Planning Your Job Search The Office: Strategies to get you there…

Presented ByReema Pervez

“Being able to do the job well will not necessarily get you hired;

The person who gets hired is often the one who knows the most about how to get hired.”

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Workshop Goals

To understand the benefits of conducting a Targeted Job Search

To review the most commonly used job search strategies

To understand the reasons, goals & process involved in Networking

To review the purpose & process involved in Informational Interviewing

To discuss habits to avoid & helpful resources

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Job Search Campaigns

Three Phases Preparation Interviewing Follow-Up

Planning Your Strategy: A Targeted Approach

Self-Assessment Defining your skills Putting your skills to work

Your advertisement What you have to sell

“YOU” Goal Setting/Strategizing

Must have a goal and strategy to be effective

Treat your job search like a 9 unit course

Get a notebook, stay organized, give yourself homework assignments

Research Job Leads and Employers

Start early Have your Career

Consultant review your resume

Start checking TartanTRAK now

Must have EXCELLENT interviewing skills

Networking Persistence  

During Your Search Remember…

No specific job strategy will work for every applicant!

Be flexible. Be persistent. Allow extra time to conduct your job search. 3 key steps - Assessment, Research and

Implementation.

Self-Assessment: Take Inventory

• Skills• Experience• Personality• Likes and dislikes• Working conditions• Salary requirements• Geographic preferences• Interest in advancement

Important Questions

What Type of Job are you seeking? Values: what’s important to you in a job? Have you researched your target employers? Do you know what skills this company is looking for? Does your resume and portfolio reflect the companies and opportunities you are targeting? Are you able to give examples of how you exhibited those skills? Are you prepared to talk about your abilities? (2 min me) Are you ready to negotiate your salary?

Your advertisement: Two-Minute Me

Backbone of Your Search Sales Pitch consists of: Who You Are, Educational Bckgrd,

Professional Bckgrd & Job Objective. Plus, any Relevant accomplishments.

Used in: cover letters, info mtgs, networking, interviews. Keep in mind: Your Audience, What they are interested in,

Who your likely competitors are, what you offer that competition does not.

Pointers to Keep in Mind be relevant & @ proper level, be able to tailor it to fit

situation, keep it conversational, not laundry list. PRACTICE & SHOW ENTHUSIASM!! (Practice

again & again & again…)

Your advertisement: Resume/Portfolio

Resume Cover Letter (customized) Portfolio – (my3D) Teasers or Post Cards Your Web Site – (my3D) Plain Text Copy Resume for Emailing

Facts and Trends

Job Search can take between 6-12 months, Longer in tenuous economic times.

Only 2% of mass resume/cover letter mailings get responses 85% of job seekers find jobs through networking with friends,

acquaintances, relatives or direct contact with employer. 15 % of job seekers find jobs through advertised positions Small Organizations will be the first to hire after an economic

downturn. Small organizations, of 100 or less employees hire 55% of the

workforce Employers post an est. 36,000 new job listings online each week

What is the Current Job Market?

Less companies are recruiting on-campus

Economy is still slow Layoffs are still occurring Companies are being conservative

with their money BE PROACTIVE! DON’T DEPEND ONLY ON

TARTANTRAK

Hidden Job Market

There are two ways to find a job:1. The employer looks for you

(classifieds, websites, TartanTRAK, etc.)2. You look for the employer

the hidden job market

** 80% of all positions are filled without employer advertising.

STRATEGIES

Passive Submit your resume on

TartanTRAK and wait Attend job fairs Use classified ads Submit your resume on

employer websites

Active Be creative Research companies Network A LOT Very assertive Find the hidden job

market 75% active strategies 25% passive strategies

Why Research Employers

Employers expect it

Displays your seriousness, thoroughness and attention to detail

Helps to personalize cover letters and resumes, and answer questions appropriately

Helps determine your “fit” with the organization

What to Learn About a Company

Description of job responsibilities Know conditions of employment such as salary, hours, and

working environment Personnel information (NAME, policies,

relevant information of executives) Organizational culture, goals, and strategies. Size, age, location, history, ownership Products or services, major competitors,

recent development, expected growth

The “Hidden” Job Market

Approximately 80% of available positions are never advertised – they rely on personal contacts

Most employers prefer informal and personal methods of identifying employees, and believe personal contacts result in more in-depth, accurate information.

Make contact before an employer knows they need you Gather Your People Network -- THE most powerful

job search strategy Networking does not eliminate the need to use other job-

search methods, but it will produce helpful referrals.

Why is Networking Important?

75-95 % of jobs are never advertised US Dept. of Labor:

24% Direct Contact with Employers (Cold-Calling) 23 % Career Placement Offices 5% Classified Advertising 48% Referrals from Friends and Relatives

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Reasons to Network

Myth: The purpose of networking is to get a good job offer.

Reality: purpose of networking is: Job Search Make Contacts Explore Another Career Path Obtain Information Relate with Peers Keep Current in your Profession An Advanced Marketing Tool

Let’s talk about time…

The average person should spend 30-35 hours per week in job hunting activities

Full time employees or students should expect to spend about 15 hours per week

It takes the average person 6 months to find a job

Goal Setting/Strategizing: Effort/ Implementing and Managing Your Search

Organize yourself with a system Schedule your job search as you would schedule classes or

activities (e.g. a total of a few hours over a number of days each week, rather than blocking off an entire day)

Set reasonable daily/weekly goals for your career search Keep track of what you’re doing (i.e. notes after interviews) Keep records of initial contacts and follow-ups Update/review resume with your Career Consultant It’s usually better to explore several possibilities at once, rather

than pursue one job at the exclusion of all others. Continue to assess process

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Habits to Avoid - Common Networking Mistakes

Selecting 1-2 targets too quickly Not being specific in selecting target - Lacking a target list of good

companies Not doing accurate research/ranking targets Relying on only 1 technique for getting interviews Contacting the wrong people Weak resume/cover letters/2 Min. Me Not spending enough time (8-15 hrs/week) Not having 6-10 things going at all times Talking to people at wrong level Trying to bypass system Inflating time you’ve actually spent working Not staying in contact with your network!!

Habits to Avoid - Common Job Search Mistakes

Relying on one strategy Selecting 1-2 targets too quickly Not being specific in selecting target Not doing accurate research/ranking targets Contacting the wrong people Lacking a target list of good companies Weak resume/cover letters/2 Min. Me

Habits to Avoid - Common Job Search Mistakes

Lack of focus/career objective Failure to identify and use network Targeting only large employers Failure to follow–up Unprofessional materials/appearance Impersonal approach Underestimate time needed to search

Evaluating an Unsuccessful Job Search

If you’ve searched for 6 months, you may need to redirect your search or gain experience Take a temporary position or internship Volunteer work

Keep It In Perspective

Don’t take rejection personally… Maintain a balance between job search and

everyday routine Remind yourself of your skills and

accomplishments Use your resources Be persistent - you will find employment

Redirect Your Search

Clarify goals and redefine options – broaden or narrow them

Have your resume reviewed by a Career Advisor or other professional

Geographic restrictions Do your skills match with the needs of the

company?

Job Search Checklist

Create your promotion materials (Resume, Cover Letter, Portfolio) Practice interviewing-schedule mock interview Meet with your Career Consultant Visit the Career Center Library Develop a list of potential employers Organize all contact names, companies, phone numbers & your

favorite URL’s Figure out the best way to send your resume to employers

(networking, U.S. mail, email, hand deliver, job fairs, TartanTRAK…) Follow-up two weeks later with each employer Start a notebook and stay organized Schedule times for your job search

Job Search Checklist -Continued

Research Company Websites and relevant job banks. Review Industry Journals for companies Study Job descriptions Gather information about Trends and Companies Look at Opportunities on TartanTrak Conduct Informational Interviews Attend Portfolio Reviews Participate in Internships Freelance/Contract Work Attend Job Fairs/Workshops Join Associations Volunteer Work BE PERSISTENT! and START NOW!

Job Search Ethics for Interviewing, Site Visits and Job Offers

You are expected to -- Attend all scheduled campus interviews Be on-time for campus interviews and site visits Present your qualifications in a truthful manner Honor all agreements made with recruiters. This is

especially true with site visits. Honor all agreements made with recruiters. This is

especially true of accepting a job offer Cease interviewing upon your acceptance of a job offer

Conclusion

An effective strategy will help you use printed resources, web-based resources, and networking contacts to help you identify and consider a variety of jobs until you secure the opportunity you want. Your employment future is your responsibility. Savvy job seekers will make full us of the wide

array of resources provided to them.