After almost three years since my last long-term job, I've found that job hunting is very different now than it used to be. I've always been able to get a job quickly, and now I find that I'm either overqualified, or competing with people that do not have my experience, but have a degree or other certifications that I never kept up with during my previous job. Now I find myself without the certifications that show my technical knowledge, or a degree (because I chose to enter the workforce early to gain additional experience), and I can't seem to get past the HR screenings to the hiring managers.
Some of the industry job search sites I use have articles that suggest that up to 85% of available jobs are filled directly through referrals, rather than through resumes collected in response to a job posting. I can see where this is true, as the best jobs I have had were the result of being in the right place at the right time, or knowing someone at the company. The problem is this leaves me with very few options, as I don't have many contacts.
I've always been a people person in my career, and get along with others in the workplace much better than most. When I started my career, the value of networking was taught by a mentor, whom I admired and respected. I took this lesson to heart, and built a large network of people. When I started my last job of 12 years, I was kept very busy and lost contact with almost all of my professional relationships. In my personal life I am generally much more selective, and as a result, I have only a few people that can help me get around the HR department directly to a hiring manager.
I continue to submit resumes through dice.com, monster.com, and use job boards such as indeed.com. I also keep track of the postings at companies I would like to work for, such as Apple, Google, Netflix, Genentech, and several others. So far, these tactics have been less than successful. I just keep plugging away, and keeping my eyes and ears open for suggestions on new methods, and companies to check out. If anyone has ideas, I would love to hear them.
