Or the title should read – “How I’ve Grown With My Job Search.”
Or, “How to Make Yourself Visible to Human Resources.”
Or possibly – “How to Become Obsessed with Fonts, Search Engines, Adjectives and Action Verbs”
Or just – “Getting a Job” would probably suffice.
(Don’t worry – “Bloke Who Brunches” is coming for those of me who are anxiously awaiting, but I did say I had one more post in me!)
My last seven days have consisted of the following actions:
1. Day by day, hour by hour, edited resume by chopped up cover letter – I am chiseling away at the Chicago job machine. Whomever is out there who is about to hire me might now know that I am taking this sharp toothpick to the steel wall that is the job market, but I am and I will succeed in whittling you away.
And you will be proud to hire me as your employee. And boy oh boy, will I be proud to work for you.
What am I applying for, you might ask?
Jobs that I feel are the right fit. That’s the only way I can describe how I go about my search. When I read the description, I assess my qualifications against their requirements, I rework my resume accordingly.
2. My resume has gone on an evolution. Clearly, I tweak it and my cover letter for every job I apply for – I highlight which duties work best with each job. But, the format has changed.
The first few days, I had no responses. So, I looked at my resume, I ran it through careerbuilder.com ‘s resume checker. They suggested adding a brief Profile at the top to describe my assets. (No, not that kind.) They explained that HR might only look at it for a few seconds before moving on, so make an impression!
Sent it off many more times. Nothing. Except a nice letter from YMCA letting me know they had more qualified janitors, but thank you for applying. (J/K)
So, I looked at the resume again. I went back to it. The damn resume. I needed something to stand out – and apart from putting it on pink letterhead and spraying it with perfume à la Elle Woods, I thought a professional digital picture of myself attached to the upper left corner couldn’t hurt. Ya know? Just so they know who this MAL is. Click here to view it in its present form.
Not rocket science, but I’ve had two interviews this week. Neither of them had anything to do with my resume since one was a staffing agency and the other I was referred to by a friend, but still. Perhaps the picture vibes are helping…
3. Cover letter
Again, I stayed professional, routine, traditional in the beginning. Nothing comes through.
So, I think, “You’re a writer, Meagan, not some automaton robot who churns out cover letters. Act like one. Be creative! (And remain professional.)” So I got more creative. I dared to challenge myself to stand out.
How? Well, as soon as I get a job, I’ll post which cover letter got me the job.
4. The Job Search Itself
Apart from buying an ad on facebook like that guy did, the truly great jobs aren’t on Simplyhired.com, Indeed.com, Careerbuilder.com or Monster.com – I mean, they might be, but it’s hard to get seen through that slush pile.
The best jobs are directly on the company’s websites hiding in the bottom corner, are found out by calling directly (depending on the company), using my Linkedin connections, Twitter searches or from a friend of a friend. Trust me, I’m trying it all. My dream job is out there. I’m just not sure where yet. If you know of anyone looking for:
A hardworking, detail-oriented and excellent communicator who has 5 years experience as a high-level assistant in a variety of busy offices. I have a strong background in accomplishing tasks with research and ingenuity in an efficient manner and with passion. Computer and technologically savvy, I endeavor to maintain a confidential demeanor, use my people skills to get assignments fulfilled and understand first, then be understood. I thrive in helping others.
Then, you know where to look! When I’m not looking for jobs – I’m doing this: 
