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Job Search Handbook
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5 — Respond to Classified Advertisements
Companies place advertisements in major newspapers and
trade journals in their recruiting efforts. However, only 10 to 15
percent of positions available are advertised. The other 85 to 90
percent of jobs are unadvertised and are filled by personal/direct
contacts.
When advertising, there are two types of company paid ads:
"open" and "blind." An "open" ad lists the qualifications an
individual employer is looking for and what they are prepared to
offer the right candidate. It also includes the name and address of
that company (and sometimes even the particular person to whom
you should write and send your résumé). The advantage of an
"open" ad is that it affords you the opportunity of researching the
company thoroughly, and making discreet inquiries about the job
itself through knowledgeable personal contacts. This, in turn, can
help you considerably in writing the cover letter that will
accompany your résumé and in crafting your letter and résumé as
closely as possible to the company's requirements.
"Blind" ads do not include the name of the company; instead,
responses to them are forwarded by means of a newspaper box
number that appears at the end of each advertisement. Such
advertisements make your task more difficult because you really are
not able to customize the letter you send to the company.
Furthermore, there is very strong likelihood that receipt of your
letter may not even be acknowledged.
Where to Look for Advertisements. Classified sections of
your local papers, weekend newspapers, National Business
Employment Weekly, advertising services that can be found at a
local library, and trade and professional journals.
National and International Newspapers:
The Chicago Tribune
The Financial Times
The Los Angeles Times
The National Business Employment Weekly (NBEW)
The New York Times
The Wall Street Journal
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