MiddletownJournal.com

'They say they'll call me back, but they don't'

By J.T. AND DALE

Hi, J.T. & Dale! For the past month, I've been looking for work. Temp agencies call me about a job, I tell them that I'm interested, they either e-mail or fax my resume, and I follow up by calling them back — and they tell me they haven't heard from their clients and say they will call me back, but they don't. I get so frustrated. - Deborah

J.T.: I'd start by going back to your contacts at the temp agency to see if you can ask them to give you some constructive feedback. Perhaps they can give some reasons why you aren't getting jobs when others are. My favorite question to ask is, "Can you tell me what I could do to make myself more employable?"

DALE: That's a great question because it's a conversation starter. The more commonly asked question, "Why didn't they pick me?" is a conversation killer — the agency can't or won't answer it. However, when you ask for advice on being employable, you have the chance to learn something useful, and you open up the possibility of establishing a relationship — the agency person is now on your side, working with you.

J.T.: Imagine how many calls the people in agencies get from people who want jobs. Imagine also how many of those people sound angry when they call because, like you, they are frustrated by not having a job. Now imagine how nice it would be to receive an upbeat, pleasant phone call from someone looking for work and for suggestions. Can you see how they might remember you more fondly?

DALE: Yes, the agency folks have frustrations of their own. Employers say they want to hire someone, then change their minds or hire the owner's cousin. An agency can't count on a job getting filled, and you can't count on it either. Don't let yourself depend on any one opening or any one source of openings. You need a lot of those upbeat phone calls J.T. was talking about.

Success story of the month

DALE: We love to pass along the insights of those who are exiting the job market because they've landed terrific new employment.

J.T.: We recently heard from Brad DeYoung, an operations manager, who took the time to assemble a list of advice for other job hunters, and we're pleased to pass along Brad's wisdom:

• Approach anyone you are calling with the intent of finding information on others to call and expand your network. This was a key finding: People feel bad if they cannot help you, so help them feel good by asking for info on key target companies or types of companies instead of asking them directly to employ you... if they have a job you fit, they will offer it.

• Don't fall into the trap where everyone says that the job boards are a wasted effort. I got my leads from job boards by reading between the lines about prospective company openings and expansions. Perhaps a job-board posting results in a glut of applicants - that's where your personal network helps, to get your resume in through an alternate method.

• Prepare a written marketing statement for your network. Of the 100 or so people I felt were my "network," even people I have known for years did not have a clear understanding of what I did for a living and, especially, what my greatest talents are.

• Amazingly, I got great advice from some people I cold-called off a reference or from info gleaned from an article or off the Web. I was inspired by people I'd never met or will ever meet and who had nothing to gain by helping me, but who took the time to try to help me.

DALE: That's great advice, from someone we haven't met and who had nothing to gain by taking the time to help us help our readers.

J.T.: That inspires us, Brad. Thank you, and we hope others will follow your example and will pass along their knowledge and success stories.

Jeanine "J.T." Tanner O'Donnell is a professional development specialist and founder of the consulting firm jtodonnell.com. Dale Dauten's latest book is (Great) Employees Only: How Gifted Bosses Hire and De-Hire Their Way to Success.