Jobs That Don’t Blow
Unemployed or unhappily employed? Here’s how to get the balls of change rolling
by Kent Lewis

There are a few basic ingredients to getting the ideal/decent/any job. You need a resumé, fingers (to type and dial) and lips (for talking and kissing ass). For more advanced jobseekers, a portfolio of relevant work, (art, writing, blueprints, etc.) in hard copy or electronic (email attachments or a Web site) and personal business cards are helpful. Without these basic tools, you’re stuck to relying on personal references and recommendations (which can be more than enough often times, in which case, you’re done).

Where do the less fortunate (or connected) start? The Web, of course. If you don’t have a computer or access at home, check out the local library. If you don’t already have a resume, you can create one with the help of a few online resources like Resume.com and resumewriters.com. If you want to get a second opinion, get a set of experienced eyeballs to look it over, the more the merrier. Ask for feedback and suggestions. Leave your ego at the door. Proof it and use heavier paper stock. Try to keep it to a page, and always start with relevant experience, computer skills and end with lesser qualifiers like interests, associations and volunteer experience.

Before you start pounding the pavement with your 100% bulletproof resume, make sure you post it online at mega-sites like Monster.com, hotjobs.com, headhunter.net, FlipDog and jobs.com. These sites are one-stop-shops for information and tips on resume building, interviewing and negotiating compensation. For additional content, be sure to hit portal sites like Yahoo! Careers and Excite Careers, especially if you plan on relocating and need to calculate cost of living and related expenses. Most if not all of these sites allow you to post your resume online for free, provide useful tracking tools and free email or voicemail to screen interested parties.

Don’t stop with generic mega-sites, however. There are also industry-specific job sites like techies.com and dice.com (for the high tech community). You should also look for geography-specific sites in search engines. A search for "Portland jobs" on Excite located Portland Jobs, PDXJobs and jobsinportland.com.

While you may now have your resume posted on multiple job sites, there is still no guarantee your potential employer is seeing it. Cover your bases by talking to (gulp!) a headhunter. It’s’ okay, really. There are national and regional headhunters, some specializing in industries, some in job titles. Start with a search on the Web, and then go to your local Yellow Pages. In the Portland area, two technology/marketing firms come to mind due to the strength of their talented and well-connected staff: Woodworth International Group and Lee Koehn Associates. Nationally recognized technology-focused firms like Kforce and hall kinion fill both contract and full-time positions.

Even though you can sleep at night knowing your resume and headhunters are out there pulling for you, there is still much work to do. Before you can get that killer interview set up, you actually have to get out there and press the flesh. Head out to local networking events. If you don’t know where to start, surf the Web and ask people in the industry where they go. For a look at Portland technology-focused networking events, check out Networking: A Portland High-Tech Guide.

Now that you have a few leads and are getting your face in front of people, you can start to get a feel for what companies are hiring and which are better to work at. Target your ideal list of potential employers, and pull in chips with friends and peers to get the appropriate contact (ideally not HR at first). The higher the position the better (i.e. VP or CEO). Once you’ve identified them, follow these handy networking tips:

Next thing you know, you have more job offers than you can shake a stick at. Happy hunting.