Least successful ways to look for a job
While different job search methods work for different people, there are some methods that provide greater success than others. The unfortunate thing is that many job seekers tend to spend too much time/effort on the less productive ways.
Below is a list of the least successful ways to look for a job. These percentages refer to the number of people out of every 100, who find a job using only that method.
1) Internet job postings: 4 to 10%
2) Mailing out resumes to companies: 7%
3) Answering ads in professional/trade journals: 7%
4) Local newspaper ads: 5-24%
5) Head-hunters, employment agencies, search firms: 5-28%
As you can see, many of the methods people commonly turn to, do not produce the best results. Using a combination of approaches would obviously increase the success rate; however, the increase would not be very substantial. Therefore, it is important to realise that your time spent searching for a job in these ways should be limited.
Source: Sandbox Advisors; Journal of Vocational Behaviour (Issue 3, December 2008); Birkbeck College Research; What colour is your Parachute (Ten speed press)
