Job Searching 101Job Searching 101

By:By:

Career ServicesCareer Services

How do you Job HuntHow do you Job Hunt

• What is your background?What is your background?

• What is your educational What is your educational background?background?

• What type of job are you looking for?What type of job are you looking for?

The Discouraging ApproachThe Discouraging Approach

• Don’t wait until after you graduate to Don’t wait until after you graduate to start searching for a job.start searching for a job.

• Start early.Start early.

A Better WayA Better Way

• RESEARCHRESEARCH

• Research yourself and prospective Research yourself and prospective employees.employees.

• Approach it like if you were doing a Approach it like if you were doing a research paper.research paper.

Researching YouResearching You

• What are your values?What are your values?

• What are your skills?What are your skills?

• What can you do right now, and what What can you do right now, and what would you like to learn.would you like to learn.

• What kinds of people do you want to work What kinds of people do you want to work with?with?

• Do you want to work alone or with people?Do you want to work alone or with people?

• What are your personal goals?What are your personal goals?

Researching the EmployerResearching the Employer

• What does the company do?What does the company do?• What are the company’s goals?What are the company’s goals?• What are the employers like?What are the employers like?• What is the “personality” or “culture” What is the “personality” or “culture”

of the company?of the company?• What is the reputation of the What is the reputation of the

organization?organization?• Ask current employers.Ask current employers.

It’s not what you knowIt’s not what you know

• Tell everyone you know what kind of Tell everyone you know what kind of work you are looking for.work you are looking for.

• Join professional organizations in Join professional organizations in school or in the community. This will school or in the community. This will help in getting information about help in getting information about internships and full time jobs.internships and full time jobs.

NoteNote

• Research shows that job-hunting Research shows that job-hunting success increases by using all these success increases by using all these methods.methods.

• Remember, less than 20% of jobs are Remember, less than 20% of jobs are advertised, 80% are in the hidden advertised, 80% are in the hidden market!market!

Where to lookWhere to look

• I-linkI-link• Caller.comCaller.com• Cold contacting companies!Cold contacting companies!• Workintexas.comWorkintexas.com• Texas Workforce CommissionTexas Workforce Commission• Links on the Career Services websiteLinks on the Career Services website• Association/ or organizations for your Association/ or organizations for your

professional field. professional field. • Career FairsCareer Fairs

Job Search Action PlanJob Search Action Plan

• Develop a calendar to track progress.Develop a calendar to track progress.

• Prepare a resume and cover letter.Prepare a resume and cover letter.

• Start networking.Start networking.

• Mock Interviews.Mock Interviews.

• Talk with a Career CounselorTalk with a Career Counselor

Take it EasyTake it Easy

• Looking for work can be stressful.Looking for work can be stressful.

• Allow time to relax: running, biking, Allow time to relax: running, biking, walking etc….walking etc….

• Realize that finding a good job takes Realize that finding a good job takes time and patience.time and patience.

• Set goals that are measurable and Set goals that are measurable and achievable. achievable.