Opportunity Knocks for the Prepared

http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/jobseeker/tools/ept/careerArticlesPost.html?post=158

by Caroline Levchuck, Yahoo! HotJobs

If you're between jobs and looking for your next opportunity, borrow a mantra from the Boy Scouts of America and always "be prepared." Recruiters are busier than ever, and when they come calling, you may only have one chance to engage them.

Use these tips to make sure you're ready whenever opportunity knocks.

1. Don't sleep in ... unless it's the weekend.

It's tempting to take advantage of your time off by sleeping in, but if you're serious about finding work, keep regular business hours. Lauren Milligan, president of Resumayday, a career management services firm, believes you must make yourself available from 9 to 5, Monday through Friday. "When you're not employed, your job is to get a job," she says.




2. Suit up.

Each day, make sure you're ready to go on an interview at the drop of a hat. That means, have a suit at the ready at all times -- or, depending on your industry, business casual attire in good quality. Hiring managers usually want you to come in at their convenience, and that may mean a same-day interview.

Career coach and resume expert Milligan reminds job seekers, "If you're not working, you've got to be responsive to recruiters reaching out to you. If you're not going to jump at that chance, they will move on to another person."

3. Answer with care.

Always answer your phone assuming a potential employer is on the other end. If you sound sleepy or irritated, don't pick up. Also, if you're in a place where conducting a business-related conversation is difficult, let the call go to your voicemail. It's better to return a call than ruin your chances by yelling into your phone, dropping a call, or worse.

Milligan agrees, "You don't want to have to backpedal into professional mode. You get one chance, and the damage may already be done."

4. Keep your resume close.

If you think there's a chance you'll be speaking with recruiters, it's a good idea to have a copy of your resume handy. Even the most confident professionals can get flustered when surprised by a call from a recruiter and fumble their words. Milligan says, "You have to be able to immediately carry on an intelligent conversation about what is on your resume. Even if it's not in front of you, it's best to say, 'I'm just going to grab my resume so we can go over it together.'"

5. Keep your applications closer.

Keep a running record of all the jobs to which you've applied -- either on your BlackBerry, computer, or in a small notebook so you can easily recall the parameters of every position and talk up your specific strengths and qualifications.

Milligan reveals, "I'm hiring for my company right now and when you phone a candidate and he asks, 'Which job is that again?' -- it's a turn off. It sends a message to a hiring manager that you're just desperately shooting out resumes everywhere rather than conducting a targeted search."

Milligan advises her clients to use written records to track their applications, but admits that if enough time elapses between when you applied and when a company contacted you, it's easy to be confused. She instructs job seekers, "Ask some sly questions, such as, 'Exactly what department was this position in?' to help jog your memory."


Also on Yahoo! HotJobs:

Get serious about your career in four steps
The first 10 minutes are top priority
Perfecting the passive job search