NEWSPAPER ADS

Employers, employment agencies, or recruiters might place classified job ads.
When a job ad is identified or “open”, the company’s name will be listed with the
advertisement. When the advertisement is unidentified or “blind”, the company’s name
is not given.

Use your own judgment to determine whether you meet the job requirements
listed in an advertisement. You do not have to meet every job requirement listed. The
closer the match, of course, the better your chances are for obtaining an interview.
Although many organizations place advertisements in major newspapers and
elsewhere in their attempts to recruit, you should be aware that your chances of getting
the job you want by replying to such ads are relatively slim. Nevertheless, as paradoxical
as it seems, you should always respond when you read an ad that appeals to you. The
reason is simple: Ads are a very small time investment. Ads can also be an opportunity
to “try on” a job you hadn’t though of before.
Employment advertisements may appear in the business or the classified sections
of newspapers. Take time to look through your local papers, particularly the Sunday
issues, very carefully. Ads of interest to you may appear under more than one heading.
Most trade and professional journals also have display and/or classified sections that
might be worth following.
Open Ads
An open ad lists not only the qualifications an individual employer is looking for,
but also includes the name and address of the company. In addition, the ad might identify
the person whom you should contact.
While “open” ads are more likely to represent actual positions, they also attract
more responses, especially when run by well-known organizations.
The virtue of an open ad is that it affords you the opportunity to research the
company and to make inquiries about the job itself through knowledgeable personable
contacts. This can help you considerably in tailoring the cover letter to the company’s
requirements. An open ad also allows an opportunity for the job seeker to follow up
rather than simply sit and wait. You may even be able to develop an inside contact who
will help you circumvent the screening process. You can increase your odds by
“networking” in.
Blind Ads
Blind ads do not include the name of the company; instead, responses are
forwarded to a box number that appears at the end of each ad. Such advertisements make
your task more difficult, because you are not able to customize the letter you send to the
company. You are also unable to follow up or use contacts, and there is less likelihood
your response will be acknowledged. If you are employed, be careful, the advertiser just
may be your current employer!
Blind advertisements find their way into newspapers or magazines for many
reasons. During a tight economy, many employers do not want to be deluged with calls
and “walk ins” so they put a blind ad in the paper. In other cases, employers might want
to find out how many job seekers are in the area that meets the company’s needs. As a
company chooses between geographic locations for a plant start-up or relocation, it might
check the local labor pool by running a blind ad or two. In this case, there might not be
an actual opening yet.
If the blind ad incorporates a post office box (rather than a newspaper box), you
can call the local post office and identify the owner. This changes it to an open ad for
you, but not your competition.
Additionally, while employment agencies and search firms are often legally
required to have a legitimate job to back up every advertisement, some less scrupulous
firms may advertise nonexistent positions to acquire resumes of individuals who are
currently engaged in a job search.
If an ad is a blind ad, or an ad placed by a particular company, it sometimes may
require a salary history, or a salary requirement. Whatever the case, you must respond to
either request, or you may be eliminated based on the fact that you didn’t follow
directions.
The following is an example of a salary history:
Company Position Years Salary
ABC, Inc. Director 1993-2002 $50,000.00
Wright Co. Asst. Director 1989-1993 $40,000.00
Leaman Bros. Manager 1983-1989 $30,000.00
MWP Inc. Asst. Manager 1981-1983 $20,000.00
If a particular ad requests a salary requirement, you must provide an expected
salary. However, you can always state that this is negotiable. You will want to consider
any benefits package along with a starting salary. A good place to research salaries can
be found at www.salary.com.
Find and respond to five newspaper, trade journal or business journal ads a week.