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Note from Joanne: I'm repeating this topic from 2022 because right now so many candidates are not hearing back from companies OR are getting impersonally-worded "thanks but no thanks" emails in response to their resume.
So you heard back from a company you applied to last month and they said "Thanks but no thanks" or "We have decided to go in another direction."
You were hoping "This was the one", but it turned out not to be. Again.
How can you minimize the number of "no thanks" responses you are getting? And is it really "rejection" when they say "Thanks but no thanks"?
1) Stop job hunting using just job boards or company websites. Today (actually for always), companies use their existing staff to find candidates, so network with them to "get nominated" instead of getting the "no thanks" email. Mix it up but keep the focus on networking. But treat yourself well because networking takes energy, even for extroverts. Introvert? Look here for some ideas - the Jack Welch reference is dated but the rest offers some really good tips.
2) Don't use an AI-created resume without vetting it for sounding REAL for YOU. Too many are sending out resumes today churned out by one of the AI tools, all sounding the same. Employers really dislike these because they don't know what's real. So be sure that it sounds like you, truly tells your story, and sounds genuine. (Yes, my new service addresses this but more about that elsewhere in this newsletter.)
3) Network with those who work for companies that strongly interest you. That you have researched and vetted. You cannot possibly network into 25, 50 or 100 companies (who has that much time?!), so select your "top ten" and go after those. Then when you have learned about those 10, you will want to eliminate a few; this way, you can devote more time to getting into the companies you REALLY want. Yes, regardless of the state of the economy, YOU do the choosing!
4) Approach companies that interest you whether or not they have posted any openings. I have my clients use an "approach" letter instead of a resume, aimed at the hiring manager.
5) Know that if they do not know you yet, and what you have to offer, there can be no true "rejection". Instead, it's really a perceived lack of fit, or it may be you did not cite successes that are what they are looking for in the final candidate...but in most cases, they do not know you well enough yet to "reject" you. Your challenge is to communicate how you fit the job, in such things as your resume AND cover letter (yes, they DO get read). Simply put, they do not know enough about you as a human being to reject you!
And when it does happen that you don’t get the job, keep moving. Keep approaching, keep networking. Keep choosing to find the right fit for you, and you will.
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A note from Joanne:
Chin Up, Chin Out is a wonderful book (click the title to get the book) by my colleague Shary Raske, about keeping your job search going even when there are some down days. I recommend it for its concrete action items that'll help you keep your search going! (I get nothing for posting this except the satisfaction that you might find Shary's book helpful.)
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