Are there placement agencies that help people find jobs they would never have thought to look for on their own?
November 29, 2011 10:43 AM Subscribe
Is there some version of a headhunter or career advisor who takes into account the skills you have beyond your resume, and helps you find jobs you wouldn't know about that fit those skills?
I have a bachelor's degree in English, which is pretty useless in our current jobs market as far as I can tell, but I'm certain that there are jobs I'd be perfect for outside of the standard "entry-level B.A. in English" opportunities. The problem is that, while I have some very marketable skills--excellent at public speaking, terrific writing/editing abilities, etc.--I don't have the employment experience to match. (I used to work in web design before I went back to school, but web design now is an entirely different creature than it was then. I wouldn't even meet the basic requirements for an intern's job at this point.)
Headhunters just want my resume, but it doesn't come close to representing my broader range of abilities. Is there some other kind of agency or service available that works with the job-seeker to find job possibilities based on strengths that wouldn't appear on a standard resume?
(I am in the Chicagoland area, if that helps.)
I have a bachelor's degree in English, which is pretty useless in our current jobs market as far as I can tell, but I'm certain that there are jobs I'd be perfect for outside of the standard "entry-level B.A. in English" opportunities. The problem is that, while I have some very marketable skills--excellent at public speaking, terrific writing/editing abilities, etc.--I don't have the employment experience to match. (I used to work in web design before I went back to school, but web design now is an entirely different creature than it was then. I wouldn't even meet the basic requirements for an intern's job at this point.)
Headhunters just want my resume, but it doesn't come close to representing my broader range of abilities. Is there some other kind of agency or service available that works with the job-seeker to find job possibilities based on strengths that wouldn't appear on a standard resume?
(I am in the Chicagoland area, if that helps.)
A common response to this situation is to find a way to wedge those skills onto your resume after all. Obviously you can tack them on at the end under "Other Abilities," but that's kinda weak.
A better way is to formalize the context in which you learned and used those skills. For example, let's say your public speaking skills are excellent because you acted as the MC for your local coffee shop. Put that on your resume as you would a job!
In other words, go beyond saying "I'm good at X" and say "I'm good at X because..."
posted by ErikaB at 11:01 AM on November 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
A better way is to formalize the context in which you learned and used those skills. For example, let's say your public speaking skills are excellent because you acted as the MC for your local coffee shop. Put that on your resume as you would a job!
In other words, go beyond saying "I'm good at X" and say "I'm good at X because..."
posted by ErikaB at 11:01 AM on November 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
I have a B.A. in English, too! After 10 years in corporate communications, I became an accountant.
When I was working with headhunters to find jobs where I wouldn't have to start at the $20K AP clerk level, I met with them in person and asked for feedback on how to structure my resume so that my skills as a manager and communicator were highlighted up front. There's a pretty large pool of mediocre data-entry clerks, but accountants with demonstrated communication skills are in high demand. On paper, initially, I didn't look that great. In person, I was articulate, confident and came across as a professional. I got the feedback I wanted in regard to my resume, but I was also able to convince the headhunters that I was a good candidate, lack of experience notwithstanding. When your headhunter likes you, they'll put you in front of their client.
I'm not saying you should become an accountant, obviously. But do more than just send a resume in response to a headhunter's request. Push (gently) for an appointment, maybe clean up your LinkedIn profile (I hear mixed reviews on this).
Have you done any aptitude testing? You could use those results to start narrowing down the list of career possibilities.
posted by sillymama at 9:56 PM on November 29, 2011
When I was working with headhunters to find jobs where I wouldn't have to start at the $20K AP clerk level, I met with them in person and asked for feedback on how to structure my resume so that my skills as a manager and communicator were highlighted up front. There's a pretty large pool of mediocre data-entry clerks, but accountants with demonstrated communication skills are in high demand. On paper, initially, I didn't look that great. In person, I was articulate, confident and came across as a professional. I got the feedback I wanted in regard to my resume, but I was also able to convince the headhunters that I was a good candidate, lack of experience notwithstanding. When your headhunter likes you, they'll put you in front of their client.
I'm not saying you should become an accountant, obviously. But do more than just send a resume in response to a headhunter's request. Push (gently) for an appointment, maybe clean up your LinkedIn profile (I hear mixed reviews on this).
Have you done any aptitude testing? You could use those results to start narrowing down the list of career possibilities.
posted by sillymama at 9:56 PM on November 29, 2011
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posted by canine epigram at 10:47 AM on November 29, 2011