Not so hypothetical job hunting advice needed

[hightechburrito]

I have a dilemma that I’d like some advice on. I’ve been trying to get my foot in the door at what I can only describe as a dream job. For the last 15 months or so, I’ve been almost obsessively checking the career section of their website, and applying for everything that comes up.

Over this time I’ve had a few screening phone calls with recruiters, but never got past that point. The issue is that it’s a fairly small company in a unique industry, and most of their hiring has been through networking rather than applications from their website. I’ve been working on getting the type of experience they need, and building my network to the point where I have a few friends of friends at the company.

About 2 months ago, I got a random call from a recruiter at another company. I decided to interview, was offered a job and took it. While not at the same level as the first job, I enjoy the work, the people there and the product we make.

Fast forward to today, and I get an email from the job search agent I had setup on the dream jobs website, and there’s a new posting for a position I think I could fill easily. My questions aren’t whether or not to apply for the job (I know I’d regret it if I didn’t), but exactly how to go about it since I’m so new at my current position.

My first question is how I should present my resume. I know that any hint of anything less than honesty will get me tossed into the trash bin, so I can’t write it with 2005-present at my old position. Do I even put my new position on the resume? I haven’t done much at the new job that I would consider resume-worthy, so anything there would be obvious fluff. Would it be harder to explain 6 weeks of unemployment or that I’m trying to get a new job after only 6 weeks at my current one. I’m thinking I should list my current position, and hopefully they understand that I’ve been trying to get hired there for well over a year and wouldn’t get disinterested after a few months (not a habit for me, by previous jobs have all been longer term, 6.5 years at my most recent job, and 2 two year internships while in college).

My second question is about how to deal with the obvious question: “how do I know you won’t leave after 6 weeks if I hire you”? My best guess I that I refer to my previous jobs with much longer tenure, and explain that I wouldn’t leave this job since I’ve been trying for over a year to get hired.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Taomist]

I would definitely put the current job as ‘2012-to date’ or whatever. Especially as it’s a similar job, as it indicates that you have a desire to be in that particular field, and that you are hireable by at least one other company for that kind of position.

As far as that last question, yeah, you already have proven length of service at other jobs, and if it were me, I’d have to just be as honest as you suggested about ‘This is the place that I’ve been working to get a foot-hold into, with this current job as a step into it.’. Something that like that, which you already came up with yourself

If you’re as excited about this place as you sound, let it come through in the interview. I don’t mean go in on your knees with a tray of cookies, but if you really are enthusiastic about working there, it will show. And that is a good thing.

[flyboy]

Definitely sell it as noted above (and by yourself)–you moved jobs because you needed to grow and there were no positions as this company. I would also set up an informational interview at the dream company. That’s one place you can get a foothold in the networking arena. If you get such an interview, do not ask about a job, but do ask on the way out if there’s anyone else they think you should talk to. And it should go without saying–impress them with how much you know about the company. Remember to send a thank-you letter.

[Dangerosa]

Its a small company and you’ve talked to the recruiters before. So apply, put down the right information on the resume, and when you speak to them, let them know that THEY have been your target company and still are, and given your short tenure at your new company you wouldn’t be talking to anyone but them, but your goal is to work for them. They’ll be able to validate this just with your prior applications.