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Search for a new job won’t be a cakewalk

Question: For someone new to the job search, could you answer these three questions, please? What is the best way to find out who’s hiring? What is the best way to market myself to employers? What is your advice on the best approach to get employers to give a person an opportunity?

— Tyrone

Answer: You’ve hit on three key areas to address in an effective job search:

# Uncovering existing openings and hidden opportunities.

# Getting employers’ attention.

# Persuading them to hire you.

The answer to your first question, how to uncover openings and find out who’s hiring, is more involved than one might think. Many job seekers understandably yearn for a single source of job openings. Seems like a simple request, but nothing could be further from what you will find as you pursue opportunities.

There is no single source of openings. Instead, you’ll uncover a variety of sources of advertised openings, both online and in print. Online you can consult large, generic career sites such as Monster.com and, better yet, the more specialized sites tied directly to a field (e.g. spacejobs.com). Even more specifically, the company Web site of just about any employer you’re interested in (e.g. microwavedata.com) often will list current openings.

In print, turn your attention to trade publications and newsletters. The most promising source of information remains newspapers, and not just the classified section. The entire newspaper — news, business, lifestyles and obituaries — reports on trends that will affect hiring, along with the comings and goings of people who create or leave behind openings.

If you have a track record and marketable credentials, recruiters offer an additional route to job possibilities. Beyond traditional resources, the most important opportunities to keep in mind are those that reside in the “hidden job market”— openings that exist but go unadvertised and eventually come to be filled through networking exchanges, personal referrals or someone being in the right place at the right time.

To figure out who might have these hidden opportunities, watch for news about business and labor market trends, new startups, individual promotions and people leaving one company for another. Any of these conditions could signal an opening that might suit you.

To market yourself in a way that will differentiate you from every other qualified job seeker, pay attention to both the content of your communication and your presentation. Your résumé and cover letters should be concise, results-oriented and directly aligned with the needs of the prospective employer. Bearing in mind that networking, more than any other approach, is the method by which people obtain new jobs, prepare a 30-second commercial of four to five statements about yourself. This will allow you to confidently respond to inquiries about what you do and what you’re looking for. Networking to meet people who can hire you and then connecting your talents to potential employers are integral parts of a savvy marketing approach.

Once you get this far, you won’t want to leave anything to chance in the interviews. Write out and practice responses to questions that are likely to come up, focusing on the strength of your experience and your character. Take care to have specific examples that back up each of your assertions.

As you see, the job search journey is no cakewalk. Try to balance this concentrated effort with a lighter touch. You’ll find that getting support from others and devoting some time each day to leisurely and personally enriching pursuits will bolster your morale while en route to your new position.