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The key to successful job hunting involves flexibility, creativity, and evaluation. Flexibility and creativity will also be needed once the job has been landed. Flexibility so that you can respond to constantly changing business conditions; creativity to help you function in today's leaner, flatter organizations geared toward quality and customer satisfaction. By employing these characteristics, along with excellent communication, quantification, and interpersonal skills, during the job search, you demonstrate to a potential employer that you have what it takes to succeed.

When conducting a job search, it is crucial that you use several approaches and to develop your own personal strategy. Listed below are several strategies for job seekers. The first stragey has been proven to be the most effective way of finding a job, especially for people in a position to have to sell themselves to employers. We recommend that you carefully review the first method - networking - and employ it in conjunction with other strategies.

Strategy 1: Networking

Strategy 2: On-Campus Recruiting

Strategy 3: Internships, Summer Jobs, and Volunteerism

Strategy 4: Identify and Respond to Job Vacancies

Strategy 5: Mass Mailing

Strategy 6: Direct Employer Contact

Strategy 7: Employment Agencies

Strategy 8: Door-to-Door

Stragey 9: Tell the World

How to Find The Job Checklist

Strategy 1: Networking

At the heart of this strategy is the assumption that the more contacts you have, the better your chances are of hearing about an opening. The way to make contacts in career fields is to interview for information. The people you interview get to know you and understand your sincerity. The goal of this approach is to establish a network of people who will network for you!

Once you determine the kind of positions suitable for you, let your contacts know. Chances are you will hear about an opening through your contacts, and having researched the field thoroughly, you are in an excellent position to present yourself to the prospective employer.

Steps to Implement:
 

Arrange informational interviews with people in the fields you want to pursue. Follow these up with 

     thank-you notes.

Arrange additional interviews with the people referred to you by others. Continue to meet as many 

    people as you can.

When you have narrowed down your choices, contact your resource people to let them know you 

     are interested in the field and would appreciate knowing of any opportunities. Make sure these 

     people have a copy of your resume.

Keep in touch with your contacts for as long as it takes to uncover leads.

When you decide to act on a lead, contact the appropriate person, explain that you are looking for a 

     job in the field, as set up an informational interview. Present yourself as a knowledgeable candidate 

     who has something to contribute to the organization. You are selling yourself and need to 

     demonstrate why you are "the" person for the job in question.

Do not sit around and wait! Keep in close contact with your resources, without being a pest.

Strategy 2: On-Campus Recruiting

When an employer has specific needs, recruiting on-campus can result in excellent prospects for job openings. Check with the University Career Center on a regular basis to see which employers are interviewing. Remember that the typical campus interview is a screening mechanism usually followed by a job site visit.

Steps to Implement:

Register at the Career Center. You will need to submit a resume at least one day prior to the day 
     of the interview.

Research the companies that you are interested in by reading the recruiting literature sent to the
    Career Center or by writing to the organizations for information. Check the interview sign-up folder 
    for a copy of the job description.

Prepare for the interview by knowing what you want to communicate about yourself., what you
    want to learn about the organization, and which questions are appropriate.

Schedule a mock interview to polish your interviewing skills. Stop by the Career Center to make an 
    appointment.

Attend the fall and spring job fairs to seek information from participating employers. Your initial 
     contact could lead to an interview. Check with the Career Center for details.

Education majors should attend Teacher Employment Day held annually in the spring. Check 
    with the University Career Center for details.

Note: Take advantage of the Career Center's resume referral service. How? Turn in a resume and a signed waiver form, available at the Career Center. In turn, the Career Center will send out your resume to companies that call in with job openings for which you are qualified.

Strategy 3: Internships, Summer Jobs, and Volunteerism

Obtaining firsthand experience prior to the job search is a factor highly appreciated by employers. Completing an internship, summer job, or volunteer experience prior to graduation is the key to effective job hunting. The direct, hands-on experience will assist you in developing the skills required for the jobs you seek.

Many students are hired in full-time positions as a result of an internship. This approach permits you and the employer the freedom to evaluate if you are the right person for the job or if the job is right for you.

Steps to Implement:

Stop by the Career Center to look for internships, summer jobs, and volunteer experiences. This 
    information is available on site at the Career Center, as well as posted on Career Center bulletin 
    boards campus wide.

Strategy 4: Identify and Respond to Job Vacancies

Not everyone who has a job will advertise it. When reading the want ads, remember that they do not reflect the entire job market. The final consideration is that some ads are for jobs that have been filled already and appear for legal purposes only.

Steps to Implement:

Keep abreast of all the publications that would have job openings in your field.
Respond to an ad by writing a cover letter and sending a resume targeted for that position.
Initiate an interview by following the letter with a phone call.
Follow up an interview with a thank-you note.

Strategy 5: Mass Mailing

Mass mailing has historically been the method most job seekers use. the key to success in this area involves researching the organizations that are of interest to you and deciphering the types of openings that are available. The method to use is to send a letter of inquiry without a resume and ask for information, job description, and application procedures. When you are sure that an opening exists, forward a cover letter and a resume. Blanket mailing of resumes may reap few returns. Try this method, but do not make it the only strategy you use.

Steps to Implement:

Conduct research on potential employers of interest to you by investigating the kind and volume of 
     business they do, where they do it, etc. and send letters to all the organizations in which you would 
     consider employment.

  Draft a good cover letter to accompany your resume. Address the letter to a specific person, not a 
     title.

Mail out the letters and plan to follow up with a phone call to your most interesting prospects.

Strategy 6: Direct Employer Contact

If you have a good idea of where you want to live, focus on that geographical area. The best approach is to seek an opportunity by contacting a potential employer directly. Send a letter to the employer and follow up with a phone call. Strive for face-to-face contact.

Steps to Implement:

Narrow down the field(s) of interest to you.
  Identify employers by talking to people, using phone books/directories, or other resources.
Determine the best person to contact in the organization. Contact the organization and ask for the 
     name, title, address, and phone number of the person within the specific department where you 
     want to work. You may call or write this person directly to learn about job openings and the 
     application process.
Send a letter stating why you are an excellent candidate for a job. Include your resume targeted for
     a specific position.
Follow up with a phone call asking for an interview.
Write a thank-you note following your interview.

Strategy 7: Employment Agencies

Employment agencies find positions for people who are looking for work and find candidates for organizations identifying a specific need. Some agencies charge fees and others do not. State or federal agencies do not charge fees, while private agencies have direct fees. Research the reputation of any firm before you sign a service contract. (Remember to always read the fine print.)

Steps to Implement:

Contact several agencies to determine the best ones.
  Before signing a contract or agreement, be certain to understand the terms, limitations, and 
     expectations.
Keep in touch with the agency. You have every right to expect results if you are paying for the 
     service.
Read some additional resources in the Career Center library that discuss how to use employment 
     agencies. (What Color is Your Parachute?, Go Hire Yourself an Employer, and Who's Hiring Who
     are some helpful books on the subject.)

Strategy 8: Door-to-Door

Knocking on doors is like roulette - you run the risk of turning someone off, or you might be lucky 
enough to find a job.

Steps to Implement:

Identify places where you want to work, knock on doors, and ask for an interview.
  Have a resume in hand. Leave this with the employer. Plan to follow up with a phone call and 
     suggest a time for a more detailed discussion.

Strategy 9: Tell the World

Tell everyone you know what jobs you'd like. The more people who know what you are looking for, the greater your chances of hearing about an opening. Share copies of your resume. Don't be bashful - people know other people, and if they like you, chances are they will help you in any way they can.

Finally...

Finding a job is a job in itself.

However you decide to find work, keep in mind some simple ideas. Have a direction and know what you want. Make good use of your resources. Talk to people in the walks of life you are considering. Read about the fields you want to pursue. Be creative; don't place limits on yourself.

Finally, don't take rejection personally. To be turned down for a job is not to be personally affronted. Have fun with your job search... and good luck!

Use this checklist to see if you are totally prepared:

How to Find The Job Checklist

Have you:

Developed a resume?

Constructed a cover letter?

Chosen a direction compatible with your skills, interests, and competencies?

Chosen realistic places of employment?

Initiated informational interviewing?

Signed up for a Mock Interview at the Career Center?

Participated in on-campus interviews?

Sent follow-up letters?

Checked the Job Opportunities bulletins at the Career Center?

Evaluated the effectiveness of your total job-seeking strategy?

Implemented alternative ideas into your strategy?

Prepared yourself with flexible goals?

If you have any questions, you can visit the Career Center for individualized assistance.
 

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