Job Seeking Tips

It is often said that looking for a job is the toughest job you’ll ever have. We don’t doubt that this is true. But if you come prepared with these 22 “Birmingham specific” job seeking tips from the Chamber’s leading professionals, we’re optimistic that you’ll find your job. And live happily ever after in the Magic City.

  1. The Birmingham-Hoover Region is Booming. The key to knowing what job opportunities are out there is to first know what industries within the city are expanding and growing. The Birmingham region continues to be recognized as a national leader in the automotive, banking, health care, construction and insurance fields. Before jumping into your search, identify some of the key companies in these and other fields and think about the various types of positions within these companies that you would be qualified for.
  2. Develop a Gameplan. Simply posting your resume online and calling a few family friends won’t get you a job in most cases. The same is true for sitting in the security of your home, sending out resumes by email every day. Nothing will take the place of “good old shoeleather” and the more companies you personally call on, the more job opportunities you’re going to find out about. We suggest that you take some time before starting your search and make some tough decisions. If you live in the city, would you be willing to commute to a job in the ‘burbs? Or vice versa? Would your car hold up to a long commute everyday? Make a list of everyone you know who might be able to help you land the job of your dreams. Think about all of the places in Birmingham where you’ve seen people doing interesting work. Do you want to work in one of Five Point’s top restaurants? Does the Financial Center’s fast pace and banking focus excite you? Do you have a heart for providing care to others in the Medical Center District?
  3. A Big Don’t: Especially if you’re a recent college graduate, please don’t waste your time or the interviewer’s time by telling him/her that you’re “a people person” or that you want a job doing “Events.” If you don’t know a specific job title to apply for, go back to your College Career Office and see if you can take the Strong Vocational Interest Test. A skilled counselor can identify not only your core interests from such a test, but match them up to specific job titles that are listed in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. Whenever you apply for a job, be a “meaningful specific” instead of being taken for a “wandering generality.” Tell your contact the specific job you want.
  4. Think Outside of the Box. Most job seekers rarely remember that Birmingham is also a regional leader in both the non-profit and post-secondary education arenas. Think about a certain cause you might believe in like children’s welfare or the arts and then find non-profits that promote those causes. (Don’t know who they are? Call the United Way of Central Alabama at 205-251-5131 and ask about getting a copy of the Community Resources Directory which lists over 600 human service firms here in the Birmingham-Hoover Metro Area.) Also remember that UAB, Samford, Miles College, Birmingham-Southern, Montevallo and the region’s four community colleges all also have a variety of administrative positions available from HR to clerical.
  5. Network. Take advantage of the many networking opportunities the Birmingham region has to offer. Buy a ticket to the Chamber's Business Before and After Hours events and get to know our leading companies. (Check our online calendar). Attend the Birmingham Society of Human Resource Management's monthly lunch meeting and carry a few resumes with you. Join a member of one of the region's Rotary, Kiwanis, Exchange or Civitan service clubs and get to know the members. Ask anyone you meet for an information interview.
  6. Think Regionally. Our region includes seven counties – Bibb, Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair and Walker. Don’t limit yourself to only pursuing companies located downtown or on Highway 280. Sometimes a short commute to Bessemer, Sumiton, or Montevallo could be the answer to securing your perfect job.
  7. Be Persistent, But Respectful. Job searches can be exciting and intense. Many companies in Birmingham – especially the banks – provide certain days where candidates can walk-in without an appointment and complete an application. Others, like UAB, only accept resumes through the mail and discourage walk-in traffic. Take advantage of these opportunities, but remember that most corporate personnel simply don’t have the time to take a phone call from you every day. Get organized and stay organized. Create a dated followup file alerting you as to whom you’re to call back on a certain day. Stay in touch with your contacts or the HR office by dropping short thank you notes every couple of weeks. Send an email every few weeks or leave them a voicemail. The successful job seeker is one who recognizes that the employer’s time is valuable.
  8. Set Some Interviewing Goals. Tip #5 recommended doing information interviews. Evaluate your weekly schedule and set an interviewing goal for yourself. Is your goal to arrange two interviews (in person) every day? Don’t be discouraged if you fall short, just knowing your time limitations and when you’re available to interview will prove successful in the long run.
  9. Do Your Homework. Nothing impresses an HR executive more than a candidate who knows the nuts and bolts of the company in question. Go to the their website. (Do a Google search if you don’t know the web address.) Do some legwork and find out how many employees a company has, what their main product is and, if possible, some background information about the person you’re interviewing with. Is he/she a Birmingham native, have they been involved in any local charities or causes that you both support (i.e. United Way, literacy, YWCA, Leadership Birmingham, etc.)? We all love talking about our jobs and interests – interaction between you and the interviewer can make for a more conversational and relaxed meeting.
  10. Learn Birmingham's History. This may sound odd, but knowing a little about the Magic City can go a long way. Our companies love Birmingham and are proud to call it home. Visit the "Quick Facts" section of the Chamber's website to learn more about Birmingham. Learn about Vulcan's storied history, the "hometown flavors" of Buffalo Rock and Golden Flake, the histories of Saks and Southern Progress and the impact Sloss Furnaces, Rickwood Field and the McWane Center have had on our city. Impress your interviewer with knowledge that only lovers of Birmingham will know!
  11. Brevity is the Key to Success. Resumes don’t need to include your life story. Standard rules are to keep your resume to one page – two pages at the most if you have several jobs to list. The average corporate HR professional may take less than a minute to read your resume and make a decision. Be concise – but also be truthful and complete. Don’t say you attended an Ivy League school (but leave out that it was only for three weeks during a summer study program). When leaving voicemails, introduce yourself, leave your phone number and a SHORT message and then repeat your name and number one last time before hanging up.
  12. Be Clear About Why You Want to Work in Birmingham. Your interviewer may ask you why you are interested in working in the Magic City. Know the answer. Is it because you like our convenience better than Atlanta’s gridlock? Are you interested in seeing Birmingham reach its full potential by staying close to home and supporting groups like Operation New Birmingham and the Chamber through your job? Whatever the reason, convince your interviewer that Birmingham is the place for you and simply isn’t a stepping stone to somewhere else.
  13. Dress for Success. This one is simple. Companies are looking to hire individuals who mirror their goals and visions. Always look your best in a suit (either ladies or gentlemen) but understand that more and more companies in Birmingham are going business casual. Khakis and a golf shirt with the company’s logo may be suitable when you start work, but always make sure you are in professional attire when interviewing. (And one more tip – make sure your car is clean and washed if possible when arriving for an interview – you never know who’s looking out the window or if your interviewer will decide to go to lunch or for coffee and wants you to drive!)
  14. Arrive Early. Always do your best to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early for a scheduled interview. You never know what obstacles you might encounter on the way or if you’ll have to park several blocks away from the building (especially if you’re interviewing on Southside or anywhere near UAB). Many companies also require you to pass through a guard’s desk or sign in – a process that can eat up valuable time if you’re already running late. Arrive early, find your destination and catch your breath.
  15. Be Realistic When it Comes to Your Search. We’re all dreamers (that’s what’s so great about our city) but understand that you probably won’t be ready for a corporate vice president’s slot right out of college. Many local companies track the number and types of positions you apply for with them – don’t simply send a resume to every position a company may have open. Be selective and show your potential employer that you know where your strengths are and you are confident in the type of position you’re looking for.
  16. How Badly Do You Want That Job? You’ll have to use your own judgement here, and this is definitely a risk, but if you want to make an impression, show up with a basket of cinnamon rolls if its an early morning meeting. Then there is the great story of the young advertising exec who wanted a job so badly with Birmingham’s top ad agency that he got a pink bedsheet and spray painted it to look exactly like a giant “While You Were Out Pad.” He hung the sheet on the viaduct outside the ad agency’s office early one morning and on the sheet he wrote his name, his phone number and a note from the boss’ assistant saying “I met this kid, he is an undeniable talent. Don’t let him get away --- call him back!”
  17. The Classifieds Are Only a Start. Most experts say that classified job listings only account for 20 percent of the available jobs at any one point. This means that 80 percent of available jobs may not be listed in a way that the general public can easily access. Visit a company's web site and try to find an employment section. Sometimes a company may only post positions on their own site. And check often. UAB, the Nonprofit Resource Center and other sites update their listings quite frequently. And don't forget to look at our job search websites page.
  18. "Six Degrees of Separation" is not Birmingham. Try maybe two! Word sometimes travels fast about who’s looking for a job, what positions may be opening up and what type of candidate you are. Never act disappointed or ungrateful if an interview doesn’t go the way you want it to. Attitudes count for a major portion of an interview and many companies rely quite heavily on references or on the opinions of other local executives when making hiring decisions. Always remain positive and portray a winning and professional attitude – your reputation may begin to precede you and help in opening up additional doors for possible interviews.
  19. It’s Never Too Early to Begin Networking. While most college students are unaware of it, the Birmingham Society for Human Resource Management (www.bshrm.org) offers student memberships for only $25.00 a year. This entitles you to their Business Directory of more than 400 HR executives, networking reception invitations and other resources. As mentioned earlier, make sure to attend Chamber events throughout the year that are open to non-members. Join student alumni associations and campus organizations that will link you to professionals throughout the city. With a little dedication, you may be able to line up a job before you even graduate!
  20. Know What Resources Are Available Through the Chamber. You can purchase the Chamber's Job Seeker's Kit. Don't forget though that there are other resources which can prove useful in your job search. Pick up a copy of Birmingham magazine and identify advertisers if you're interested in the retail, fashion, hospitality and marketing fields. Make a listing and send them a copy of your resume with a note saying you saw their advertisement. Try to get a copy of a company's corporate newsletter to see who's been promoted or what divisions are growing. Check the public relations sections (sometimes listed as "news" or "press releases") of local companies to see what new products, services or changes are occurring within the company. All of these resources may open up opportunities that few others know about.
  21. Realize that Some Fields are Tough to Break Into Right Now. Birmingham is known for its great marketing, public relations and advertising firms, but positions are sometimes difficult to land because there’s so many people competing for these jobs. We’ve mentioned earlier the fact that there are very few “events” jobs available anywhere. The same may be true for some jobs in the information technology/computer industry. If you’ve been looking for these types of positions but haven’t been able to find anything, try breaking into the profession from another angle. Look for positions within corporate marketing offices (not necessarily “stand-alone” PR firms) or consider being a recruiter for one of the major employers (a great proving ground to showcase your communication skills). If you’re an IT professional, consider using your skills to design websites for smaller companies or non-profit organizations or look for positions that would allow you to work on a contractual basis. Many companies may be interested in using contract professionals to update their operating systems or work in their computer departments.
  22. Don't Give Up. The bottom line is this - we want to keep you in the Birmingham-Hoover metro area. The talents and skills you possess are key to growing our region and making Birmingham the very best it can possibly be. If you maintain your resolve and visit at least a couple of new prospective employers every day, ultimately you will find a job. Don't move to one of the South's other major cities in hopes of finding the job of your dreams. Birmingham has a little something for everyone, and the Chamber has the resources that can help you find your niche. We're here to help by offering you items like the Major Employer's Directory, the International Business Directory, the Small Business Guide and the Job Seekers Resource Kit. Put them to use in your job search, continue checking this page for added links and keep up the search. We want you to stay with us - just remember that there's a little "magic" in every job our region has to offer.

There are hundreds of resources on the internet that tell you how to prepare your resume, how to dress for an interview, what to say, etc. This listing is not intended to be such a resource. These tips are specific to Birmingham’s corporate community. Any one can simply send hundreds of resumes out and hope for a position – the key to landing a great job in Birmingham though is to understand the culture of our city and illustrate a love for all things Birmingham. We hope this list helps in your search.

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