How to Use Faxes in Your Job Search

Posted by Anonymous , 9/4/2007 Tags:UseFaxesJobSearch
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How to Use Faxes in Your Job Search

Introduction

With the Internet providing access to job boards, the fax machine is a helpful piece of technology that is often forgotten in job searches. However, it could be the most effective tool for getting your information into the hands of prospective employers.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Get Access to a Fax Machine Before You Start a Job Search

Steps

1

Step One

Buy a fax machine or scanner and fax modem for your personal computer. If you are planning to use faxes often, purchasing your own equipment is a good investment in your job search.
2

Step Two

Find a fax machine that is accessible to the public. Many self-serve photocopy businesses and express delivery services offer access to fax machines for a fee.
3

Step Three

Choose the best time to fax your information. Avoid the morning or late into the workday when employers are ready to go home. Faxes can sometimes take a while to get through, so be prepared to devote a few hours if you are planning on making contact with several employers.

Use a Fax as a Job Search Tool

Steps

1

Step One

Proofread and revise before you fax. Make sure your cover letters, resumes and all other written correspondence have been checked for spelling, grammar and format errors before you send them off.
2

Step Two

Consider mass faxing. Job fax services maintain their own databases and can send your resume to hundreds of potential employers at once. This is an option if you are less selective about the type of job you have.
3

Step Three

Use a fax to respond to specific job postings. Faxes with a resume and cover letter reach an employer as fast as an email. However, a resume and cover letter may not be opened if they're sent as an email attachment.

Follow up Your Inquiry or Interview

Steps

1

Step One

Send a thank-you note. It is always a good idea to send a message of some kind to thank an employer for taking the time to consider you or interview you. Faxing is an option, but some may consider it as impersonal.
2

Step Two

Budget time for follow-ups. The employment follow-up is not just a way to inform employers that you are interested in the job--you can also use it as a way to network and establish business relationships.

Overall Tips & Warnings

  • Online job search sites will often provide fax numbers rather than phone numbers, giving the person with fax capabilities an advantage in a competitive job search.
  • Embellishing or lying on a resume or application is legal grounds for dismissal and diminishes your rights in the workplace.

Overall Things You'll Need

  • Access to a fax machine
  • Computer with Internet access
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