That’s the point LAUNCH! makes in Chapter 25.

     Monster.com says they post 27,000 new resumes every day.  And you thought that last job fair was crowded?  Yikes!

     Now, Monster.com is worth skimming, possibly posting and studying a bit but do not spend more than 5% of your search time here.  It’s simply way too competitive.  Some horror tales will tell you why in LAUNCH!  But…but…both Monster.com and Craigslist should be checked from time to time so you see who’s hiring in your target profession, industry or city.  Then go after those outfits directly.  Avoid the avalanche of resumes.  And avoid approaching those groups that are “downsizing.”  (That means firing.) 

     But guess what?  Everything changes.  And so, if you’ve had a terrific experience with Monster.com or Craigslist, please post a comment.  With enough of those stories, I’ll rewrite the book!

     If your school uses Monster.trak, that’s real worthwhile.  It shows employers are targeting your school.  So try that.  And, when scanning Monster.com, if you spot openings that are a glove fit, and I mean a real perfect fit, apply.  You may only have a dozen true competitors for that position.  So don’t let the rejections get you down.  Get out there and find the unadvertised openings that fit you.  LAUNCH! tells you how. 

     Well, we didn’t.  The first reader of the manuscript said that, and we’ve shamelessly repeated her comment.  And she should know, being a clinical psychologist and former university staffer.

     And one of the nation’s top recruiters read it and said “Spot on!”  A career counselor said “This is exactly how good careers start.”

     LAUNCH! also tells you how you’re different from other college seniors across the US.  They’re your competition.  And learning where you’re stronger and where you’re not so special is advice that points you towards happier jobs, better pay and a good life.

     There’s lots of stuff colleges don’t teach.  How can Craigslist and Monster.com suck up too much time, putting you into competition with too many other candidates when networking gets you interviews in places that haven’t even advertised their positions yet…A simple weekend project, okay, all weekend and maybe a day or two more, that convert you into the leading candidate for your most desired job, no matter what your gradepoint or background…Several simple changes that can easily triple the responses you get from your resume.  These are the things that matter to your immediate future.  They’re all in LAUNCH!

     Unlike your college, which won’t refund all your tuition if you don’t like the first job you find, LAUNCH! will give you all your money back if you don’t discover something you didn’t know about yourself in the career assessment.  LAUNCH! also gives you all your money back if you don’t agree that the tactics within its 300+ pages don’t shorten your job search and find better fitting careers.