We may be in recovery, but if you're one of the millions of Americans still unemployed, it's hard to tell. And if you've been burning up cyberspace with your job search—e-mailing, texting, and "friending" potential employers until your fingers are numb—you may be convinced there's just no work out there. But have you considered that you might be going about it all wrong? Technology is a job hunter's friend—but only if you use it correctly, says Kate Wendleton. Break the unspoken rules of job search techno-etiquette and all you'll accomplish is getting your virtual résumé dragged into the trash.
"How you use technology speaks volumes about your skills, your style, your ability to connect with future employers, and your manners," says Wendleton, president of The Five O'Clock Club (www.fiveoclockclub.com), the nation's premier career coaching and outplacement network."The devices you use, when and how you use them, and the content of your messages send subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, signals to a prospective employer that can improve or derail your chances of getting an interview and ultimately landing the job."
Wendleton knows all about helping people navigate this complicated job market. Hers is the only career program in which members meet with professional coaches and peers on a weekly basis in a friendly, club-type format. It offers small group career coaching across the U.S. and Canada. And its website—www.fiveoclockclub.com—provides hundreds of free articles and audio recordings on job searching and career development.
"Here's the bottom line," says Wendleton. "Use the technologies available—like Facebook and other social networking sites, e-mail, and your BlackBerry—in the correct way at the correct time and you can immensely improve your chances of getting a job in this crowded market. Use them inappropriately and you risk coming off as arrogant, insensitive, immature, or just careless."
Here are a few suggestions on proper new technology etiquette for job hunters.
Make your first impression the old-fashioned way.
In an age where e-mailing and texting seem to be the preferred methods of communication, it may come as a surprise that snail mail is actually the best way to get recognized by hiring managers. But when you consider that all businesspeople get too much e-mail and spam these days, it makes perfect sense. When hiring managers get an unsolicited e-mail that they don't recognize, they may well hit "delete" without ever opening it, says Wendleton. The solution? Drop your letter and résumé in the mailbox—yes, the actual mailbox.
"Snail mail allows you to take advantage of paper quality, résumé design, and appealing typefaces so that the package you are sending is more like a printed marketing piece than a quick solicitation," says Wendleton. "This will differentiate you from other candidates. Compare it to e-mail, which is filtered so the appearance of your cover letter and résumé is at the mercy of settings on the Web, on the corporate network, and on the recipient's computer. This triple-filtering means there is no guarantee that the HR person or the hiring manager will see what you sent the way you intended it to be seen.
"Postal mail gives you the best chance to shape the initial impression and the best odds of getting your message delivered," she adds. "And for many recipients, yours may be the only personally addressed mail they actually get that day!"
E-mail is best for follow-up and networking.
E-mail is generally viewed as acceptable for communication after a meeting. It's fine for when you want to send a link to showcase your work or indicate a relevant article reflecting the content of your conversation. But important follow-ups should always be sent by snail mail as well, to assure that the formatting will be correct and the letter won't get lost in cyberspace. E-mail is also ideal for contacting someone recommended by a member of your network. Put the person's name in the subject line (e.g.,"Bob Smith Suggested That I Contact You") to be sure you are not automatically deleted.
"Remember that you should spend just as much time crafting your e-mail as you would a traditional letter," says Wendleton. "E-mails are often scanned or read quickly, and they are easily misinterpreted. Many readers pay less than 100 percent attention and seek key words or phrases, so they miss a nuance or a key point. This can hurt a job seeker who chooses words haphazardly or doesn't carefully consider how to frame a message."
When following up after a job interview: Think strategy!
In the old days, the question for job hunters was, "Should I follow up by phone or letter?" Today, they likely ask, "Should I follow up by phone or e-mail?" Actually, the issue of follow-up is far more complexthan which mode of communication you plan to use. Your routine should also involve thinking and strategizing about what form of follow-up will be best for the organization or person you will be contacting.
"Hiring decisions are made very quickly these days," says Wendleton. "That is why at The Five O'Clock Club in general we advise that you send an e-mail follow-up and also mail a copy of your follow-up influence letter. Also, at the end of your interview or phone interview, always ask your interviewer how he or she prefers to be contacted. This will allow you to use the best method for him or her and will help you avoid stepping on any toes. Most interviewees can pick up from their interviewer what kind of communication is or is not acceptable. Regardless, if you keep your follow-up courteous, gracious, and respectful, you should be okay."
Use mobile devices only in a pinch.
For too many of us in the fast-paced 21stcentury world, our cell phones and other portable communication devices are like our high-tech appendages. But when it comes to your job hunt, it's time to amputate!
"Many people type rapidly and badly with their thumbs on BlackBerries and similar devices," says Wendleton. "The typical mobilemessage has at least two typos in itbecause it's composed ina hurry, and in quick reaction to aninbound e-mail. And the tone tends tobe terse or glib and subject to misinterpretation. If you want to appear thoughtful, insightful, or expert, know that the mobile device may undercut your credibility. If you must use it, the general rule about e-mail holds: Always proofread!"
To sell yourself to potential employers, don't "cell" yourself.
We all use cell phones so we all know the drawbacks. Sound quality and consistent transmission are iffy, and background noise is ubiquitous. So The Five O'Clock Club recommends that you never use a cell phone for telephone interviews or other phone communication, even if it's just a cursory screening interview. The interviewer could easily miss words, lose the tone of your voice,or not hear your emphasis on a critical question. And you may not be able to communicateenergy or enthusiasm without shouting.
"Use your cell phone to set up or change an appointment, to call ahead if you are running late, or to get in touch quickly with a recruiter," says Wendleton. "If you're a younger job applicant and don't have a landline, make sure you are in a place where you know you have consistently great cell phone reception and schedule your interview for a time when you can be in a quiet location. Also, always carry a pen and a pad with you so that you can easily write down any information you're given. Asking your interviewer to e-mail you information is a huge no-no."
Don't call your interviewers on their cells, either.
Never make an initial or introductory call to a hiring manager's cell phone, even if you manage to get the number. In contrast to landlines, everyone still perceives their mobile phones to be as private as their home phones. It is the ultimate intrusion—the ultimate audio spam—to receive an unsolicited call from a job hunter on one's cell phone. The same holds true for texting. It virtually guarantees a negative result.
"Remember the Seinfeld notion that only second-class communications take place on cell phones," says Wendleton. "The person you are calling may think, 'Does he/she think I'm not worth a real phone call?' It's an unnecessary risk that just isn't worth taking."
For first-time communication, always avoid instant messaging, Internet directories, and social networks.
Instant messaging is a permission-based concept. People invite others of their choosing to interrupt them with instant messages. Rarely are job candidates invited to use this technology by prospective employers. Seeking out and finding a hiring manager via IM is considered extremely rude and intrusive and should be off-limits to job seekers.The same holds true for social networking.
"Even though the Internet enables you to search out an individual using directory tools or through social networks, it is not acceptable to approach future employers using these tools," says Wendleton. "There is a work/life dividing line. Unless someone explicitly invites youto check out their MySpace or Facebook page or contact them through a social network—don't."
"Network" through LinkedIn and other sites.
LinkedIn.com provides you with a 21stcentury way to build up your professional network. Just as you should consider other passive techniques such as contacting search firms and answering ads, LinkedIn should be on your list of job searching strategies.
"When job hunters use LinkedIn, they are simply putting themselves out there," says Wendleton. "But remember, for LinkedIn to work, someone has to contact you. Use these passive techniques and then get on with your real search."
Always use your best judgment.
This may not seem like much advice at all. But the reality is there are just too many factors that go into creating a successful job hunt strategy for there to be the same hard and true advice for every candidate. In other words, says Wendleton, there are always occasions where it's okay, or even advisable, to break the rules.
"When it comes down to it, you must assess the risks of your decisions and do what is right for you," says Wendleton. "If you receive consistently positive responses to the e-mails you send to interviewers, then e-mail away. If you trust your cell phone and don't like the idea of waiting around all day by your landline for a prospective employer to call, then put your cell number on your résumé. Use trial and error to find out what is and isn't working in your job search and eventually you will create a sound strategy that will steer you toward great opportunities."
"No matter what form of communication you are using, in the professional world there will always be a right and a wrong way to use it," says Wendleton. "Realizing that and carefully considering your options in any given situation is the best way to successfully navigate the crowded job market."
