The "art" of job hunting

Important statistics about the “art” of job hunting:


1. 4% of those who post their resumes on an internet career site become employed.

2. 7% of those who send their resumes to employers at random find a job.

3. Between 5% and 24% of those responding to newspaper ads are successful; 5% for higher salaried positions and up to 24% for trade professions and “labor-intensive jobs.”

4. 14% find employment by visiting their local unemployment office.

5. 5% find employment by visiting private employment agencies.

6. Talking to people you know (your network) if they know of available positions: 33%

7. 69% find work by identifying the firms in their area who do the kind of work you do and contacting them about their needs.

The moral of these numbers: The nature of job hunting has changed. Don’t rely on one method; combining several will increase your chances of landing a job. Actively searching for the right employer match for you begins with a careful “inventory [of] your skills,” defining the field you want and how you want to use your skills, and researching the organizations you want to work for. For information about this topic, refer to:

Bolles, Mark Emery and Richard Nelson Bolles. 2008. Job-Hunting Online. 5th ed.
Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press.