Conducting A Job Search Searching for a job is a

Conducting A Job Search Searching for a job is a full time job! The job search process requires commitment. Having a solid plan will make your job search more manageable and less overwhelming. Knowing how to effectively pursue a job can be as important as the specific qualifications required for the positions. Job Search Preparation Do a self assessment – Figure out who you are • What are your Interests, abilities, experience, values? • How can these benefit the employer? • Need to know yourself before you can sell yourself to an employer! Identify the type of position you are seeking & the type of company you want to work for • Identify and research occupations and work environments you are interested in. • Learn the tasks and responsibilities involved in the job, typical salary, and training. • Learn how and where people obtain entry level positions, what skills and information are important on a resume, and how various work settings differ. Develop your job search tools • Prepare your resume and cover letter, and sharpen your interview skills. • Visit the OCC CAL Center for assistance in developing these important job search tools or check out the CAL Center Resume & Cover Letter handouts to get you started. Research the job search resources available to you Job search resources could include: • CAL Center job postings, local newspapers, internet websites, on campus recruiting and job fairs, informational interviews, networking, etc. Tapping Into the Hidden Job Market Advertised Jobs (paper & online) = 20% of the available jobs! The other 80% is called the “HIDDEN JOB MARKET” Tap into the “Hidden Job Market” by networking and targeting companies! Leave no stone unturned! To find a great job you need to answer ads and network & target companies! Top 3 Job Search Strategies 1. Networking 2. Targeting Companies - Unadvertised Job Openings 3. Advertised Job Openings Networking • Employers prefer to find potential employees by talking to people they know networking. And, one of the most effective ways to obtain a job is to learn about it from another person! • Learning how to develop your network is one of the most important skills used in your job search. • You already have “contacts” who can become the basis of your network. • Contacts can be friends, relatives, neighbors, OCC staff and faculty, internship or employment supervisors, former high school or college classmates, OCC faculty & staff, and even strangers. Everyone belongs in your network! • Your contacts should include anyone who can help you in obtaining information on career opportunities or job openings. • They might not have specific information on job openings, but they may be able to connect you with influential people who do! Starting Your Network • Make a list of the people you know and come in contact with on a regular basis. • Tell everyone on your list that you are looking for a job and give them details about the job or field you are interested in. How to Expand Your Network • Contacting employers is the best way to increase your network. • Target a group of employers who may hire someone with your skills and experience. • To identify possible leads for employers use the following resources: • Newspapers • Telephone books • Professional journals, newsletters and trade magazines • Chamber of Commerce membership directory • Professional Association membership directories • Employer homepages • Job vacancy databases/job listings Networking Goals • Networking goal • Advice on entering the field • Information about the field • Develop a relationship with the person - most people are happy & willing to talk about their profession Who to Contact in a Company • Look at the company directory (on the company’s website) to find the right person to contact. • Contact someone in the company who is in a position in the field you want to enter Employer Networking Process 1) Send a letter of introduction and a resume. Follow-up with a phone call 2) If it is convenient, speak to the contact then, or schedule an in person meeting for a later date 3) Tell them: • You will be graduating soon • Describe your skills • Describe the type of position/organization you are seeking 4) Ask for any advice about: • Entering the field • How to find employment with their company or other companies they know of 5) Ask if they know anyone you can talk to who has connections in the industry 6) Ask them to keep you in mind if they hear of any openings 7) Leave them a resume for future reference 8) Follow-up with a thank you letter 9) Stay in contact with them every 4-6 weeks or so - if they say this is OK 10) Keep a log including: • Who you contacted • When you spoke to them • Notes about your conversation 5 Most Common Networking Mistakes 1) Networking on the Fly • Quality is better than quantity • Make sure you get the most out of each contact • Do not take on too much 2) Expecting too much too soon • It takes time to build a relationship with someone and it may take a few conversations for you to get the exact information you are seeking. 3) Job Seeking disguised as Networking • Do not be sneaky • Do not “use” your contacts to get “an in” to a specific job that is available 4) Not paying attention to the advice you are given • Find out what skills are most important to be effective in the field, and improve your skills in those areas if necessary 5) Ignoring the “give back” dimension • You may have something to offer your contact too! • Be open to a mutual exchange of information Targeting Companies - Unadvertised Job Openings • Approximately 80% of jobs go unadvertised! These are the “Hidden Job Market”! • This means the majority of your cover letters should be letters of inquiry. • You should send a letter of inquiry to ask if there are any positions available with the organization in your field. • Targeting Goal: • Introduce yourself • Company match you to openings in your field • Get your resume in the employer’s database Targeting Process 1) Send a letter of inquiry and a resume. Follow-up with a phone call 2) If it is convenient, speak to the contact then, or schedule an in person meeting for a later date 3) Tell them: • You will be graduating soon • Describe your skills • Tell them you are interested in working for their organization • Ask them if they know of any openings in the organization you are qualified for 5) Leave them a resume for future reference 6) Follow-up with a thank you letter 7) Stay in contact with them every 4-6 weeks or so - if they say this is OK 8) Keep a log including: • Who you contacted • When you spoke to them • Notes about your conversation Advertised Job Openings • Advertising job openings is the least preferred method for employers to find new employees. • Most people do not find a job through advertised job listings! • Advertised jobs - including those listed in newspaper and online - are only about 20% of the jobs available. • Even though it is a small percentage of the available jobs, it is important to pursue the advertised jobs that you are interested in and qualify for. • To be sure to find all the advertised jobs you might want to apply for, check the newspaper and online job listings every day, not just on Sunday! Other Job Search Strategies Volunteer & Service Learning Volunteering and Service Learning are great ways to give back to the community and gain valuable experience, and make career contacts with professionals in your field. Click here for more information on service learning and volunteering. Co-op and Internship Program The OCC Internship program offers you the opportunity to learn skills, gain practical experience, and network for employment opportunities in your career field. Click here to see current internship opportunities. OCC CAL Center Job Postings The CAL Center website offers an extensive list of job and internship postings that is updated on a regular basis. Postings include company name, position description, salary and benefit information, and directions on how to apply. Click here to see current job openings. On Campus Recruiting Throughout the year, employers will set up information tables to recruit students for full time, part time, and summer positions. Meeting with these employers will give you the opportunity to fill out applications and interact with potential employers right on campus, which can be an effective way to find a job! Click here for an up to date schedule of companies coming to campus. On Campus Job Fairs Job fairs are an excellent way to meet potential employers, gather information about employment opportunities and the local companies that are hiring. When preparing for a job fair: take several copies of your resume, prepare a short summary about yourself and the type of work you are seeking, and make a list of companies you want to meet with at the fair. Click here for a schedule of upcoming job fairs. Help Wanted Ads Looking in various newspapers, journals, magazines, and newsletters is an easy way to identify job openings. However, some advertised positions may receive a huge response. When you see a position advertised, respond with your cover letter and resume, and always be sure to follow the directions in the ad. Internet Identify potential employers that you are interested in working for and go directly to their website. Once there look for a section entitled “careers”, “jobs”, or “employment” to see the types of positions for which they are currently recruiting. In addition, visit general job search sites that provide listings of a variety of career opportunities. Employment Agencies Registering with an employment agency can be a great way to further tap into the hidden job market and get into companies without having to make a commitment to working there for a long period of time. Research the agencies you are interested in and be sure to know what type of companies and geographic locations they serve. Also make sure you know what kind of positions they offer: temporary, temp-hire or direct hire placements. When meeting an employment agency, be sure to bring a resume, and dress professionally. Treat the appointment like any other job interview you might attend. Avoid agencies that charge for services and contact them frequently to make sure they know you are available for work. Comparison of Job Search Strategies Strategy Networking • Talk to everyone you know to develop a list of possible contacts • Ask for information on jobs/companies and to circulate your resume Hidden Job Market • Research & target 10-15 employers and contact with letters of inquiry or phone calls to ask if they have positions available in your field CAL Center Postings • Check posted positions • Email or mail resumes & cover letters to positions you are interested in Tools • List of contacts • Resumes & cover letters • Business attire Pros • May learn of unadvertised openings • May result in a closer match of your interests in a job Cons • A contact is not enough to get you a job • Time consuming • You may contact all leads without landing a job Hints • Follow through on all leads • Keep expanding your network of contacts • Track who you have contacted • Company information • Internet access • Resumes & cover letters • May learn of unadvertised openings • May result in a closer match of your interests in a job • Time consuming • You may contact all the companies you are interested in without getting a job. • Keep copies of all resume and letters you have sent and the calls you have made • Internet access • Resume • Cover letter • Company is interested in hiring qualified OCC students. • Resume and cover letter for actual opening • Resume and cover letter will compete with those of other applicants • Get your resume in as quickly as possible • Check postings often as info is updated daily On Campus Recruiting • Visit with employers when they come to campus to recruit OCC students • Resume • Interviewing skills • Company information • Business attire • Company is interested in hiring qualified OCC students • No travel required • Not all companies you are interested in will come to campus • Check with the CAL Center on a regular basis to see who will be on campus On Campus Job Fairs • Meet with several employers at one time on campus • Gather company information & make networking contacts Want Ads • Scan want ads • Mail resumes with cover letters tailored to specific job requirements • Resume • Interviewing skills • Company information • Business attire • Company is interested in hiring qualified OCC students • No travel required • Conversations must be kept brief • Prepare a short summary about yourself and the type of work you are seeking • See the CAL Center website for dates of upcoming job fairs • Plan ahead - make a list of companies you want to see at the fair • Newspapers • Internet • Journals • Newsletters • Trade Magazines • Cover Letters • Resumes • Involves minimum investment of time in identifying companies • Resume and cover letter are sent for actual opening • Resume and cover letter will compete with those of other applicants • Ads follow the job market - less effective in times of economic downturn • Submit your materials as quickly as possible • Read the want ads each day (not just Sunday) to see all available positions Internet • Scan job vacancies in hundreds of databases • Email tailored resumes & cover letters to jobs • Internet access • Electronic/emailable Resume and cover letter • Actual job openings • Many employers use a variety of job listing services • Many listings are free to access • Worldwide geographic reach • Competition is growing many people use the internet to look for jobs • Submit your materials as quickly as possible • Check postings often information changes frequently Employment Agencies • Respond to agency ads in the newspaper or check phone book for names of agencies to contact • Resumes • Business attire • Interviewing skills • Positions for candidates with marketable skills & experience • Positions may not be advertised to the public • May not be able to assist applicants with little skills or experience • Contact agencies that specialize in your field • Make frequent contact with your counselor to obtain best service Online Job Search Resources Job Search America’s Job Exchange Career OneStop CNY Career Finder CNY Employment Guide CNY Works Craig’s List – Syracuse OCC Online Job Board Syracuse.com Syracuse Help Wanted http://americasjobexchange.com/ny http://www.careeronestop.org http://www.cnycareerfinder.com http://www.cnylink.com/eg http://www.cnyworks.com http://syracuse.craigslist.org http://students.occ.edu (Click Support Services, Click Job Postings) http://www.syracuse.com/jobs http://www.syracusehelpwanted.com Internships Goliath Jobs Project Ion http://goliathjobs.com http://www.project-ion.com Career-Job Information Career Builder NY State Dept. of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook O*NET Online http://www.careerbuilder.com http://labor.state.ny.us/careerservices/careerservicesindex.shtm http://www.bls.gov/oco http://online.onetcenter.org Civil Service Opportunities Onondaga County Civil Service NY State Dept. of Civil Service http://www.ongov.net/Employment/jobs/ http://www.cs.state.ny.us/jobseeker Career & Applied Learning Center Disclaimer The CAL Center in its provision of services to students, alumni and employers, makes no representations or guarantees regarding the opportunities listed on its website, bulletin boards, print materials and other resources, and is not responsible for the wages, safety, working conditions, or other aspects of off-campus employment. It is the responsibility of the students and alumni to take the necessary precautions when interviewing for and accepting part-time/full-time employment, and internships. In addition, the CAL Center has provided links to Internet websites that are maintained by third parties, over which the CAL Center has no control. The CAL Center is not responsible or liable for the content, products, services, or other materials on or made available through the web links to other websites. The opinions and views associated with the web sites are not necessarily those of the OCC CAL Center. The CAL Center shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any direct or indirect damage or loss caused by or in connection with use of or reliance on any such content, products, or services available on or through such sites.