This is just one of many emails we have received in the past months. As it’s a very good example, we’d like to share with you our response to it.
“Dear Career Angels,
I have already contacted 115 recruiters. I have sent them a contact request on LinkedIn, a LinkedIn message and an email. I have sent messages to 30 personal contacts.
I have had only 15 “touch base” interviews, i.e. conversations during which I introduced myself, but I haven’t been offered any position.
I have participated in 2 recruitment processes. I have been rejected in 1. In the other one I have already had 2 interviews and now I’m waiting for the feedback.
It is being a difficult task. I will be away for holiday in August and I will start my job hunting again in September. I have my highs and lows and I worry about being too old as a candidate (I’m almost 50.)
I don’t know what else I can do.”
Dear candidate, we hear you!
Considering your results which are above average (the calculations are below): you are doing great! It only confirms that job search has little to do with age. Keep up the effort and don’t give up, as now it’s just a matter of time!
Let us now pick out fragments of the email, so we can comment on them directly.
I have already contacted 115 recruiters. I have sent them a contact request on LinkedIn, a LinkedIn message and an email. I have sent messages to 30 personal contacts. I have had only 15 “touch base” interviews, i.e. conversations during which I introduced myself, but I haven’t been offered any position.
When you calculate your interview rate (IR):
• 15 ÷ 115 = 13.04%
• 15 ÷ (115+30) = 10.34% (we don’t know how many interviews were generated by your network)
We divide effectively contacted people by all. The definition of effectively contacted is:
you have sent the 1st email and the follow-up email; here our only question would be: have you sent follow-up emails to everyone who hasn’t responded?
The average IR is 5-10%. Yours is above! That’s great!
I have had only 15 “touch base” interviews, i.e. conversations during which I introduced myself, but I haven’t been offered any position.
Even though you haven’t been offered any position, remember – recruiters don’t really have time for actual “intro-interviews” – there’s usually (90% of the time) a project in the background that they’ll choose to tell you about depending on how you present yourself.
So, maybe it’s worth spending some more time on interview preparation?
More on interviews (online & offline) here
I have sent messages to 30 personal contacts.
Consider doing more and actively building a new network. Audit your current network and prepare a strategy.
More on how to effectively use your network here (1:06:00 to 1:27:55)
What about reaching out to companies directly?
Based on our statistics, it is the most efficient job search channel. Contacting decision makers directly proves that you are a proactive candidate.
Make a list of 90-120 companies that are in line with your goal (relevant industry, location, size etc.).
Find your potential bosses and their email addresses. You can research that using LinkedIn, company websites, search engines or you can ask your network. More on how to find email addresses here
Contact them. The same rule as above applies: send the 1st email + the follow-up email. Briefly present yourself and describe your successes. The point of such an email is to show your potential boss how the company will benefit from hiring you and why you (and not other 500+ candidates) should be hired.
It is being a difficult task. I will be away for holiday in August and I will start my job hunting again in September. I have my highs and lows and I worry about being too old as a candidate (I’m almost 50). I don’t know what else I can do.
Summarizing, remember to do all channels to increase positive results:
• follow-up with headhunters who haven’t replied
• contact 90-120 companies and potential bosses
• network: do more. Contact at least 5 people per day
• apply to job ads
As to the holiday aspect:
• check out this blog post for concrete pieces of advice on strategy and activity (it includes tips on the above channels)
• important: check your inbox even when you are on holiday & have your phone closeby. Recruitment processes are still on, even during summer or shall we say – especially during THIS summer – you never know when someone could have good news for you :)
Are you an experienced manager or executive who needs to review or improve their job search KPIs? Send an email with your CV and a brief description of your situation to Bichl.Sandra (at) CareerAngels.eu with the subject: Free Career Consultation or fill out the form here.
