Recently, while in the company of a handful of young adults, of course the topic of job search came up. Four of the five were gainfully employed, while one was “exploring his options.” Believing it would ok to inquire, I asked, “How long has it been since you last worked?” Apparently not interested in discussing his situation, he disdainfully snapped, “What do you know about job search in the modern world, Boomer?” Ooh! A snarky, distrusting, know-it-all millennial! My unoffended reply was, “More than I hope you’ll ever have to learn!”
The wrinkles of time and my experiences are worn proudly. Why not? None of us are getting any younger. But when it comes to job search in the “modern world,” the reality is that the process hasn’t changed that much over the years. Sure, the methodologies we use to communicate have evolved and allow for far more efficient use of time and resources than was the case 50 years ago, even 25 years ago.
Once upon a time our job search documents were individually typed out. If you weren’t accurate on the keyboard you were forced to use erasers or correction fluid to ensure your content was right. But with those corrections, the pages often looked less than appealing, so to make them look better a good photocopy might be employed for the final draft because it didn’t show the corrections as much. You then sent your submissions via the U.S. Post Office, in a stamped envelope. Some job seekers thought it a good idea to include a post card that the employer would hopefully send back to the applicant indicating that their resume had been seen and notifying them that they were either in the running for the job or not. More often than not, those post cards were never returned. Post cards or not, job seekers were now in that holding pattern of waiting to find out the employer’s determination of their fate.
As Tom Petty lyrically said, “The waiting is the hardest part!” The waiting game sure hasn’t changed over the years. It’s just as hard waiting today as it was back then, even though the means of reply have changed. Today, if you are not being considered for a position, more often than not you will hear nothing from the employer. If you do get a response, instead of a snail-mail letter, the reply can come in the form of an email, text message or maybe even a phone call.
By the mid 1980’s, lots of resumes and cover letters were still being mailed, but many were now being sent via facsimile (fax) machine. It took a while for this technology to trickle down to affordability for the home market even though they had proliferated in the corporate world for their (eventual) speed of delivery and receipt of information. The earliest incarnations of these machines transmitted your letters and resumes at very slow speeds, and didn’t always arrive looking as intended. What arrived was printed on expensive thermal-coated paper that spooled off a roll and produced less-than-attractive results. But before long, what was received by the employer more closely resembled what you wanted them to see, including improved graphics and resolution printed on regular paper stock.
By the mid-90’s home computers – desktops and laptops – were becoming commonplace and far less expensive to own. This enabled the job seeker to more rapidly adjust their documents for each specific job submission. And as multi-function printers with document scanners and fax systems that worked over standard telephone lines also multiplied, the ease and speed of submitting your materials increased, as did the methods for submission. Fax capabilities were eventually included in the modems inside our computers eliminating the need to print your work before faxing, so it could all be done from inside the same box.
By the early 21st Century, the ability to create and manipulate documents from inside a cell phone was a game-changer. With one device that could fit in their pocket, a job seeker could write and customize a letter, transmit it in an email, or even have it sent via a fax server. From the video capability of that same device the job seeker could also participate in an interview from a remote location, avoiding the formerly absolute necessity of being in someone’s office.
Those fax machines of a few years ago are already disappearing from the arsenal of office communications. The ability to easily, securely and swiftly move documents over the internet through private and public networks has minimized their need.
However, what hasn’t changed in job search is the importance of presenting clear and concise documents to prospective employers that convey, not just that you want the job, but that you have ability to do the job. How your documents reach the employer is far less important than the way you specifically address your ability to do a job that the employer needs done.
As previously stated in this space, all of job search is about one thing and one thing only: How do your skills and experience meet the needs of the employer? Every cover letter and resume, every interview question must all succinctly address that question. And when you’ve become adept at providing that information, that same old song and dance will become one of jubilation and success for landing the job you wanted.
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