Conducting a successful job search takes time, requiring commitment and the ability to stay positive. While most people focus their job search on positions posted online, sending out the same resume to multiple job board ads, there are other more fruitful ways of searching for work.
Accessing the “hidden job market” through people you know can result in richer job opportunities.
Job Search Basics
Be Open to Any Type of Work, especially as a New Grad: Getting your foot in the door gives you the opportunity to gain valuable practical experience and network contacts. Don’t search soley for your “dream job” – the part-time, contract, and volunteer experience you gain early in your career can act as the foundation you need to reach your larger goals later.
Network! Network! Network: It is estimated that 70% of jobs are never posted, so looking beyond online job ads is crucial to conducting a strong job search. To learn more about networking and accessing the hidden job market, speak with a career advisor.
Find Companies that Offer Work in Your Field: Develop a list of employers of interest with the goal of making contact prior to a job being advertised on job boards for the world to see. Talk to a career advisor about using online tools like Mergent Intellect to conduct a company search.
Search for Openings Directly on Company Websites: Many companies don’t use universal job boards. You may be missing out on postings that are in plain view directly on company sites.
Attend Networking Events and Job Fairs: CDEL hosts an annual Job Fair every January, as well as various employer information sessions and events throughout the school year. See upcoming events on the mySuccess Career Events Calendar and be on the lookout for other events in the community where you can meet decision-makers.
Use LinkedIn: Whether connecting with network contacts or applying to jobs through LinkedIn, this resource can be very useful in your job search. Attend CDELs Using Social Media to Leverage Your Career Workshop to learn more.
Consider Cold Calling: While reaching out to an employer directly by phone or email can be intimidating, it does show motivation and could get bring your name to their attention before a job posting goes live. To learn effective cold call techniques, speak with a career advisor.
Develop a Strong Approach to Online Job Searching: When applying to positions on job boards, don’t use the same generic resume for every position. Tailor your resume to each position based on the needs of the employer. Have job ads sent directly to you by setting job alerts on large posting websites and seek out job posting sites with a focus on students and new graduates (like mySuccess as an example) or on the field/industry you are interested in.
Keep A Job Search Log: Track all the jobs for which you have applied and save job descriptions for each. You never know how long it may take an employer to respond to an application and having the ability to review the needs of an employer prior to an interview is imperative.
Follow-Up on Your Applications: Following-up with an employer 7 - 10 days after you have applied can show your interest in the role.
