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SUMMARY: Sending resumes to agencies (was Tips for Agencies)
Subject:SUMMARY: Sending resumes to agencies (was Tips for Agencies) From:Mary McCauley-Stiff <Mary_McCauley-Stiff -at- STRATUS -dot- COM> Date:Mon, 11 Aug 1997 08:19:22 -0400
I received three responses to the following query:
>... the agencies I sent my resume to in this manner never followed up - no
>e-mail, no phone call.
>
>Anyone have any opinions? Is it better to blanket the whole town with
>your resume... to just work with two or three agencies you respect?
Here is the summary:
* Many agencies are either "one guy in a room" agencies or agencies too
busy to respond to you personally. They will only contact you if they
have a job come through.
* It's better to concentrate on a few agencies than sending your resume
out too many.
* To increase your chances of success with the "few agencies" method,
keep in touch with those agencies every other month or so, just so they
keep you in the back of your mind.
* If possible, concentrate on agencies you know place tech writers. Get
recommendations from tech writer friends. It is important to respect the
agency you are working with.
* Once you do start working with an agency, make it clear that they are
not to send out your resume to a client without your say-so. An agency
that has a problem with this is probably not one you want to work with.
* Finally, don't just rely on agencies for your job search. Work those
contacts and use STC to your advantage. As an example of this, our local
STC has very helpful "employment opportunities" volunteer. She has sent
more potential employers my way than I can count!
Hoping this is helpful . . .
- Mary
mary_mccauley-stiff -at- stratus -dot- com
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