Job Search

What is the best way to start job hunting? Lots of Research and time. It can be a long, tedious process when it comes to job searching, but you will reap the benefits of all the time spent  and it will pay off in the end when you find the  job meant for you. We give you tips on how to make your job search more efficient, less time consuming, and a little more enjoyable.

First, start off first by looking over your resume. If it needs to be updated, edited, or changed, do that step first.

Also, work on a cover letter for your resume that will fit and can be customized to the job description you are going for.

Next, start looking for jobs that peak your interest, and job descriptions that fit your criteria or your field of interest. If you are unsure of what type of job you want to go into, search multiple fields and then from there, narrow down the ones that seem interesting to you. Once you have a foundation set, start applying for the jobs that fit your match. Apply for several at at time, making sure to keep your options open. From there, you can determine which to keep and which to toss out of your selection.

Also be proactive in your job search using multiple networking sources. Look online, attend any local job fairs, network with friends, search your local classifieds, and keep an open mind about your experiences and what it is that you really want in a job.

Here are a few tips to getting your job search off to a good start:

Social Networking: This tool can be a truly successful boost to helping you expand your job search, but use it wisely. Social networking can also play a crucial role in not getting you the job as well, if done incorrectly. When applying for a job, be cautious that some Employers and companies seek out to find potential candidates and will search your personal media sites to get information on and about you, so use it to your advantage to make yourself stand out in a professional way. Social media sites are a critical component in professional networking, career success, and career development going forward. They will play an increasing role in networking, career advancement, and professional success if you use it correctly.  They also allow you to keep in contact with old coworkers, friends, family, and potential new co-workers. You can search job postings with the help of networking sites as well. They utilize all sorts of tools to find potential candidates for openings, and to make it easy for you to find them.

Get Letters of Recommendations– Be sure to ask old employers and friends to give you recommendations to use for potential job employers. Weather they be good OR bad, they can still determine what type of job you get. If you are unsure if your previous employer will give you a bad review, seek out to get personal recommendations from friends. Any recommendation is better than none.

Get contacts within a company – The saying “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” still stands to be true in some aspects of the business world. Getting contacts within a company will be a great way to get inside information on the company, the employer, the hiring process, and so on. The more you know about a company, the better insight you have to work in to your advantage.  LinkedIN is a good resource that will help you find people within a company that you might know.

In Person Networking – Networking in person is really important, too. You can’t beat that one-on-one interaction, especially when you’re seeking help. If you belong to a professional association, attend a meeting or a mixer. Jump out there and put yourself into a conversation and you will be surprised to see just how and where  the conversation can go.  You’ll find that many of the participants have the same goals you do, and may have contacts at the companies you’re interested in. Get as many business cards as you can, as well as giving yours in return. Do a follow up the next day or two to see what comes out of it.

College Service Networking – Check with your college Career Services to see if there is an online Career Network you can access to search for alumni at a company. Your university may also have LinkedIn and Facebook Groups you can use to connect. Go to a guidance counselor for help as well. I am sure they would be more than happy to help you in your search for potential contacts and job opportunities.
Try online recruiters. – Recruiters will help match you with jobs that meet your specific skills and needs.  Not sure where to start?  Sites such as recruiterlink.com, onlinerecruitersdirectory.com, and searchfirm.com provide links to online headhunters for job seekers.

Job Search Email – When you are using email to job search, it’s important that all your communications are as professional as they would be if you were writing an old-fashioned paper letter. Here’s information on what to include in your job search emails, how to format your email, and how to make sure your email message is read.

Professional Branding – Professional branding is important for everyone who is job searching. It’s important to create a personal brand that portrays you in a professional light and showcases your credentials.

Don’t quit before you’ve started. Some students are so frustrated by the state of the economy that they haven’t bothered to look for a job. It is never too early to start your search for a job. The earlier, the better. It allows you to have a better idea of what you want to do. Some people are lucky to know exactly what they want to do, and how to get there, but for the rest of us, it is a time consuming process and only researching will help you figure it out.

Prioritize. Decide in advance how much time you’ll spend pursuing your first choice — a month for example — and then expand the search to include other positions, McGrath said.

Search across industries. “The major doesn’t necessarily equal their career,” said Katharine Brooks, director of the career center for the Liberal Arts college at the University of Texas at Austin. “They really need to focus on the value of what they’ve learned and be able to articulate that to an employer.”

Rely on networking. “More and more of our employers are providing full-time job offers to their interns as a first choice,” Wayne Wallace, director of the career resources center at the University of Florida in Gainesville. So stay in touch with former internship employers and devote more time to expanding your professional network than searching online job sites.

Only opt for graduate school if you have a plan. “There are students who are, what I would say, punting and saying ‘Why don’t I get the graduate degree?’” said Matthew Berndt, director of career services for the Communications school at the University of Texas at Austin. But that only makes sense if students know what they’re going to study and how it will help them get a better position once they’re finished. If that’s not clear, then “you’re still not any more capable of telling an employer what you want to do and why you want to work for them,” Berndt said.

Be willing to relocate. “Those students who are willing to migrate and to take a chance on a new part of the country and take a chance on a brand new job have more options,” said Florida’s Wallace.

Do your research. If you’re meeting with an employer, be knowledgeable about the business and be able to articulate why you’re a good fit for the position and the company.

ASK around – Along side of networking, don’t be shy to just ask around.  Find people in the profession that you are interested in, and pick the  insides of their brain’s. It sounds silly to say that, but getting the insight from someone who already possesses the knowledge of the company will be able to give you the upper hand on getting information on how it is to work there, what is to be expected from the company, the downfalls, and the perks. Any knowledge that you gain by simply asking questions is better than going in blindsided.