How to be prepared before and after the resume goes out.

You should never do what I call "drive by resume submissions". Don't just send out resumes to every job posting you see. Find out more about the job and employer first. You may not even want the job and that would be a waste of your time and the employers.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. The first step is to find a job posting you are interested in. Write down the position and the company name, if possible. If the ad you are responding to does not tell you the company name, you may be responding to a "head hunting firm". These firms are hired by employers to find employees for them. Usually, you respond to the ad, then find yourself in an interview within the head hunting company. They, then keep you for future reference for other clients, which they work with. You may never even find out the company you initially applied for.
   
   It is not terrible for you to have your name out there with these companies, just be prepared for an interview with them first. You never know, they might have an opportunity for you, that was never published. Don't close doors when it comes to job searching. Nowadays it is not necessary for you to pay for someone to find you a job, most companies are paid by their clients when they are hired to find an employee. There are still a few companies that will charge the employee to find them a job, so be sure to check and find out who pays.
2. Once you have the name of the company,(the actual employer)go to the companies website and find out information about the company. Make sure you know what the specific company does before you go for an interview. It always impresses the interviewer when they have an interviewee that knows a background of the company and their products or services.
   
   You will come across much better during the interview process if you are educated on their products or services.
   
   You may also find, once you dig deeper into the company, this is not a company for you. Maybe they expect you to relocate or the job is all commissions. You never know what you may find out about a company on it's website. Be sure to check the area on the website called careers. This will typically answer a lot of information about working for the company. There may also be postings for positions you were not aware of.
3. Once you have your information on the company and employment with them, then if all still sounds great to you, send in your resume and cover letter.
   
   Never go into an interview blind. Some people don't look into a company until they land the interview. If that is your choice; great, just be sure to look into the company before the interview. Show an interest, before you get to the interview.