JOB SEARCH
STRATEGIES
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"Career planning
and job seeking
skills
have now become
essential survival skills
in our
economy."
-J. MICHAEL FARR
|
GRAD SCHOOL
n
CAREER PLANNING
n
COLLEGE TO CAREER
n
CAREER EXPLORATION
JOB MARKET
n
JOB SEARCH
n
INTERVIEW PREP
n
RESUME WRITING
n
WORKPLACE ISSUES
Click Here for Grad School Fair Info
JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES
Implementing and utilizing
the most effective job search strategies ensures you have more control
in managing the process and more choice in selecting your options.
Candidates who utilize a more progressive, more self-initiated approach
to conducting their search experience greater success in today's very
competitive job market.
Progressive,
self-initiated approaches empower the candidate to have greater control
and more choice in the job search process. Approaches that utilize
networking, prospecting, and market research tend to be more effective
than the more traditional approaches. Relationship-oriented techniques
are characteristic of the more progressive, more professional, methods
of seeking lucrative opportunities in a competitive job market. Serious
candidates are initiators instead of responders. They are career
planners instead of job hunters.
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GOOD STUFF
CLICK HERE FOR HELPFUL
ARTICLES,
RESOURCES, AND LINKS |
Job Seeking
Notes
Google: Career Directories
Job Hunter's Bible
Career Perfect
Seeking Success
Monster Article: Job Search
Job Search Guide
College Recruiter
Video
Seminar: Job Search Strategies
Video Clip: Working a Career Fair
YouTube: How is Your Job Search
Going?
COMPETITIVE
JOB MARKET
"Entry-level or experienced, job
hunters are not skipping off to a
merry-go-round ride; they're revving
up for the equivalent of an athletic
event, a competitive joust with
thousands of other qualified
applicants... Today, job hunting
requires the cunning of a military
strategist and the energy of a
professional quarterback... What
does it take to get a job today?
Shrewd maneuvering along with a new
attitude about career and self...
Job seekers have to be tough,
resilient and flexible."
-BOB WEINSTEIN
"Conducting a successful job search
isn't simple, nor does it begin when
you suddenly find yourself in need
of a job. The search requires
ongoing preparation -- and a lot of
commitment, hard work, risk-taking
and luck. The trick isn't just to
get a job, but to get a job that
fits you. The job search isn't
simply a matter of who will hire you
now, but of what career path you'll
pursue."
-CHRISTOPHER PRATT
"Because business has become
increasingly more competitive,
companies must do their homework as
never before in looking for
prospective employees. Every single
job applicant must be evaluated not
only in terms of technical know-how,
but also in terms of how he or she
will fit into the culture of the
organization."
-KENNETH & SHERYL
DAWSON
"Looking for a job is hard work, but
the really hard part isn't so much
the specific things you have to do
throughout the course of a job
search -- the calls you make, the
research you do, the interviews you
go on, and so forth. The hard part
is dealing with all the pressures --
psychological, family, and financial
-- that often arise during the
course of a job search. The truth
is, you don't need innate talent or
highly specialized skills to conduct
a successful job search. You simply
need to be able to do a lot of the
things you already know how to do in
a focused, disciplined, and
systematic way."
-MAX MESSMER
COLD HARD FACTS
Job
hunting can be very stressful. It
creates fear and anxiety. It can be
frustrating, humiliating and even
depressing. It can damage a
person's ego. Job hunters often
feel a sense of discouragement,
powerlessness and great uncertainty,
which leads to self-doubt and a
decrease in self-confidence.
The
harsh reality of job hunting is that
is involves a great deal of
rejection. Every job lead becomes a
potential rejection or a possible
turn-down. In order to maintain a
sense of sanity throughout the
process, job hunters must accept the
fact that they will encounter many
many NOs before they ever encounter
one YES. Job hunters can expect to
face many obstacles, barriers and
disappointments.
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"A haphazard, loosely
organized job campaign will
work only if luck is
injected. Make your own
luck by organizing a
professional job campaign.
Set goals, establish a
detailed plan, and keep
scrupulous notes on all
search activity."
-JOHN L. LAFEVRE
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"Recognize that job hunting is one
of life's most stressful challenges.
While you may feel somewhat out of
control during your job hunt, it may
be helpful for you to regain some of
your control by quantifying those
factors over which you do have
control -- your valuable personal
resources... energy... action...
money... ego... time."
-HECKLINGER & BLACK
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GOOD STUFF
CLICK HERE FOR HELPFUL
ARTICLES,
RESOURCES, AND LINKS |
Networking
and Prospecting Notes
Networking
and Prospecting Checklist
Library Resource: Business Databases
Networking: The Art of Informational
Interviewing
The Complete Job Search Handbook
Chiff Article: Networking
Video Clip: Networking & Prospecting
SURVIVAL SKILLS
Successful job seeking requires
aggressive action. It requires a
significant investment of time,
money, energy and ego. It requires
hard work. To survive in today's
highly competitive and rapidly
changing job market, you will need
the right attitude, the right mental
approach, the right preparation...
and a new set of survival skills...
You will need... A good
understanding of yourself and the
right job for you... Knowledge of
types of jobs and what they
require... A method to help you
choose and plan long-term career
goals... Knowledge of effective
job-seeking skills... And how to
succeed on the job once you have it.
VITAL TOOLS
Survival in the job market includes
possession of several vital tools
that you will need in order to be
successful in your job search...
Résumé... Cover Letter... Follow
Up Letter... Reference
Letters... Interview Skills...
Professional Attire... Leads,
Contacts, and Referrals... Job
Seeking Strategies
MARKETING YOURSELF
Conducting a successful job search
is not unlike managing a campaign or
marketing a product. Your
particular approach to job seeking
can be as extensive as you wish.
You will have to decide how you want
to focus your job seeking energies.
SHOTGUN APPROACH
Campaigning strategy, in which you
canvas a large number of potential
employers with a general résumé and
form letter. Success depends on the
quantity of applications.
RIFLE APPROACH
Targeting strategy, in which you
pinpoint a select number of
potential employers with indepth
research, tailor-made résumés and
personal letters. This approach
requires detail and focus and a lot
of follow up activity. Success
depends on the quality of the
applications.
TRADITIONAL JOB SEEKING METHODS
Reading classified ads and job
listings in the newspaper
Reading job listings on the Internet
or posting resumes on the Internet
Going to corporate human resources
offices and filling out applications
Going to the local government
employment office
Signing up with a private employment
agency
Participating in on-campus interview
events
Visiting your college career
services office for job listings
PROGRESSIVE JOB SEEKING METHODS
Visiting your college career
services office for contact listings
Attending career fairs
Utilizing personal and professional
contacts
Joining professional organizations
Utilizing referrals and
recommendations
Prospecting and Networking
HIDDEN JOB MARKET
Only 30 percent of all jobs are
publicized through traditional
channels. The remaining 70 percent
are never made public. In reality,
most of the best jobs are not ever
advertised. In general, employers
don't like to advertise.
Advertising causes a lot of extra
work. And oftentimes, employers
simply don't need to advertise.
Penetrating the hidden job market
requires an assertive attitude on
the part of the job hunter. It
requires the applicant to be
aggressive and to take the
initiative by cold calling,
prospecting and networking. It is
dependent on personal contacts,
information interviews and
referrals. You have to find
employers before they advertise the
job you want. People very often get
jobs through someone they know.
Getting to know insiders is a very
effective way of getting good
referrals.
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GOOD STUFF
CLICK HERE FOR HELPFUL
ARTICLES,
RESOURCES, AND LINKS |
Learn Web Skills: Researching
Companies OnLine
Quint Careers: Guide to Researching
Companies
Hoovers Business Information
Business.Com
Corporate Information
Google: Company Information
Info Space
Yahoo: Industry News
Industry Portals / Industry Hubs
Find Articles
Google: Business/Company Directories
About Company Research
Special Issues: List of Lists
Google: Company Rankings
Monster: Company Boulevard
NETWORKING
It
is often stated that it's not WHAT
you know, but WHO you know that gets
you the job. It is true that
getting to know prominent people in
your field is still the best method
of conducting a professional and
effective job search. Simply
stated, networking is the process of
getting people you know to introduce
you to people you don't know. It
means utilizing contacts (friends,
neighbors, classmates, co-workers,
colleagues, relatives, and
associates) to learn about possible
job openings. Networking is the
active cooperation between two
people engaged in the same field of
interest. Networks are people
talking to each other, sharing ideas
and exchanging information.
Networking is learning about hidden
job opportunities by actively
seeking out information from your
contacts, and, in the process,
generating additional leads.
MAKING CONTACT
"Schmoozing, sucking up, kissing
ass, being fake, political or
cheesy. These images often come to
mind when students are asked what
they think of networking. Many
picture a used-car salesman in a
polyester suit, a flesh-pressing,
baby-kissing politician or the
superficial rush chairman in the
movie Animal House (Hi! I'm
Eric Stratton! Damn glad to meet
you!). Sure, there are people like
that, but they're the exception.
When done properly, networking isn't
sleazy at all. It's simply building
relationships. Think of networking
as a referral or recommendation.
Meeting someone through a mutual
contact or referral is like having a
seal of approval. These
pre-approved contacts are what
the professional world revolves
around. Almost 80% of all positions
are found through some type of
networking, personal relationships
or connection. Like it or not,
networking is an integral part of
how business really operates . . .
Contacts and relationships can be
hard to establish and even harder to
maintain. The best networkers
realize that it's a two-way street.
The telltale sign of a sleazy
networker is calling only when you
want something. Successful
networkers aren't sleazy, selfish or
opportunistic. They're sincere . .
. When it comes to networking, what
goes around comes around."
-BRADLEY RICHARDSON /
JobSmarts
For TwentySomethings
|
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"Take on the role of an
investigator trying to track
down companies that may need
your services. Be
aggressive. Don't ask
whether a company is
hiring. Ask about business
indicators of change. Get
that information and you
will find job openings."
-JOHN LA FEVRE / How You
Really Get Hired
|
WHO TO CALL
When networking, it is not necessary
to only focus your efforts on people
who are in a position to offer you a
job. True, your ultimate goal when
you network is to gain access to the
people who are hiring. But,
networking itself is about making
connections with people who,
indirectly or directly, can increase
your likelihood of gaining that
access to key people. Virtually
everyone you know or might meet
could be in a position to hear about
a job opening or might be in
possession of valuable information.
You do not always have to know the
"right people" to network
effectively. Effective networking
lies in your ability to create a set
of connections that will eventually
give you access to the people who
are in a position to offer you a
job. Networking is a step-by-step
process.
Job
seekers often say they don't know
anyone or that they are unsure how
to begin the process of networking.
In seeking a comfortable starting
point, oftentimes it is easier to
begin on familiar ground and go from
there. College students are advised
to initiate their networking efforts
by pursuing FOPs (Friends of
Parents) and POFs (Parents of
Friends).
CIRCLES OF INFLUENCE
HOT
CIRCLE... People you speak to and
interact with on a regular basis.
They include family, relatives,
close friends, and individuals you
are comfortable dealing with.
WARM CIRCLE... People you may have
worked with in the past, people you
see occasionally, neighbors,
colleagues, acquaintances, and
friends of friends.
COLD CIRCLE... People you do not
know personally, people you have yet
to meet but whom you have good
reason to believe could be helpful
to you. They include people you have
heard of or admire, but are
intimidated to talk to.
WHERE TO GO
Networking can take place just about
anywhere. Networking opportunities
are more likely in settings where
you are able to interact comfortably
with people who share common
interests and values.
Become an active member of your
professional association.
Become active in civic
organizations.
Get
involved in fraternal, religious, or
social clubs.
Get
involved in volunteer community
service work.
Join a local athletic or health
club.
Attend career fairs, meetings,
conventions, or conferences.
Attend cultural, theatrical,
musical, or sporting events.
WHAT TO SAY
The
networking process should be
assertive but not aggressive. Seek
information, referrals and advice.
Seek an interview. Express an
interest in the person and his or
her organization. But, do not ask
for a job... yet. You might ask:
How did you get into this line of
work? What do you like best (or
least) about your work? Do you have
any ideas how a person with my
background and skills might research
career opportunities in this field?
What trends do you see in this
career field? How could I take
advantage of them? What projects
have you been working on that excite
you?
IT REALLY IS WHO YOU KNOW
According to industry insiders,
people who know people in their
field have more credibility. It is
assumed that people who have made it
their business to get out into the
field and meet other people are more
ambitious, more assertive, and more
excited about their profession. They
are regarded as having a greater
passion for their careers, they are
seen as being more dedicated, and
they are considered by employers are
possessing a higher level of
initiative. The best candidates in
any field are those individuals who
make it a point to gather
information beyond the textbook and
gain experience outside the
classroom. As a result, meeting
people in one's field happens rather
naturally, as an extension of the
individual's desire to learn more
about his or her chosen profession.
Therefore, people who have
established relationships with
people in their people are more
serious about their careers and
truly are better candidates.
PROSPECTING
"Prospect... Something expected.
Possibility. Chance for success.
Potential customer, client, buyer or
purchaser deemed likely to succeed.
Prospecting... Surveying or
examining. To search or explore for
something of value."
-AMERICAN HERITAGE
DICTIONARY
Prospecting is a term that is
recognized by people involved in the
selling profession. Every good
salesperson understands the value of
good prospecting. Whether you are
trying to sell a product or trying
to sell yourself, it is vitally
important to generate a list of
prospects. This prospect list may
be compiled in a number of different
ways, utilizing a variety of
resources, including the Telephone
Directory (Yellow Pages), Chamber of
Commerce Directories, Industrial
Guides, Alumni Directories,
Professional Association
Directories, and Civic Organization
Membership Lists. Newspapers often
run special sections about prominent
people, new businesses, and
community events.
COLD CALLING
Some of the prospects (or potential
employers) you will be able to
identify will result from your
networking efforts. Otherwise, a
good deal of your prospects may come
from sources you have generated
entirely on your own through a
process described as "Cold
Calling." Cold Calling, or what is
sometimes called "pounding the
pavement," means making initial
contacts with individuals you've
never met before. Whether in person,
by mail or by telephone, it involves
calling upon a person with whom you
have had no prior contact and for
whom you have no detailed background
information. It means approaching a
potential employer without an
appointment and introducing
yourself.
In
utilizing this approach, the job
seeker is initiating contact with
the potential employer; the job
seeker is making the first move
instead of waiting for a job to be
posted. Once you have established
rapport with this new contact, this
previously unknown individual
becomes a source of vital
information who can now provide
referrals and job leads. This
person may be hiring or may know the
names of potential employers who are
hiring. To be sure, this informal
method of contacting prospects
requires an assertive, or even
aggressive, approach on the part of
the job hunter. Cold calling
requires confidence, determination
and courage.
"Pounding the pavement is taking the
opportunity to seek employment by
going from company to company in
person. This takes much energy but
is quite productive in gaining
successful employment."
-LAWRENCE BARLOW /
The Job
Seekers' Bible
GO FOR THE COMPANY
Pursue the company, not the job.
When prospecting, don't concern
yourself with ads for job openings
and inquiries into who's hiring.
Compile your prospect list based on
companies and organizations who are
involved in the kind of work you
want to do. Select organizations in
your field and then initiate contact
with them. When calling or
contacting small organizations, ask
for the manager. In a larger
organization, ask for the person in
charge of the functional area you
are interested in. Generally you
should not ask for the personnel
department or the human resources
department. And do not ask for a
job... yet. Get to know the
"gatekeepers." If the person you
are trying to contact has an
assistant, a secretary, or a
receptionist who screens phone calls
and arranges appointments for that
person, introduce yourself and,
without being pushy, try to
establish a relationship. Get the
person's name and make sure that he
or she knows your name.
GRAD SCHOOL
n
CAREER PLANNING
n
COLLEGE TO CAREER
n
CAREER EXPLORATION
JOB MARKET
n
JOB SEARCH
n
INTERVIEW PREP
n
RESUME WRITING
n
WORKPLACE ISSUES
ALABAMA CONNECTION
n
Virtual Career Center
