Now that you are ready to start searching, you need to find companies that are hiring. Strategies for finding these companies include: Network Contact people you know to make them aware that you are looking for a job in a particular field. They can be a good source of leads to contacts or potential jobs. Always be ready to give a short pitch about yourself and your goals. Research prospective employers The classified ads can help you locate companies that are hiring, though they generally don’t list entry level positions. As you identify such companies, gather information about them. Collect detailed information about those you consider prospective employers. The most accessible source is the Internet, followed by your career center, campus and public library, and the target company itself. Look at the company’s annual report to be prepared to give a good job interview. Using the Internet To cut through the vastness of the Internet, focus on using the most productive sites for entry level jobs. Those sites include (CollegeGrad, Monster, HotJobs and Careerbuilder).
Avoid using your college e-mail, since an .edu extension usually signals “entry level.” One good alternate is a free Web- based e-mail service, such as Yahoo. Internet search engines are also helpful in gathering more information about prospective employers. Go to job fairs These events typically feature entry level jobs. They include campus-sponsored job fairs and career days, community job fairs and commercial entry level, professional or specialty job fairs. Bring your job fair portfolio in a brief¬case, including your resume and letters of recommendation. Dress in classic business attire. Avoid lines. Walk around first and pick up company literature. Then, listen to what the recruiters ask other candidates so you know if they are offering jobs you want and so you can decide how to respond. Seek out the most popular employers early before big lines form. Typically, job fair interviews are just two or three minute screenings followed by five to ten minute brief interviews where you learn what the next step is if you are still interested.
“To be effective in your job search, you have to be-come effective at marketing and sell-ing.”
“In developing your personal career focus, take the time to prepare your personal career mission statement.”
“If you are not able to:
- identify your market, and
- identify your prod-uct in relation to the market needs, you will fail either totally or partially in your job search.”
“Networking is one of the most effec-tive and efficient activities in finding your first position.”
Arrange interviews – the easiest interviews to set up are meetings with recruiters who come to your campus. Ideally, set your interviews for the end of the day. Prefer¬ably get the next to last interview slot, since recruiters remember those the most. To get off-campus interviews, do your research first. Look for the name of your target contact, so you can call and ask for that person by name. If you can’t reach the person directly, find out the best time to call back and follow-up. As an alternative, leave a message about the best time to call you. Once you reach the hiring manager, have a structured script so you can briefly introduce yourself. State who you are, why you are calling, briefly summarize the benefits you offer the company and state the action steps you have in mind (such as, “I’ll be in your area on Monday and hope to schedule an interview with you then.”). If the hiring manager isn’t hiring now, ask for referrals to others in the company or in other companies in the field.
