Start the Year Off Right with These Private Equity Job Search Tips

The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to kick your job hunting activities into high gear. If you’ve been stuck in a rut, here are a few ways to get “unstuck” with your search.

From the Star Tribune in Minneapolis comes this tidbit: ask a half-dozen of the most successful people in your industry to send you a copy of their old resumes and cover letters. It’s a bit out of the ordinary, so it’ll get their attention. Chances are they’ll be flattered that you ask. You’ll get some useful ideas for setting up your own resume and experience. Plus, if they respond, it opens the door for future networking, giving you the opportunity to send your revised resume and cover letter back to them, later on, perhaps asking for their comments.

Another tip, this time from the Desmoines Register: get more focused and strategic, if you plan to attend any job fairs in 2010. Most people take the “shotgun” approach, bringing stacks of resumes and handing them out to anyone with a pulse. Instead, says career advisor Cassandra Halls, get rifle-shot focused. Find out which companies are going to be at the fair in advance. Then spend time doing in-depth research on the few companies you are most interested in working for. Your goal at the job fair shouldn’t be to talk to every single potential employer in the place. Instead, you want to start an intelligent conversation with those few, top-notch companies you want to interview with for a private equity job.

Finally, it may be time to ditch the general employment websites. These giant websites broadcast jobs to such a large audience that they attract tons of traffic. Your response is likely to get buried in the avalanche of other responses. Instead, think about a more targeted website that focuses on your particular industry or even a sub-set within your industry that interests you.