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THE Job SEArCH
THE Job SEArCH
Job SEArCH STrATEGiES STEP 3. CONTACT THOSE INVOLVED WITH THE HIRING
Networking PROCESS:
Description: Networking means connecting with people in a field Your primary goal is to establish contact with a hiring manager or
or organization in which you wish to work, to ask for information, not a human resources representative to introduce yourself and get a
job. Networking, including informational interviewing, is the job seeker’s sense of any possible opportunities. You can either send an email
equivalent of market research. A key strategy to networking is asking or make a telephone call. One strategy is to send an email to the
every contact for more contacts. contact person, then call about a week later to follow up. It’s a good
Advantages: Effective way to access those jobs that are never idea to develop an introductory script before calling:
advertised through want ads or websites. It’s an opportunity to gather
important information on the hiring process, the work style/culture, and Ms. Walker, my name is Morris Jackson from Stanford University.
“
corporate values. Many jobs are filled by an employee referral, and I sent you an email recently, and I am calling to make sure you
sometimes jobs are created to take advantage of your skills and have received it. Do you have a few moments to speak with me? I
experiences. Networking is one of the most effective ways to find will graduate from Stanford in June with a degree in International
employment. Relations and have experience interning in the marketing department
Disadvantages: Networking is time consuming and requires a of a growing international company moving into the Latin American
certain amount of comfort to contact individuals and set up the market. I am fluent in Spanish and very interested in Global
informational interviews. Enterprises. I am hoping that you can help me learn more about
possible job opportunities with your organization.”
Contacting Employers Directly
Cardinal Recruiting (CDC’s On-Campus Recruiting Program)
Description: Connect with employers via telephone or email to
Description: Students schedule interviews on-campus.
inquire about job opportunities. Tactful persistence may help you
Approximately 250 employers participate each year.
get noticed by a busy manager or Human Resources Department.
Advantages: Convenient way to interview with employers.
Tactful persistence also lets the employer know that you are very
Disadvantages: Narrow selection of companies and opportunities.
interested in the job/company and may distinguish you from other
candidates.
Job Postings in the Want Ads and on the Internet
Advantages: A great way to target specific employers that interest
Description: Employers will post jobs in newspapers, on their
you and may not post their jobs.
website, and on Internet job boards. You read about the jobs and
Disadvantages: Since you will be contacting employers who do
apply.
not know you, it’s likely that your response rate will be very low.
Advantages: Easy to find and apply to jobs.
Employers tend to prefer employee referral candidates rather than Disadvantages: Many employers do not post their jobs in the
“unknown” candidates. There’s also a great likelihood that no newspaper or on job boards. Also, the typical job posting receives a
position will be available. great deal of attention and publicity. Candidates often compete with
hundreds of other applicants and may have difficulty distinguishing
After identifying fields and job functions that interest you, the themselves.
suggestions below will help you contact employers with more ease:
Employment Agencies
STEP 1. TARGET 5 TO 10 ORGANIzATIONS: Description: These companies will refer you to job openings and will
Develop a list of organizations that may be a fit for you. Directories typically be compensated by the employer.
such as Wetfeet and Vault guides, and the Stanford Employer Advantages: Requires little work on your part and allows you
Database, all of which are on the CDC’s website, can help you access to opportunities you might not have found on your own.
identify organizations in your field of interest. Disadvantages: An employment agency makes money when they
place you into a job. Often your personal interests are not their top
STEP 2. LOCATE CONTACTS WITHIN AN ORGANIzATION: priority. If you have good qualifications, and you have an interest
Identify specific individuals within an organization that can connect that corresponds with their opportunities, you might find these
you to hiring managers or the appropriate contacts. The tips below agencies helpful. If not, then don’t expect much assistance from
may help you identify contacts: these organizations. Tip: Avoid agencies that require you to pay a
fee for them to place you.
a
) Use the CDC’s Stanford Employer Database. A majority of the
employers that recruit at Stanford will have their contact information Career Fairs
in our database. Typically those listed in the database are human Description: Students have the opportunity to meet with
resource professionals, who can route candidates to the appropriate representatives from different organizations. Employers will have
hiring managers. For public sector employer information use the different agendas. Some want to collect resumes to screen through
CDC’s On-line Public Service Employer Database. later. Others will use career fairs to publicize their upcoming recruiting
events and promote their organization.
) Try calling the company headquarters or office of the Vice
b Advantages: A great way to gather information about companies,
President of the division in which you are seeking a position. Ask learn about job opportunities, and make contacts.
for an annual report and the name and title of the head of a specific Disadvantages: A small variety of companies participate in career
department in which you’d like to work. fairs. There is limited time to talk to each employer.
1 6 Stanford Career Development Center
PrEPArinG for A CArEEr fAir I
• s there a published list available ahead of time or on the day of
What is a career fair? the event?
Career fairs, also referred to as job fairs, are usually one day events H
• ow will the employers be organized? Alphabetical order, by
set up to connect large numbers of employers with job fair participants. industry, etc.?
THE Job SEArCH
Employers are there to recruit employees, so if you are interested in W
• hat is the starting and ending time of the event?
looking for a job or finding out more about a potential career, don’t miss W
• hat is the appropriate dress?
out. Career fairs are typically sponsored by universities, professional A
• re there any special procedures to follow to participate? (i.e.,
associations, local employment agencies, or by a job fair promoter. submit resume ahead of time)
Career fairs are usually free to those seeking employment. These Put together your resume. You may have a dichotomy of interests
fairs are held at local universities, hotels, and conference centers. To and in that case it may be ideal to have different versions of your resume.
find out about upcoming events check your campus career center, the Be realistic in your preparation time and remember that it is most important
radio stations, and newspapers. The National Business Employment to have a well-polished resume that shows off your education, skills, and
Weekly’s event calendar lists many such events. Some fairs are targeted experiences. Be sure to have your resume critiqued by at least three
for entry-level, technical, education, or other specified groups and may people. It is better to attend without a resume than to NOT attend the
be advertised through your campus clubs and organizations. career fair at all. You can always pick up pertinent information about an
organization to use in a follow up letter of inquiry or application.
What can I expect?
You can expect anywhere from 10 to 350 employers represented at Have a plan. It is very easy to feel intimidated at such an event.
different booths or tables. Employer representatives are anxious to give Wandering around aimlessly will only enhance this feeling. Have a
away their organization brochures and other promotional materials (key plan—even if your only plan is to explore. This will help you to have
chains, pens, notepads, etc.) they have brought with them. Their job is some idea as to which organizations you want to approach. An
to meet as many attendees as possible and promote their organizations example of a plan may be geographic, industry based, or by the
to YOU. It is likely that the table you want to approach will be crowded— majors requested. Many organizations will publicize the types of majors
be patient and observe. You can also expect a carnival type atmosphere or job titles they are seeking. Be open-minded and flexible; you might
with lots of background noise with which you will have to compete. be surprised at what you find.
B
• ring a pen, folder, note pad and/or some sort of log sheet to
Sometimes fair organizers will offer formal group presentations keep you organized.
simultaneous to the career fair. This is a great way to learn more about A
• highlighter can be useful to help indicate which organizations
a specific topic and also have a chance to introduce yourself to an you want to target on your employer list. (If you forgot yours, don’t
employer/presenter and get some individual attention. worry, you can always find an employer giving one away)
Benefits of a career fair Bring your pertinent questions. Your questions will depend on your
Consider a career fair to be one-stop shopping. What a luxury to goals (career exploration vs. job search). Sample questions may include:
have the opportunity to talk to numerous employers at one time and W
• hat qualities and background are you looking for in employees?
place. Some direct benefits of attending a career fair include: I
• am currently a freshman so I have I some time to plan ahead,
A
• n efficient and economical way to make contacts what courses would you recommend someone take before being
L
• earning more about specific industries, careers, and organizations hired as a __________?
A
• ctually talking to a company representative instead of just W
• hat is the application process for your organization?
mailing in or submitting an on-line resume D
• o you have a business card I can have for future reference and
A
• sking someone in the field for feedback about your resume, contact?
education, or experiences
• aking a contact within the organization
M Dress appropriately! Professional is best unless it’s a more
casual event.
Of course, if a career fair is such a good deal then there may be
hundreds to thousands of other people just like you trying to talk to 2) DURING: the actual event
employers. This is why it is so important to BE PREPARED to get the Hand out your resume. Have plenty of copies of your polished
most out of attending a career fair. resume easily accessible (if you choose to distribute your resume). You
don’t want to have to put down all the “freebies” you collected to hand
Some fairs allow time for employers to schedule interviews on-site, but someone your resume. If you have two versions of your resumes,
many use the time to screen applicants or collect resumes to bring back color-coding them can be very helpful. Gray, white and off-white are all
to their organization. It is ideal to be able to engage the recruiter in a good choices. A new trend is for employers not to collect resumes on
conversation so that they will remember you and your skills. Do not be site but to just refer you back to their web-site for on-line resume
discouraged if this does not happen; there can be numerous people to submission. Try and use the face time at the fair to gather pertinent
compete with in this setting. Use your time to collect valuable company information to enhance your application.
information via conversation and distributed materials so that you can
write an incredibly well informed cover letter stating your interest in an Thank employers for any brochures or promotional materials you are
organization. given. This is not a time to pick up stocking stuffers or birthday gifts for
your family. Be reasonable with your consumption of recruiter giveaways.
The career fair can be separated into three stages:
1) BEFORE: the preparation stage Collect business cards and jot down a fact on the back to jog your
Do your homework. Contact the organization sponsoring the fair memory when you write a follow-up letter.
to find out some of the following details.
I
• s there an admission fee?
H
• ow many organizations will be represented?
cardinalcareers.stanford.edu 1 7
Approach an employer representative and introduce yourself. Send a thank-you letter to those representatives you wish to
Don’t sit back and wait to be approached. Shake hands, make good pursue. This will set the stage for future correspondence.
eye contact, and tell the employer your name, major, and interests.
The more focused you are the better. If you are unsure how you would CArEEr fAirS SPonSorED bY
fit into the organization, ask the employer open-ended yet specific STAnforD’S CArEEr DEVELoPmEnT
THE Job SEArCH
questions. What qualities do you look for in employees? What kind of CEnTEr
summer internships are available? Unlike most career fairs, Stanford’s Career Fairs are usually casual.
Even employers tend to dress down. Although informal, do remember
Create a one-minute commercial as a way to sell yourself to an that these are potential employers and distasteful dress and decorum
employer. This is a great way to introduce yourself. The goal is to
is not appropriate. When getting dressed for the event, keep in mind
connect your background to the organization’s need. In one minute
the industry and type of position you desire.
or less you need to introduce yourself, demonstrate your knowledge
of the company, express enthusiasm and interest, and relate your
Stanford’s Career Development Center sponsored career fairs are
background to the organization’s need, and end with a question. This is
free to job seekers. Participating employers are made available prior to
meant to be a dialogue NOT a monologue.
the event on the CDC Web page. The employer information includes
Other dos and don’ts: the type of position being sought: technical vs. non-technical, full-time,
• e assertive without being rude
B part-time, or internships, and Visa status.
B
• e sensitive to others waiting behind you
• ealize that recruiters like to talk to groups
R F
• all Quarter—The Fall Career Fair and Energy/Environmental
• aximize your time at the career fair
M Career Fair both held in October. The International Career Fair
• bserve other students/employers for clues
O and MedTech Career Fair held in November.
D
• on’t ask about salary and benefits
• on’t monopolize someone’s time
D W
• inter Quarter—The ME Design Career Fair, Construction
• on’t ask, “What do you have for my major?”
D Management/Structural Engineering Career Fair, and Liberal Arts
• on’t exhibit a lack of direction and focus
D Career Fair all held in January. The Winter MedTech Career Fair
3) AFTER: the follow-up and Entrepreneur Career Expo held in February and the Silicon
You are only as good as your follow-up! Valley Nonprofit Career Fair held in March.
Keep track of those organizations and representatives with whom
you spoke. S
• pring Quarter—Spring Career Fair held in April.
inTErnSHiPS/SUmmEr Job SEArCH STrATEGiES
CDC rESoUrCES • Internships-USA Online, internships-usa.com
CDC Job and Internship Database For more information on library resources visit: cardinalcareers.
Log in to Cardinal Careers to access internship listings and to stanford.edu/research/crc.htm
participate in Cardinal Recruiting (on-campus interviewing).
cardinalcareers.stanford.edu/login International Internships
If you are interested in an international internship, check out the
iNET Internship Network International Careers webpage and read the section on Short-Term
Stanford has joined with seven leading universities to form the Internship Work Abroad Programs. Also check out the programs and resources
Network (iNet) Consortium, leveraging our combined connections to offer offered by the Bing Overseas Study Program and the Overseas
you access to a wider range of internship opportunities. Resource Center. cardinalcareers.stanford.edu/icareers
cardinalcareers.stanford.edu/login
Reciprocal Career Services
Career Fairs Reciprocal Career Services enables you to use career centers of
A variety of career fairs sponsored by the CDC, are held throughout private universities in or near the cities in which you’d like to work.
the academic year. These fairs can provide you with general career Contact the university career center you’d like to use and ask them if
information, help you develop contacts and find an internship, summer they offer reciprocal services for Stanford students. If you are eligible,
or full-time job. cardinalcareers.stanford.edu/recruiting/job_fairs.html call the CDC Front Desk, (650) 725-1789 to start the process.
CDC Resource Library ConTACTinG EmPLoYErS DirECTLY
The CDC Resource Library has a variety of books, online There are many employers that are have internships, but do not
directories, periodicals, career guides, and media materials to help advertise or list their positions through the CDC. In this case, identify a
with your internship search. list of employers you’d like to work for and contact them directly (either
Internship Resources in the library include: via email and/or phone). The following resources can help you identify
V
• ault Top Internships organizations:
F
• erguson’s Career Resource Guide to Internships and Summer
• Cardinal Careers (Search by “Employers”)
Jobs - Vols. 1 and 2
• CDC Public Service Database
• ational Internships Guide, internships.com
N
• CDC International Careers Web Page
1 8 Stanford Career Development Center
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