When was the last time you applied for a job by fax?
Photo by Todd Quackenbush
My first resume in the early '90s was typed on what hardware maker Smith Corona called a “personal word processor”. It definitely processed my words!
It was a computer keyboard attached to a printer the size of a small suitcase and it seemed to weigh a ton. The keyboard had a protective cover that flipped upwards and back, exposing a small monochrome computer screen.
(Back then, digital screens were usually black characters on a beige or green background but I'll never forget how the Smith Corona had blue characters instead of black. I used to turn it on just because I liked seeing that novelty.)
The machine had a typewriter mode which worked as you'd expect – each letter printed as your fingers touched the keyboard – but I don't think I ever used it for work, it would waste too much paper.
Instead, I would use the more computer-like word processor mode where whatever I typed appeared on screen and could also be saved to a diskette. I think it even had a simple auto-save mode too.
At the time, it was very cool as a “new age” typewriter and I was so productive with it that I continued using it for a while even after we bought our first PC.
While you wouldn't want to go back to the days of typewriters and whiteout for your job search documents, other tools in the old job search toolkit that date back to that era are still useful today because so few other job seekers are using them.
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.5 job search tools that time forgot
In increasing order of importance…
5) Photocopiers
Most computer owners also have printers, and can print as many copies of their resume as they like. But what happens when you're at a job fair and start running out? Or maybe you just forgot to print enough copies before you came?
4) Personal organizers or day planners
Sure, it's cool to have an iPad or another tablet, but they need to be charged, they break easily and they will empty your wallet. They're still not for everyone.
Personal organizers, on the other hand, don't cost much, don't need to be charged and won't break so easily when dropped. Use one to manage your schedule, take notes, jot down ideas, organize newspaper clippings (e.g. job listings), store business cards (both yours and others') and more.
Plus, just carrying one makes you look professional.
3) Your own handwriting
Professor Randy Pausch, from Why Job Seekers Need To Carefully Handwrite Thank You Letters:
Job interviewers and admissions officers see lots of applicants. They read tons of resumes from “A” students with many accomplishments. But they do not see many handwritten thank-you notes. If you are a B+ student, your handwritten thank-you note will raise you at least a half-grade in the eyes of a future boss or admissions officer. You will become an “A” to them. And because handwritten notes have gotten so rare, they will remember you.
2) Fax machines
Who uses a fax machine anymore?
Well, actually, most businesses do, judging by their websites and their listings in business directories such as the Yellow Pages (or Dapei Zahav in Israel). So why not fax in your resume instead of emailing it?
A faxed resume can't be automatically flagged as spam, can't be blocked as suspicious by an antivirus program and just like with any other fax, you'll get a printed confirmation that it was sent successfully, which is more than you usually get.
1) Snail mail or delivery service
Have you seen my 33 Most Unique and Funny Items Sent To Recruiters?
Almost all those things were sent via snail mail or a courier service like FedEx or UPS. And all those things were memorable and attention-getting to those recruiters.
‘Nuff said.
Bonus
6) Telephone
While we've covered why you need a smartphone to job search, most job seekers are still too hesitant to pick up the phone and dial.
Yes, you should follow up after interviews, or to even see why you never received a response to your resume. But what about calling to see if there's even an opening in the first place?
At worst, you could ask- “Oh, you're not hiring? Perhaps you can recommend a company who is, such as one of your business partners?”
Question of the article
Which classic job search tool have you used most recently? Did it help? Tell us in the comments.
More reading about offline job search
- How to Combine Your Online and Offline Job Hunting Strategies
- Searching for a job that makes a difference: online and offline
- 8 Steps to Start Job Search Offline
- Executive Online and Offline Job Search Strategies
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