Technology played a vital role in me obtaining the job that I have now. Anyone who searches for a position through the use of technology should learn how to stand above the rest in a resume, market their experience, and use all benefits that technology has to offer in order to get the best job and career advancement opportunities.
I am currently employed as the Human Resource's Manager at a large manufacturing company in my hometown. I have been in this position for a little over a year and was informed about it through a friend's message on a popular social networking site. I had been searching for a job in this field for a few months and she was aware that I would be interested in this particular position. She sent me a link to an anlone job board where the job was listed and I applied and sent a very nice looking resume. I received a call to come in for an interview within just a few days.
In my most recent job search, I used technology on a daily basis. I probably spent at least two hours a day skimming through job boards online. I also used social networking sites, like Twitter, to ask about any new leads that people may have heard about. I can get much more accomplished by job searching online. I have spent days, driving from place-to-place to put in applications at various companies and accomplished nowhere near as much as I did on my home computer in just a few hours.
If I were applying for my same position tomorrow, but with a different company, I would make myself stand out from the rest by mentioning my current experience in Human Resource Management. I think that, ultimately, this is what landed me in the position that I currently have. I had applied for this position a few years ago and I did not have anywhere near the experience that I have now. I never got called in for an interview and I believe that this is why. When a company has several applications coming in, they have to look for the most experienced applicants.
The technologies that I use to connect with other professionals in the Human Resources field are social networking sites and my phone. I have access to social networking on my phone, and I have found it convenient as it enables me to compare issues with other HR professionals. If I need help with understanding a certain protocol concerning FMLA, the Family Medical Leave Act, or the FLSA, The Fair Labor Standards Act, I can message my good friend, who is also an HR manager, for help.
I cannot say that I have ever had a job interview that has gone horribly wrong, but I have learned from an interview that did not go so well. Before I got the job that I currently have, I was interviewed for a position as a manager for a local retail store. This position was not what I really wanted and it was definitely not something that I was passionate about.
The interview, which included several business management related questions, was very difficult for me. Sure, I answered as best as I could, but I found myself always referring to what I was familiar with, which was human resources. This did not get me anywhere and needless to say, I did not get the job. From this experience, I learned that it's best to stick with applying for positions that you really want. This way, you will never find yourself in unfamiliar territory that you really do not find interest in.
The single most important thing that I have learned about the professional job search process is that, in this day and time, you really have to know how to market yourself. Technology is wonderful, but, I think that it has taken the application process to a whole new level. Instead of having few applications or resumes at once, companies that use employment websites may have thousands of applicants in one day. I once made an application follow-up call to a company and they informed me that they had had over 2,000 applications come in, all in one week. I have learned that I have to stand out in a crowd, or I will never be spotted.
If I had the chance to re-do one event from my professional or career past, I would have to say that I would have tried to avoid job positions that had nothing to do with what I received a degree in. Over the years, I have worked in many fields and when my ultimate goal was is in Human Resources, these positions did not add up to much experience to list on a resume. I think that if I would have focused my attention to this matter sooner, I would have had a great job a long time ago. I feel this way because I have discovered that these experiences not only have furthered my knowledge, but always lead to bigger and better job positions over time. If I had not had experience already, even with a degree, I do not feel that my current employers would have given my resume a second thought before they tossed it in the trash.
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By: Erich Lagasse