If you would like personalized assistance, please contact the CDC for an individual appointment, or stop by during drop-in hours Monday through Friday between 2 P.M. and 4 P.M.

Job Search Skills: Job Hunting How To

Facts

There is no magic way to find a position. Simply put, job hunting is a full-time job, and it is hard work. At times it will be boring and frustrating. It is a task that will require all of your skills in planning and follow-through, but when done correctly, it will also pay the ultimate reward - the right job for you.

A normal part of job hunting is receiving rejections, so do not be discouraged by them. Save your rejection letters for your next job hunt. You will have the names and addresses of prospective employers and will be one step ahead in the game.

Be aggressive. You must take and maintain the initiative during each step of the job hunting process. Don't sit back and wait for someone else to make the contacts. Those lucky folks who just fall into a job have probably been very busy keeping in touch with employers and network contacts.

Be prepared to send out 50-100 resumes. Your job hunt hasn't really started until you have sent out 30 resumes. Set a goal to send out a specific number of resumes each week (whatever is comfortable and manageable for you).

Allow yourself four to six months to find your first entry-level professional position. The level of sophistication in the hiring process is quite a dramatic change from part-time and summer positions. Organizations will conduct a more thorough search and take more time in selecting candidates.

Be clear with yourself and the employer about the type of work you are looking for. Being "open to anything" communicates to the employer that you lack focus. See a career counselor if you are having difficulty at this stage.

Evaluate your progress as you continue your job search. Three things to watch out for include:

• Not enough contacts being made
• Your resume is not getting you interviews
• Interviews are not resulting in job offers

Any variety of factors may be affecting these critical stages of your job search. Again, see a career counselor to assess your difficulties and develop new approaches.

Resources

Although for many people it seems finding a job is a matter of being in the right place at the right time, the most effective method of job searching incorporates a variety of strategies. Obviously, posted jobs and newspaper classified ads are accessible to anyone; beyond these, the real work begin. Identifying job openings in the hidden market is your challenge, especially since some of the best jobs are never advertised.

• Alumni
• Networking
• Placement Organizations: Another strategy to obtain employment is the use of placement organizations. Although people in these organizations may have an "inside track" on some jobs, it is important to weight the cost of these services in your search efforts. Most private placement agencies will not appropriately identify the skills and abilities of a liberally-educated individual and may have difficulty in supplying appropriate referrals, or will refer you to jobs for which you are over-qualified. If you choose to use an employment agency, be sure it is "employer fee paid" so you are not paying to find your job. Also, read any contracts carefullly or you could find yourself owing them money even if you find a job on your own.

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