastly different positions.
Amir: How long is your resume and cover letter?
Matthew: Both are one-page. I believe each should be one full page and highlight your best attributes. When employers look at resumes and cover letters, they tend to scan them for only a few seconds. It is a great idea to incorporate key words they look for when reviewing each candidate for a position. This will help you stand out among the other applicants. For online applications, some companies use software to scan each document for those key words. Lists of these words can easily be found online.
Amir: Social networks have become a hotbed for recruiters and job seekers alike. How relevant were the social networks like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc., in your job search?
Matthew: I never used Facebook or Twitter during my job search, but I did use LinkedIn. LinkedIn had many job postings and a few headhunters contacted me on there as well. It was a great way to network and search for open positions. But I have heard of people applying for jobs on Twitter.
Amir: Did your networking connections, both online and off, help you obtain any interviews or potential job opportunities?
Matthew: Yes absolutely, networking helped me meet new people and get interviews. Joining a professional organization is a great way to network and learn about new job opportunities.
Amir: How did you find the majority of the open positions you applied for?
Matthew: I used many online search engines to find open positions. I would say Purdue’s Center for Career Opportunities (CCO), Jobs.Jobs, CareerBuilder, and Indeed were my main online sources. Depending on the day, some search engines would have more job listings than others. It is wise to have more than one source for your job search. I also spoke with headhunters. They were able to inform me about positions I may be a good fit for that weren’t advertised online.
Be sure to come back next week for the conclusion of our interview, as Matthew will give insights on interviewing and the hiring process as a whole. In the meantime, visit Jobs.Jobs to look at the over 1 million job opportunities waiting for you!