Sometimes your best resource for finding a job is looking back at you in the mirror. You too can use the same methods Recruiters use to get their candidates into their client companies. This method I call the "Dial and Smile" has been successful for many a candidate in the job market that my firm could not provide assistance to. All Recruiters are taught to do this when they first enter the profession. Every Recruiter still uses some form of this method in conducting their daily business and developing new business relationships. While I do not mean to minimize what a good Recruiter can do, for I might find myself looking for a new career field, most job seekers can find it within themselves to do this:

Dial and Smile

- Make sure you have a great resume, or job specific resumes, developed using an "action vocabulary."

- Do your homework by using the Internet to identify companies you are interested in or may have need of your skills and/or job experience.

- Locate names of people in your selected companies by searching the Internet for articles on the companies, doing advances searches for email addresses *@(name of company).com, professional chat rooms, posted symposiums notices..be creative and patient they are there and you will find them. It is important to have a name, any name, as many company receptionists have been trained to screen calls and, in most cases, will not just put you through to someone without having a name.

- Develop a very brief presentation on yourself, a script you might say, not longer than 30 seconds or so. Review it until you can say it so your words and voice tone sound very natural, not like you are reading a script...you know.not like a novice telemarketer. Your presentation is your "door opener" and therefore a key component of obtaining a shot at getting into the company.

- Invest in your job search by picking up the phone and calling to speak to the people you have identified through your homework. This contact may be a networking type call or with any luck, you will get to speak with a hiring manager or a person with a willingness help you and hook you up with the right person.

- Using a "Can you help me" approach psychologically puts the person on the other end of the phone line in your control, if only for a very brief few critical seconds. This verbiage is something like this: "Hi, my name is (your name here) I would like to speak with you for a moment about a project I am working on but I don't want to interrupt you if you are in the middle of something." (There can only be one of two answers.Yes or No. If "Yes" to talk go directly into your brief presentation. If "No" set an appointment time to call back. If you have to call back you make the move to set the time by offering what is known in basic sales techniques as an "alternate choice close". i.e.; "Would Tuesday at 9:00 or Wednesday to 2:00 be better." The point being it really doesn't matter what the time of your appointment is, just get an appointment set up.)

- The program is called "Dial and Smile" for a reason. Go into your presentation at a controlled rate of speech. You're not a NY Auctioneer. (No, I have nothing against NY.In fact I have a blast every time I get to go there). Natural is the key. If you smile while you are speaking it will come through in your voice. If you are naturally a fast speaker. Slow it down a notch. Somewhere between that NY Auctioneer and a West Texas cowboy. (I live in the Lone Star State...so just back off.)
Your presentation might sound like this, "I am interested in finding a position at (company name) in the area of (your job type)" or "I noticed on your web site there is a position listed for a (title of job). I know you don't know me, but I would like to ask you to take a minute of your time and take a look at my resume. I'd like to see if you could tell me if you think my background would fit. If it is a match could you suggest who I might speak with or what my next step might be." or "Would you take a look at my resume and tell me who in the company I could contact who might be interested in reviewing it."

- Keep in mind some people will try and take the easy way out and tell you to call HR. While it will be necessary at some point in the process to bring HR into your job search effort, they do not make any hiring decisions. They advise hiring managers and fulfill an important role in personnel administration at the company. You can answer, "I know at some point I need to get with HR, now I am in just a preliminary stage and am asking for your help by just reviewing my resume first. Could I send it to you via email?" This is taking the assumptive approach that the person you are speaking with already agrees with what you have said. The fact is you are trying to get a job, obtain a livelihood, put grits on the table and sometimes it is necessary to use these types of techniques to accomplish your goal. Consider what is at stake! And no matter what keep smiling!!

- The goals of every call are first: get them to look at your resume; second: get a name of a hiring manager for your skill set at that company; third: get a name of someone in the industry who might be able to help you. However the primary reason for every contact you make is to: GET AN INTERVIEW. Nothing can happen until that takes place. Your yardstick for measuring your success rate is an accomplishment of any of these goals. The more successes the better your chances to land the job you want.

- While what you say and how you say it is extremely important. Smile and Dial is very much a game of numbers. The math is simple, the more calls the more likely you will make a direct connection. Do not get discouraged. You may make 20 to 30 calls a day and get to speak with 5 people, 4 of which are as absolutely brain dead, but 1 of which you obtain a successful result(s). There are two schools of thought on whether you should leave a voice mail message. The school I came from says, "You can tell you story just as well on their nickel as you can on your own." Go ahead and leave a message, but don't under any circumstances tell your entire story. That message can go something like this, "My name is (your name) I am working on a project and I would like to speak with you. If you could spare a couple of minutes and call me at (your phone number). I can be reached between (times you will want them to call and indicate your time zone)."
Do remember to speak slowly and distinctly when you give your number. Nothing is more irritating than trying to retrieve a phone number given at a fast rate of speech. I don't know about you, but I flunked short hand...I flunked it badly. If you leave a message and you do not get a return call in three days, just put that contact in your to do list for day four.

It's my hope "Dial and Smile" will help at least some of you seeking to enrich your lives and your family's through obtaining a rewarding career. I also hope this article will renew your enthusiasm for your job search.

Keep in mind good professional recruiters have been "dialing and smiling" for years. The benefit to using a professional recruiter is they have relationships in place from having made contacts with lots of hiring managers. "Dial and Smile" is a great program to use for going after a job on your own. However, linking up with a professional recruiter could help you tap into the relationships that the recruiter has developed over the years. We recommend the ResumeArrow service as a way to get your resume in the hands of thousands of recruiters at once.

To find out more about ResumeArrow, visit this site:
http://www.jobsearchinfo.com/dist.htm

You may also wish to consider ResumeDirector.com as a way to get your resume in front of thousands of recruiters and employers at once. ResumeDirector lets you enter your resume once and get it posted on over 90 job sites instantly, including Monster, HotJobs, CareerBuilder, etc. Visit this web site for information:
http://www.jobsearchinfo.com/rd.htm

Regardless of which job searching methods you use, it's your attitude, keeping your perspective on what you are trying to accomplish and then making the most of each opportunity to present who you are and why you will benefit your employer that will get you what you want.

This article was contributed by Ric J. Favors, Managing Partner of BioSource International Recruitment Consultants. Ric is a recruiter focused on the pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals professionals. To find out more about Ric, please visit this web address:
http://www.jobsearchinfo.com/ric.htm


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