Responding to classified ads is still the most commonly utilized
job search strategy; however, answering an ad is not the most
effective job search method, as hundreds of people may respond to
any one listing. With that in mind, study the classifieds
section in its entirety to get an overview of the 'visible' job
market and where your field of interest fits into the big
picture. Pay close attention to company advertisements, as
many of these ads are descriptive regarding introducing new
products, establishing a new department, expanding a service and/or
needing a new manager. Consider these as clues for 'hidden'
possibilities and add these organizations to your target list of
companies.
Generally, there are two types of classified ads-blind ads and
open ads.
Blind ads do not list a company name or
information and are typically used by search firms.
Open ads specify a company name and internal
point of contact. It is recommended that you send your resume
to the person listed in the ad as well as to the head of the
department in which the position is located, if possible. You
can generally obtain this information through contacts or carefully
placed phone calls to the organization. Following are sources
of classified ads you may want to consider:
Business
Week
New York
Times
Wall Street Journal's
Career Journal
Local papers