Job Search Workshop

Rationale for job search strategy

Taken from Nathan Azrin's Action Club Model

1. Successful job seekers had specific goals or a focus for their job search.
2. Successful job seekers knew a great deal about their own abilities, skills, and interests.
3. Successful job seekers knew a great deal about the job search.
4. Successful job seekers had a particular pattern to the way in which they conducted their research about the potential employer.

Statistics informing the practice of job search in 1997

1. It takes ten telephone contacts to secure an interview. Ratio 10:1
2. It takes twenty-five interviews to secure a job offer. Ratio 25:1
3. It takes 245 unsolicited resumes on the net or mailed to secure an interview. Ratio 245:1
4. The single most effective form of contact is personal interview.

Suggested approach

1. Identify your job focus, preferably three options at any one time.
2. Identify the people, places, organizations, businesses or agencies that do what you are interested in doing.
3. Research those leads to the best of your ability.
4. Contact those leads to arrange an informational interview (use informational interview guidelines).
5. Conduct the informational interviews and compile all the materials, leads and data you have collected.
6. When you have completed a number of informational interviews, re-contact these leads and inform them of your search plans and elicit their support in your job search process.
7. Set aside specific times and days to conduct your job search.
8. Stick to your job search schedule as closely as possible.
9. Follow up ANY interview with a thank you note.

Current statistics on job search activity

National average for length of job search is three months. Average number of interviews to hire is between thirteen and twenty-five.