The Job Search
In today's competitive job market, finding a job requires a great deal of time, energy, and commitment. On average, you can expect a job search to take anywhere from six to nine months. While this may sound overwhelming, there are some things you can do before actually beginning your job search to make the time and energy you expend more productive:
- Be Attentive: Identify appropriate contacts and resources which can be of assistance to your particular job goal.
- Clarify your career goals: Develop a very clear job goal. Know what types of positions you are looking for.
- Know yourself: Be prepared to discuss your skills, abilities, interests, values, education, experience, and goals articulately and persuasively.
- Know the job market: What type of employer do you want to work for? In what geographic area?
- Be Prepared: Have your resume updated and ready to be sent out.
JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES
There is no one right way to find a job. Successful job seekers use a variety of resources and techniques in their job search. Some of the more successful strategies include:
- Networking: Person-to-Person - This refers to contacting people you know or with whom you have something in common and letting them know you are looking for a job. This is the most effective way of finding a job. Networks can provide information, uncover job leads, and facilitate interviews.
- Networking: On-line - Many job seekers today use the Internet and World Wide Web as methods to find out about position openings, research employers, and even apply for jobs. Employers are using this method more and more to find good applicants because it is a fast and inexpensive method of recruiting candidates. Our Alumni Affairs office maintains a Career Networking site for your use.
- Help Wanted Ads - Only about fifteen percent of all jobs are advertised in the newspapers. Although this percentage is small, it is possible to get a job this way, especially if you have some related experience and a strong resume. Don't limit yourself to this approach. Use other techniques to uncover the hidden job market.
- Professional Associations - Most have publications which list position openings for the particular field. In addition, many provide placement assistance and sponsor annual conventions which provide an opportunity to make valuable contacts.
- Unsolicited Resume Campaign - You can expect to generate an average of between 3 to 5 interviews for every 100 resumes mailed out. This is not a very good return rate for the effort. To increase this method's effectiveness, make sure you send your resume to a particular person in the department you want to work for and follow up on all letters sent out.
- Employment Agencies - Agencies are most helpful to individuals with related experience and a strong work history.
- Directories - List employers by career fields and are available by local area (i.e., The New York Job Bank) or for the entire country (i.e., The National Job Bank). Directories are useful for providing names, addresses, and phone numbers of potential employers.
- Job Fairs - Many organizations sponsor job fairs to facilitate contact between employers and job seekers. Some involve only one company while others may involve numerous organizations.
HOW CAREER DEVELOPMENT CAN HELP
There are a variety of programs to assist students with their job search. However, it is equally important to conduct your own job search and not limit yourself to our resources.
Résumé and Cover Letter Critique - The Director will critique your résumé as well as your cover letter.
Job Listings - Jobs are listed on the Career Development website as well as filed in binders in the Career Center.
Job Fair - Once a year Career Development sponsors a Career and Graduate School Fair which brings approximately 40 companies/graduate programs on campus to discuss their hiring needs and opportunities with Doane College students.
Nebraska Interview Consortium - This Consortium consists of 11 private and small state colleges in Nebraska. Through this consortium juniors can search for internships and seniors can search for employment. A registration packet can be picked up in the Career Center. Employers are in Nebraska as well as nationwide.
Helpful Hints
- Whenever possible, deal directly with the person who has the ability to hire. This usually refers to managers of departments; not to Personnel.
- Be persistent. Looking for a job is a job in and of itself.
- Follow up. Don't just sit at home waiting for the phone to ring. Show your interest and initiative by periodically making contact.
- Use more than one strategy for conducting your job hunt.
- Be prepared for rejection. Don't take rejection personally.
Don't wait until the last minute. Take advantage of the services available to assist you with your job search plans today in Career Development - located in the lower level of Perry Campus Center.