STEP TWO: Establish Your Job Strategy and Identify Job Leads
The key to a successful job search is planning ahead. Once you have researched the job market and identified your specific target area, you must decide on a strategy or combination of strategies to begin your job search. The most effective strategies are those that are a combination of strategies, so be creative and don't be afraid to expand your options. Below are just a few job search strategies:
- Networking, Networking, Networking - Networking is by far the most effective job search strategy. You should spend a large amount of your time job searching using this strategy because this is where you will find the majority of all available unpublished jobs. Getting to know people gives you a better chance of getting one of the jobs that are never posted. See the Networking Section at the bottom of this list.
- Informational Interviewing - This strategy is actually a short interview that' an individual conducts with an employer to find out more about the type of' job or the industry they are considering. Remember, an informational' interview is not a job interview, and one should never ask for a job in an' informational interview. However, informational interviewing is almost just' as effective as having a wide network of contacts. For more information, pick' up an Informational Interviewing Guide from the Career Services office.'
- The Office of Career Services - Career Services not only coordinates On' Campus Interviewing, Evening with Industry, Teacher Interview Day, and' Nursing Job Fair, it also is a great resource for resume critiquing, career' counseling, and job/industry information. Career Services also offers job' listings from businesses and non-profit companies. One of your initial job' search strategies should be to visit the Career Services office or make a career' counseling appointment.
- Want Ads/The Newspaper - The jobs represented in these resources are a' small percentage of the actual job market, however, by looking at want ads' you can determine the qualifications an employer might be looking for in' reference to a specific type of job. You can also use the newspaper to read' articles about companies that interest you to make sure you are up to speed' with those companies. Be careful not to spend too much time with the' newspaper, as only 5-10% of all jobs are actually in print. Try not to use more' than of your time job searching using the newspaper.
- Direct Visits/Cold Calling/Job Fairs - These types of strategies are' essentially direct in person visits, calls to businesses, or fairs where many' employers are showcased. Although the first two strategies are very time' consuming, all of these strategies are a way to gain an informational' interview, which is also a way to expand your network of contacts. You can' find job fairs that are open to the public by contacting Career Services or' calling your local community college to see if there are any upcoming fairs.' Make sure to spend a small amount of time with this strategy, as it can lead' to contacts to add to your network.
- The Internet - Do not spend more than of your job searching on the' internet. Although this strategy may seem effective, in truth the jobs posted' on the internet are about 5-10% of the job market. A more effective job search' strategy on the internet would be to use the internet for ideas about what' kind of companies to target as well as to research specific companies through' their websites and getting their contact information. This is a good way to' begin a networking relationship.
- Employment Agencies - These may be helpful if you are searching out of' state, but make sure if you use them to never pay a fee. Also, make sure to' get recommendations on which agency to use.