The Job Discovery

Turn that degree into “de-green”

Larry Burns

Where are the jobs?

• Networkingo Professional organizations, friends and family,

volunteer organizations, social networking sites• Print Media

o Don’t just read want ads, read the articles to see who is growing, what are they looking for?

o Then….call them!• Internet

o Traditional sites: Monster.com, jobing.como Employer web site: If you want to work for the

County of Riverside, go directly to their siteo Industry specific sites: Nearly every industry

and job sub-group has their own dedicated website.

Networking

• It is estimated that up to 60% of job openings are never advertised. They don’t need to be; they are filled by word of mouth.

• How will your family and friends know you are looking if you do not tell them? Tell 9 people you are looking for a job; you have just increased your job access ten-fold.

• Bold Idea #1 – Call a list of potential employers. Say something like, “Hello, I am a student interested in your industry. Would it be possible to meet you so I can see if [career goal here] is right for me?”

Print Media

• Newspapers and magazines are not dead, so don’t write them off…yet.

• Not a daily reader? Sunday’s newspaper has the most articles and new job openings.

• Want ads – still valuable, look for companies hiring for multiple positions at once. Fast growing companies are more likely to take on a recent college graduate.

• Stay focused – Skip sports, read the business section first. Who is planning an expansion? Who is new? Write down names/job titles.

• Bold Idea #2 – Read an article you liked? Contact the columnist and tell them so…then ask some job relevant follow up questions.

Internet Job SearchDon’t let this tool use you

• Rule #1 – Organize your online searcho Add key employer sites and job boards to your

favorites file.o Limit yourself to two major job boards such as

monster.com and jobing.com. There are exceptions, but many carry the same job openings.

• Set limitso You can spend hours following links and

distractions. Set a time limit to complete a few tasks, then move on to other parts of the search

Internet continued

• It’s more than posting a resumeo Some employers have their entire pre-screening

process on line Skills assessment testing – study before your final

exam! Application – have all your information on hand to fill

out completely. Upload projects – if you have relevant original

research or project, look for tools to upload this information into your profile

• But it does start with the resumeo Make sure key words and skills noted in job

description show up in your resume.o Put your best foot forward. Most important

information (related to your qualifications) must appear first.

o Now spelling errors. Do you cee what I meen?

Action Plan

• Every successful outcome starts life as a plan.

• Document – If you do the job search correctly, you will not be able to keep all the details in your head. Write it down. Then read it. Often.

• Research – Learn about the job market you wish to enter.

Action, Part II

• Bold Idea #3 – Treat your Job Search like A Real Job. Show up on time, come prepared, and put in a full day’s work.

• Time & Space Management – If you cannot manage yourself, why would someone want you as an employee?

Document, Document, Document

• Invest $10 in a flash driveo You must tailor resumes, cover letters

and references to meet particulars of the job you want, not just the one you have.

o Blasting the same resume to 100 employers is a waste of your time and theirs.

• Organize your email system to keep track of contact information and activity by company.

And Document Some More

• Invest another $10 in a portfolioo Keep hard copies of your documents with you

AT ALL TIMES. You never know when/where you will meet your next boss. Preparation precedes all “lucky breaks”.

o Here is where you also keep notes on employers regarding their place in the industry and your place in their hiring process.

o Be specific with your documentation. Ask yourself two questions when reviewing every employer Who do I know here? Who else do I need to know here?

Employer & Industry Research

• They will not be impressed just because you saw their website.o Start there, but look at competitors, industry feeds

and articles about them on other sites. Does a recent piece of legislation affect them? How?

• Identify, then join, social networking sites appropriate to your field of interest. A simple search will tell you where to start.

• In addition to a degree, what else is highly desired in your field? Every industry has a variety of certificates and specialized training above and beyond the four year degree. What are they?

Employee, Manage Thyself!

• Time Management – 3 hours per dayo Too much of anything is bad. So schedule an

hour of online job searching, 30 minutes of resume review, 30 minutes of industry research, and one hour walking door to door with your resume.

o Plan long term. Successful job discovery will take several months. Break up your routine, reach out to supportive friends, take time for yourself, do different things to keep your spirits and activity UP.

Forget myspace, get your space

• Space Management, you workspace is your gardeno Create a job search area. Keep master

copies of your documents here and keep it clean and organized.

o When an employers calls you, make sure your information is in front of you.

But I don’t have any work experience!

• Volunteer• Internships• Education – some employers will

substitute years of education or degree completion for years of work experience. Don’t be afraid to ask.

Volunteer

• Don’t think of it as working for freeo Volunteers supply needed services to the

communityo Many volunteers also work, these people can

make excellent networking contacts. o Volunteering builds your resume. Anything that

makes you a well-rounded person makes you a better employee.

o Volunteers are REAL people. If you donate your time to a cause that the hiring manager also supports, you’ve just made a connection that goes beyond the words on your resume. You have become real to them.

Not a job, an adventure

• Where do I go to volunteero First, pick an organization or cause that you

genuinely believe in. If not, you will not stay with it long term. And long term counts.

o Most large cities have contacts in city government or online that can get you started.

o Ideally, find a volunteer opportunity that allows you to showcase your talents to prospective employers.

o Once you start volunteering, don’t shy away from the tougher assignments. Charities always need two things: Money and Labor. As students, you probably have little of the former but plenty of the latter!

Internships

• Unpaid Internshipso As you may have guessed, some internships

provide experience only…..to start.o Make sure if you are not being paid, you do get

related work experience. Unless you are studying to be a barista, don’t settle for making coffee and copies all day.

o These can lead to paying jobs. Once you have made yourself indispensable, it is possible that you will be selected to fill a job opening. They may even create a position just to keep you on the team.

Internships II

• Paid internshipso Designed to augment education,

sometimes qualify for college credit.o Designed as on the job training while

attending college. Employers use them to train future employees for post graduation employment.

Where to Find Internships

1.Call employer to see if they have a program

2.Contact government agencies (city, county, EDA) for compatible programs

3.Ask college administrators or faculty

Warning – Traffic flows in both directions

• Networking contacts – They can spread good news AND bad news about you. Manage them accordingly.

• Employers research you too – make sure your email address, voicemail and social network pages are professional. When in doubt, take it out.