This is an integral part of the job-hunting process, albeit a time-consuming one. In your campaign, allot time each week for sending letters to new contacts, keeping track of letters mailed and answered. Letters should go to contacts acquired by your networking efforts. Letters should be sent to answer newspaper advertisements, to employment agencies, executive recruiters, and associations in your field.
If you read of an executive being promoted or appointed president of a company, write a congratulatory note and say that you would like to join his or her team. Include a copy of your resume. It's a long shot, but sometimes such letters can lead to an interview and new contacts.
Trade magazines are another excellent source of information. Aviation Week, Space Technology, Chemical Engineering, Data Communications, Engineering News Record, Mechanical Engineering, and The CPA Journal are examples of industry magazines. Many of them also carry classified advertising for jobs. Most libraries subscribe to some of these magazines. If not, they're available from the companies that publish them. They are all listed in Standard Rate Data.
Newspaper Advertisements
Classified advertisements in newspapers and magazines are potential job sources, although many times you will not receive an answer to your query. Nevertheless, this is another slice of the job-potential pie that should not be overlooked. The Wall Street Journal runs a classified advertising section every weekday, listing jobs in various parts of the United States. The National Employment Weekly publishes a classified help-wanted section every week together with job-finding articles.
Employment Agencies
These provide both full-time and temporary positions for those seeking them. A full-time employment agency charges a fee for getting an individual a job.
However, the fee is usually paid by the client company - the employer - seeking a new hire. Fifty-plus professionals should not have to pay a fee. Be wary of any agency that insists you sign a contract. Usually, individuals looking for a job are asked to fill out a simple form, giving name and address and most recent jobs. Read it carefully, especially the fine print, and don't sign anything unless you understand it. A full-time employment agency may deal with a number of different jobs or specialize in specific disciplines such as accounting, management information systems, or engineering professionals, to name just a few categories.
After registering with an agency you have to follow up with your contact so that you are not forgotten. Agencies in big cities deal with large numbers of people, so take nothing for granted. Register with several agencies that handle employment in your field and follow up periodically so that you are not overlooked. In this area the squeaking wheel does get more grease.
Temporary Employment Services
These services hire people for a day, a week, a month, or longer, depending on the assignment. Temporary employment services are increasingly hiring retirees who want to work part-time or several days a week. A temporary employment service is also a good way for homemakers or widows to reenter the job market. Pay is usually on an hourly basis, depending on skills, experience, and the assignments. Some temporary services have executive assignments for companies that require such expertise. The temporary employee is hired and paid by the temporary service. Temporary employment is an excellent way to check out companies, and often leads to full-time employment.
Executive Recruiters
Head hunters, as they are commonly called, fill approximately 5 percent of the top managerial positions in the job market. When a company has a management position to fill, it calls in an executive recruiter. Fees vary, depending on the assignment, but they usually average about 15 percent of the executive's salary. Because the executive recruiter works only for the client company, the job hunter never pays a fee. The executive recruiter screens all candidates, examining the individual's background if that person is seriously being considered for the job. It's worth sending a brief cover letter and resume to a number of executive recruiters, asking them to keep your resume on file should they receive an assignment for a person with your qualifications. You may be called for an interview if there is a current search for a person with your talents.
If you are looking for a management-level position, don't rule out executive recruiting companies. Register with a number of them and if you change jobs, send them an updated copy of your resume. If they have an assignment in your area, you may hear from them.
Alumni
College contacts are an excellent information source for men and women. By contacting the alumni association at your college you can get the names of graduates in the area in which you live. They can provide company names, contacts, and information that can give your job campaign a boost. Under such circumstances, it's a good idea to invite your old school contact to lunch. In addition to getting information, you have the school ties that you can talk about during lunch. This brings a more personal-and relaxed-touch to your job search that can broaden your networking contacts.
Associations
There are thousands of associations in the United States that you'll find compiled in the Encyclopedia of Associations — available in most libraries. The reference lists the association, the name of the director, address, and telephone number. Associations can provide information about the specific industry you are interested in, including names of companies and executives, their telephone numbers, and dates of association meetings in your area.
