Building relationships is the cure for a chronic case of 'gap-osis' of the resume

Q: I live out in the country and don't have social or business connections with folks in city companies for which I should be working. I have no lack of work, but it's all work on my farm, which leads to gap-osis of the resume. I'm sure that in spite of the absence of job listings, the problems that employers need solved are still out there, hidden from me. What's the best method for finding and approaching the decision-makers who have the problems that I certainly can solve, and how do I fix my gap-osis?

NICK'S REPLY: There might be gaps in your resume that you can't help, but there's no excuse for gap-osis in relationships. You'll find the jobs you want by meeting new people online who can help you learn about companies and their needs. Even down on the farm you can benefit from services like LinkedIn.com, business Web sites that have discussion forums, and by e-mailing people you've read about or talked with on a forum. Success is all about following up.

Make a contact or two that way, and it's worth leaving the farm for a visit to the big city to actually meet them. That's where jobs come from.

I have a similar challenge. My office is in a partly rural area --- I like to say it's out in the boonies. And I love it here. But I make time to go to the city (and to big towns) and to hang out with the people who do the work my clients need to have done. That's how I find good candidates. Face time is more precious than online time. But you have to schedule it.

Did you go to college? Does your alumni association have a branch in a nearby city? Join, go, mingle. After making a few "links," you'll soon find the people you need to meet at the companies where you want to work.

THE HEADHUNTER TIP:

Make me call you back.

When you're job hunting, it's awkward to call a manager you don't know. But when a voicemail system answers, that's another level of anxiety. You don't want to hang up and keep calling, because caller ID could make you seem like a stalker. What kind of message can you leave that will make the manager call you back? Try this:

"Hello! My name is Linda Jones. Mark Smith at Systems Inc. suggested I give you a call about an article I read in Widget Monthly in which you were quoted. You can reach me at (999) 555-1212. I look forward to talking with you. Thanks."

When you leave a voicemail, create an obligation: Refer to someone you know in common. Stimulate interest: Mention an article or event that reveals common interests and justification for your call. Give the manager reasons to call a stranger back.

Copyright 2009. Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate

Nick Corcodilos is author of "Ask The Headhunter: Reinventing the Interview to Win the Job" and the host of www.asktheheadhunter.com. He can be reached by e-mail at seattle@asktheheadhunter.com or at North Bridge Group, P.O. Box 600, Lebanon, NJ 08833. Sorry, no personal replies.