When I was trying to get a job closer to my new home after I got married, I must have sent out 100 or more resumes online. I got up every morning and scanned the new offers and sent out resumes and cover letters.
Nothing happened for months. Then all of a sudden there was a flurry of activity. Several companies contacted me, and I went on five interviews, and got five job offers.
The bank I ended up at doesn't take walk in resumes. However, as a former manager there, I can assure you that if someone sharp walked in, I would take their resume, direct them to the website, and then email their resume to HR along with a note describing their personality and my impression of them. However, HR wouldn't contact them unless they applied online.
Pick some companies you're interested in, and go directly to their website. Apply online - for just about any job, even entry level, even clerical if necessary. Go there in person as well. Get names in HR, and then email your resume directly to them in addition to applying online.
Have you had anyone review your resume? A resume can make or break you. Frankly, I had a killer resume - in fact I had three. Each one was geared toward a different type of job - sales, management, or customer service. Each resume had a different mission statement as an opener. ONE PAGE by the way. Powerful language is important -each word is important in fact. Less is more.
One big mistake that I see people make in resumes is too much information about stuff that should be a given. In other words - don't say things like "proficient in Word/Excel." Damn, you better be! Don't say, "Dependable/good attendance record." Really? This sort of "filler" is obviously an attempt to flesh out a thin resume.
Focus on your specific skills, and accomplishments, even if the job doesn't seem "glamorous." For instance, if you managed a pet hotel - focus on your management skills, how you grew the clientele, how you developed a database or newsletter or made facility improvements, or interviewed and hired staff, etc. Don't say, "Responsibilities included feeding and walking dogs."
I've interviewed and hired literally hundreds of people in my 15 years of management experience in staffing and HR. Shy is OK - in fact, a quiet demeanor can be desirable. But you have to SMILE, look directly into your interviewer's face, and answer interview questions firmly and specifically. DON'T read a book on how to answer every interview question glibly - a seasoned manager can tell a canned response from 100 yards! Just be honest, sincere, and personable - by personable I mean simply warm. Shake their hand firmly. Ask at the end of the interview when you should hear something. Be sure and get their business card and IMMEDIATELY send them a thank you note - I mean, have one ready in your car, stamped and everything, write the personal note, and go directly to the post office and mail the note so they get it the next day. Follow up with an email or phone call a few days later.
Do NOT discuss benefits packages or job progression in the first interview. Focus on what's in it for THEM, not what's in it for you. DO NOT badmouth any former workplace or manager.
On your resume, if you've jumped around a lot -as many students do - don't put specific dates - put the YEAR you worked there and leave it at that. Be honest if they ask, but don't volunteer if you were only at a job a few months. If it comes up, and you had a good reason for short term employment, have your answer ready and don't back down - just make a reasonable case for the turnover.
Hope this helps.
