First Contact — How to Take Control of Your Job Search from.pdf

First Contact — How to Take Control of Your Job Search from the  Start MANY PEOPLE VIEW the ad-answering phase of a job search too narrowly, as if it were only a two-step process: 1) You answer the advertisement, and then 2) you interview with your potential employer. The most ignored aspect of this activity is as important as a steppingstone in the middle of a fast-flowing stream. In the time between sending the letter containing your resume and the actual job interview is a critical intermediate step: the phone call that asks you to come in for a meeting. The outcome of your interview hinges upon how well you handle this crucial scheduling call. Consider what happened to Stephanie Dillon after she answered that want ad in the legal newspaper. Stephanie Dillon had seen the job advertisement while browsing the classifieds over the weekend. So Monday morning, she mailed out her cover letter and resume, but after several days at trial, the furthest thing from her mind by week’s end was her job search. Leaving court on Thursday, Stephanie went back to the Public Defender’s office to clean up some files and arrived home later than usual. She washed her hair and collapsed on the sofa. While eating a pint of Ben and Jerry’s and watching the latest episode of Law and Order, her phone rang. The caller identified himself as Michael Angelo, a partner in the defense litigation firm of Caravaggio and Bernini. He apologized for the lateness of the call, but said that he had received Stephanie’s resume, was impressed by her credentials, and would like to interview her as soon as possible. Although it was very short notice, he asked if Friday afternoon after work would be convenient. Surprised by the call, Stephanie took a deep breath, but said sure, she could be in their office around 5: