Nothing Like Face-Time

In the arena of job hunting, for a good while now the standard process seems to be for job seekers to send in their resumes/applications and then wait for the hoped-for call-back. This is similar to how job hunting has pretty much always been with what I consider to be a major exception: face-time is discouraged. Prospective employers seem to not want to sit down with possible employees until they are ready. In keeping with that, those possible employees go along by confining their outreach actions to communicating in writing. No face-time. While this is understandable since this is what the employer wants, by taking a more passive role, the job seeker is compromising their most valuable weapon: themselves.

The great thing about the face-to-face interview is that it gives candidates the opportunity to present themselves in-person, give their prospective boss a chance to get a sense of them as a person and determine how well they would meld with the staff and overall office environment. More than anything, it is the interview that ultimately determines whether a candidate will be hired. This is why it is an important strategy for the job seeker to arrange as many face-to-face encounters with a prospective employer as possible. Such encounters give them a better opportunity to successfully market themselves.

Job seekers need to be more proactive when it comes to making themselves known. This includes in-person encounters as they are a much more powerful tool when it comes to self-promotion. Also, in the broader context of communication, interacting with another person is the best way to establish a connection that lasts. This is why I encourage job seekers to not be satisfied with simply sending out their resumes as their only strategy toward becoming employed. Initiate meetings. Let potential bosses see your face, hear your voice, get a first-hand sense of your presence. There is nothing like face-time when it comes to communicating with others.