Job-search questions to consider

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Some questions to ponder regarding your job search:-- Why would you not work as hard, or harder, during your job search as you suggest you will when you get hired?-- Why would you skip steps when you know that doing it the right way gets results?-- Why would you close your cover letters with a statement like "Looking forward to hearing from you ..." when you should ask for action with a statement like "I will contact you in a few days to request a mutually convenient time for us to meet in person"?-- Why would you respond to an advertised or posted job opening without identifying that specific job in your cover letter or e-mail?-- Why would you bother to put a job or career objective on your resume without specifically identifying that job or career for each employer contacted? "Seeking a rewarding growth opportunity with a progressive company" is so vague that it harms more than it helps.-- Why would you forward a resume to anyone without following up within a few days?-- Why would you arrange an interview with an employer without getting clear directions to the site to avoid being late?-- Why, when you know you're running late for an interview or meeting with a network contact, would you not call ahead and let someone know?-- Why would you go on an interview without copies of your resume, information about the company and questions you are prepared to ask about the company and the job?-- Why would you leave any interview without knowing the name, title and mailing/e-mail address of the interviewer?-- Why would you not send a personal thank-you note to your interviewer within 24 hours of your interview when you know you should?-- Why would you not use reasoned and reasonable judgment during your job search? Good things never come easy.(Marvin Walberg is a job-search consultant based in Birmingham, Ala. He can be contacted at P.O. Box 43056, Birmingham, AL, 35243. E-mail him at mwalberg(at)bellsouth.net.)