5 Classic Job Search Tools That Still Get Results

When was the last time you applied for a job by fax?

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 now want to go back to the days of typewriters and whiteout for your job search documents, other tools that date back to that era are still useful today because few other job seekers are using them.

5 job search tools that time forgot

5) Personal organizers

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.

4) 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?

3) Telephone

While we’ve covered 6 reasons 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?”

2) Fax machines

Who uses a fax machine anymore?

Well, actually, most businesses do, judging by their websites and their listings in business directories like 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) Mail / Courier

Have you seen my 33 Most Unique and Funny Items Sent To Recruiters? Almost all those things were sent via the Post Office or a courier service like FedEx or UPS. And all those things were memorable to those recruiters. ‘Nuff said.

Question of the article

Which classic job search tool have you used most recently? Tell us in the comments.

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