Comments on: How Résumés Find Black Holes

By: Cindy Kraft

Cindy Kraft — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:59:30 +0000

Good post, Randy. I think your statements reinforce the frustration of playing the posted position game as a sole or main job search strategy. While it appears to be so easy as to be a no-brainer, reality says it’s an ineffective and mostly frustrating use of one’s time. For every position, each candidate is competing against hundreds if not thousands of other candidates. It’s a numbers game, and the odds are rarely good.

Cindy Kraft, the CFO-Coach

By: Marsha Keeffer

Marsha Keeffer — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 07:02:10 +0000

This post points out what happens when a candidate puts too much emphasis on one opportunity. It’s important to create many opportunities – not just get juiced about one, then find it led you to a blind alley.

By: Resume black holes « Career Solutions’s Weblog

Resume black holes « Career Solutions’s Weblog — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:37:29 +0000

[...] In reality we experienced something that most job seekers endure. Our resume simply fell into a black hole. This blog post from My Global Careerlooks at how resumes find black holes and how to avoid the experience all together (the key is networking). [...]

By: Bill Holland

Bill Holland — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:15:27 +0000

The “black hole” into which resumes disappear is really not much a mystery. People erroneously think that an invitation to submit a resume is tantamount to a company saying “tell me about yourself.” Trust me, it is not. The real rquestion on the table is something quite different. Companies are really asking you to let them know how your background and skills solve the problems they have relative to the position they are trying to fill. In other words, a resume is not about you; it is about the hiring company and the translation between their problems and your skill-set. Applicants misunderstand that and submit resumes that are summaries of their experiences rather than of the linkages between those experiences and the problems companies are trying to solve.
That point of view, notwithstanding, it is good to know others see the black hole as well. Collectively, mabybe we can figure out how to get out of it–or perhaps better yet, how to avoid it all together.
Bill Holland
http://www.rwilliamhollandconsulting.com

By: Alana’s Thoughts on Public Relations » Using Facebook to Get a Job?!

Alana’s Thoughts on Public Relations » Using Facebook to Get a Job?! — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 17:52:43 +0000

[...] Recently, I read a post on myglobalcareer.com titled How Resumes Find Black Holes. The post talks about how often people send their resumes to companies and never hear from anyone again. I commented on the post, asking what I could do, as someone who will soon be entering the workforce, to make myself stand out to companies. This is what the author of the post, Rusty Weston, replied: [...]

By: Rusty Weston

Rusty Weston — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 04:33:53 +0000

I am a proponent of using social networking sites and referrals to achieve introductions to hiring managers or recruiters at companies you are targeting for employment. LinkedIn and Facebook are the top (general) sites at the moment for accomplishing this realistic goal. For example, let’s say your research tells you that you would be happy working at General Electric – but you don’t know anyone in your chosen division. First, build a free, professional looking profile on one or both of these sites. Second, make connections with people who can and will recommend you, including professors, internship colleagues, etc. Third, join interest groups on the subject matter that appeals to you. This will help bring you contacts and possible introductions. Fourth, depending upon your facility with these sites get help as needed for your company/people searches. Once you identify targets (and they’re there for many different professions), see if you are connected via someone you both know (LinkedIn depicts this) and seek an introduction. Once you know the right person’s name you can always mail (or if you’re clever and can google their email) or send them your resume. ;-) All that said, you should also be on job boards such as ours – which helps employers/recruiters to find you. That’s a passive approach however so you can’t rely strictly upon that.

By: Alana

Alana — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 02:58:43 +0000

I am a student who will be looking for a career in a semester or two. What can I do to not have my resume lost in a “black hole?” How do you feel about digital resumes/portfolios? I want to stand out, but I have no connections.

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 17:53:57 +0000

I like this blog, that is a funny story but I think it is very true. I think everyone loses a resume in the black hole sometimes.

Sincerely,
Eric Castaneda
http://www.actionmentality.blogspot.com
P.S.
Check out my blog.