Conducting a Job Search

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Conducting a Job Search
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Top 10 Personal Characteristics Employers Seek
in Job Candidates

• Communications skills
• Work experience
• Motivation / initiative
• Teamwork
• Leadership
• GPA / academic credentials
• Technical (computer) skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Analytical skills
• Ethics

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Desired Skills Employers Want

• Interpersonal
• Teamwork
• Verbal communication
• Analytical
• Computer
• Written communication
• Leadership

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Do You Know?

• Your values, interests, skills and abilities
• The geographical location that you prefer
• The salary range that you expect
• The types of positions you really want
• The types of positions you know you don't want
• Where you would like to be in five years? Ten
  years?

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Necessary Tools

• Resumes
• cover letters
• knowledge of specific companies
• interviewing skills.

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Remember

• A job search can sometimes take up to 7 months.
  Start early! Stay positive! Stay focused. Don't
  get discouraged!

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Things to Do

• Being organized in your job search will benefit
  you greatly.
• Make a list of companies you are interested in
• Set dates to contact them
• Keep a list of addresses
• keep track of how many resumes you've sent
• Follow-up on all leads.

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Thing that May not Help

• Sending unsolicited resumes to employers has a
  success rate of less than 10.
• Using the classified ads in the newspaper has
  about a 15 success rate.
• Most jobs are never advertised in the
  classifieds. The most effective job search
  strategy is "Networking."

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Career and Job Fairs

• Large program that allows you to meet and talk
  briefly with many employers
• Do your homework research employers
• Prepare your paperwork and your personal 30-45
  second introduction
• Develop a strategy that uses your time
  efficiently and effectively
• Send follow-up letters to the employers you want
  to impress

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Job Search in Another City

• Identify city or area of choice
• Plan trip to that area
• Research to identify potential employers
• Contact at least 15
• Use telephone to locate appropriate individuals
• Send resume and personalized cover letter
• Follow-up with phone call asking for brief
  appointment

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Job Search in Another City

• Why can this work?
• You are maintaining control
• You are paying expenses
• You are making it easy for the employer

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Networking

• Networking yields about an 80 success rate.
• Networking means talking to friends, professors,
  family, co-workers, former supervisors,
  customers, and all of the people your contacts
  know.
• Do not be afraid to utilize your network. Most
  people remember what it's like to be job
  searching and are happy to help out.
• In addition, people usually like to talk about
  themselves and their careers. If you are
  respectful, professional, and enthusiastic, you
  will probably find that networking can work for
  you

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Networking

• Brainstorm a list of all the people who can help
  you find a job. Don't leave anyone out. Your
  contacts don't have to be CEO's to be helpful!
• Let all of your contacts know what type of
  position you are looking for.
• If possible, give each of your contacts a copy of
  your resume to circulate.

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Informational interview.

• An informational interview allows you to
  "interview" someone in your chosen field, or a
  field that you are considering.
• The purpose of an informational interview is
  twofold
• to find out more about the field in which you are
  considering employment
• to make contact with professionals who can offer
  information and possibly help you along the path
  of finding the right job for you.

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Informational interview.

• Make a list of people you know who have a
  connection to your line of work/ area of
  interest.
• Call each person on your list and suggest a brief
  meeting (10-15 minutes) in order to learn more
  about their line of work. Suggest a meeting
  (information interview) at their place of
  employment or wherever is most convenient for
  them.
• Be on time for the meeting and ask for
  information and suggestions, not a job. Be brief
  and respectful of the person's time.
• Have good questions prepared. Be sure that you
  have researched the field, the company, and that
  person's position adequately before you arrive.
  This will help you ask better questions and
  appear more professional. These will help you get
  started
• How did you decide to go into this field?
• How did you get your position here?
• What type of degree / training do you possess?
• What do you like best about your job?
• What are some of the challenges of your job?
• What opportunities for advancement exist in this
  field?
• What do you see as the future of this occupation?
  
• Take your resume with you in case they ask to see
  it or to circulate it for you.
• Close the meeting at the scheduled time.
• Thank the person for their time. Ask for 2-3
  other names of people in the field. Be sure to
  ask the initial contact if you can use his/her
  name when you contact the names he/she gave you.
  Repeat the process above for each new contact.
• Write the initial person a thank-you note
  immediately.
• Be sure to follow-up on all leads and write
  thank-you notes to everyone who helps you.
• Remember all you need is a nod of recognition to
  take your resume from the bottom of the pile to
  the top of the pile. If you don't have contacts
  now -- make them!
• If you have any questions or concerns about
  networking or informational interviewing, contact
  the Career Center to set up an individual
  appointment with a career counselor.

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Additional Job Search Strategies

• Participate in on-campus interviewing. Get
  Registered with Angelyn Hayes at the Career
  Center as soon as possible!
• Use the yellow pages to find companies that
  interest you and call to see if they have any
  openings.
• Knock on the door of an employer that interests
  you whether they are known to be hiring or not.
  Try to speak with someone in hiring/human
  resources.
• Check out the Career Center's current Job Vacancy
  Listings
• Internships! Internships! Internships! These are
  great ways to meet people and to gain career -
  related experience.
• Join campus, community and professional
  organizations, and volunteer.
• Use the Internet. A good place to start is the
  Career Center

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Additional Job Search Strategies

• Examine websites geared toward finding jobs in
  your major
• Use Job banks like www.monster.com
• Develop and submit electronic resumes. Learn how
  at www.eresumes.com
• Conduct company research
• Visit chat rooms and discussion lists for your
  major or career field. Conduct virtual tours of
  cities and companies
• Research salary information
• Find information on moving/relocation
• Get on-line advice from career counselors

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Jobs on the Internet

• Job listings available from national databases,
  newspaper classifieds, and on specific employer
  websites
• Be sure resumes contain key words describing your
  experiences
• Follow rules for scannable resumes
• Customize your resume and cover letter as you
  would for an employer on-campus

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Telephones, E-mail URLs

• Electronic devices increase job search
  communications
• Make sure your first impressions voice and
  visual are professional
• During your search, check messages frequently
• When you reply, carefully plan and proofread what
  you say or write

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Summary

• Take advantage of both active and passive job
  search strategies
• Do your research
• Continually update your paperwork
• Keep expanding your network of contacts
• Maintain excellent notes
• Be professional at all times
• Thank everyone who helps you