Job/vacanies Search
How to Conduct a Job Search
Introduction
Searching for a job can be a challenging task, but in this tutorial you will learn how to approach job-hunting with the knowledge and strategies that will not only lead to success, but will keep you feeling positive about the process.
This lesson will introduce you to the strategies, resources and methods you should utilize when conducting your job search.
Job Search
How to Conduct a Job Search
Introduction to Searching for a Job
Searching for a job requires hope, perseverance and a willingness to pursue opportunities. Many people believe job-hunting is the simple process of responding to job postings, but this can be extremely limiting. Many experts, including Richard Bolles, author of the classic job-hunting guide What Color is Your Parachute, estimate that less than 10% of people find jobs by responding to online postings. This is not meant to discourage you, but to convey that using this method alone may not yield the best results.
Searching for a job is a process that should include several methods and strategies for seeking out opportunities that will lead to the job that is right for you. Here are a few things to keep in mind while you are in the process of searching for employment:
Check out the following for additional information on job-hunting and career planning:
Read What Color is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job Hunters and Career Changers by Richard Nelson Bolles. Bolles is known as the "Father of Job-Hunting" and this yearly guide is full of useful tips and strategies. You can also visit the corresponding website JobHuntersBible.com for additional resources.
Visit Job-Hunt.org or QuintCareers.com for timely articles, strategies and helpful information.
For additional help with researching and planning a career, go to our Career Planning tutorial.
How to Conduct a Job Search
Methods for Finding a Job
Generally speaking the best way to get a job is to either know the person who is hiring or be referred by someone who does. It is commonly estimated that as much as 80% of available positions are never advertised. These opportunities are known as the Hidden Job Market which is why networking is essential in any job search.
Once again, you should select several job search methods that will cater to your specific needs and provide you with solid opportunities. Relying on one method alone will limit your possibilities. For example, if you want to be a teacher's assistant, you may choose to focus on the following:
• Volunteering and/or substitute teaching at a school so they will get to know you and your work
• Networking with parent and teacher groups both in person and online to make connections
• Reviewing the school district's job board and making direct contact with personnel at the schools with openings
The job boards you visit, how you network, where you go to uncover opportunities largely depends on what you are looking for, but the most important factor is that you vary your methods in order to be as effective as possible. It is also important to spend the majority of your time making connections and following leads. That means using the internet as a valuable tool, but spending more time off-line with real people, who might possibly hire you once they get to know you. See the interactive on job search methods below for ideas.
We will go into more detail on how to search online and network in Lessons 2 and 3.
Getting Started
Looking for a job takes a great deal of time, energy, and effort. Here are a few things you will need to begin your search.
• Time
Preparing the necessary paperwork, researching opportunities and networking can be time consuming, especially if you are currently working. Try developing a regular schedule for your job-hunting activities that makes the most efficient use of your time.
• Internet access
The internet is essential to job-hunting. If you do not have internet access at home, then you will need to arrange for regular access to the internet at your public library, local career center or a friend's home.
• Email address
Establish a professional email address. Do not use nicknames or silly, inappropriate names. In addition, you should never use your work email address to search for a new job as this is unprofessional and could jeopardize your current employment. Instead, sign up for a free web mail account.
• Necessary paperwork
Depending on your career goal, job applications, resumes, plain-text resumes, job-specific cover letters, portfolios, and thank you letters will need to be prepared.
Go to our Resume Writing and Cover Letters tutorials to get help with preparing your paperwork.
Other items you may need include business cards for networking, a professional-looking photo for online networking and/or materials for organizing your search.
Follow-up and Organization
Successful job-hunters follow-up, follow-up, follow-up. It is not enough to make a connection or submit your resume. Following-up gives you the opportunity to really show your interest, re-assert your qualifications and most importantly, to establish a positive relationship. You may be worried about appearing too desperate or perhaps pushy, but if you follow-up in a timely, professional and courteous manner then you will likely appear simply interested, thus making a positive impression.
Go to QuintCareers.com Follow Up All Job Leads for additional tips and strategies.
Be aware that a follow-up has the potential to become a screening interview on the spot, so you should always do your research and be prepare.
You may consider visiting our Interview Skills topic to help you prepare to talk to potential employers.
Job Search Log
In order to follow-up effectively, make connections and keep up with the opportunities you have pursued, you will need a system of organization. It will not look good if you receive a call from a potential connection or hiring manager and you cannot recall who they are or when and how you connected with them. At the minimum, you should keep a calendar and contacts list, but you may also want to create a Job Search Log where you can document your actions and follow-up results for the connections, leads and postings you are pursuing.
You can search online for samples and templates for Job Search Logs and you may consider creating separate logs for connections and job postings as they may have different requirements. Below is a list of Job Search Log requirements that you may want to keep in mind:
• Company
• Contact Person and Contact Information
• Referring Source
• Dates you made contact or submitted resume
• Follow-up dates with details or summary of contact
• Position Title
• Position Requirements
Job Search
Searching Online for a Job
Introduction
The internet offers many different resources for finding a job. In this tutorial you will learn how to use these resources to your advantage.
This lesson will show you where to look for online job postings, how to perform an effective search on a job search engine, and what to do when you've found a job that you want to apply for.
Searching Online for a Job
How to Conduct an Online Job Search
There are numerous web sites that allow you to search for job postings or post your resume for potential employers to see. Some of the more popular sites include Monster, CareerBuilder and Yahoo! HotJobs.
Indeed.com
There are also job search engines, like Indeed, that bring in job postings from many different sites with a single search, thus saving you time. Indeed has a tips page with videos and other information that can help you get started with the basics of searching. In addition, the video to the right talks about several techniques that can help you improve your search results.
As with any search engine, the key is to optimize the amount of relevant, verses irrelevant, results you obtain, so you may have to experiment with search terms and refinements.
Set Up a Job Alert
For added convenience, you can create a job alert (see tips page) and Indeed will email you new jobs based on your search criteria. In your initial search you may obtain a large number of results, but with a regular job alert you may only receive a few new job postings to manage each day.
Watch the video (2:57). Need help?
Additional Sites
There are many other job sites on the internet, including "niche" sites that cater to a specific industry, company or job type. JobHuntersBible.com lists and describes many of these sites. Depending on your circumstances, you may find that it is easier to find relevant job postings from a site that is more tailored to your needs.
Go to Job-Hunt.org for numerous articles, tips, and links for job-hunters.
How to Respond to an Online Job Posting
Once you've found a job you want to apply for, there are several steps that you need to go through. What you do in this step helps to determine whether or not the employer contacts you for an interview, so every aspect of your application should be as professional as possible.
• Research the Company: Read through the company's web site and do a web search to find out more information about them. This will help you to determine if the job posting is genuine, and knowledge of the company will help you when you are applying and interviewing for the position.
• Tailor your resume for the job: Make sure that your resume is up-to-date and clearly shows how your skills relate to the position you are applying for. You may want to add a bit more detail about your most relevant jobs.
• Write or tailor a cover letter: Your cover letter should explain why you are a good fit for the position. You can edit a cover letter that you used for another position, but make sure you tailor it to be specific to the position you are applying for.
• Double-check spelling and grammar: A resume and cover letter need to look professional, which means that they must be free of any spelling or grammar errors. Your computer's spellchecker will not catch all errors, so double-check your resume and cover letter. Ask a friend to look over them to see if you've missed anything.
• Send resume or complete online application: If you are submitting your resume and cover by email, you should paste them into the body of the email, unless advised specifically by the hiring manager to send attachments. See our Resume Writing lesson on "Preparing Your Resume for the Internet". If the employer has an online application form, take the time to fill it out carefully and accurately, and remember to double-check spelling and grammar.
• Follow up: If you don't hear from the employer within a week, send them an email or call them to make sure they have received it and to reaffirm your interest in the position. Remember, making connections is one of the most important aspects of finding a job, and by making direct contact you make yourself more familiar to those who are hiring.
• Organize: Try to keep all of your online job search information in one place, either on your computer or in a folder with your other job search materials. You may add all of the online jobs you apply for to your Job Search Log (see Lesson 1).
Read "E-mail guidelines and etiquette" for tips on sending a professional email.
Posting Your Resume Online
Some sites, such as Monster, allow you to post your resume online. When employers need to fill a job opening, they can search through the resumes to find a candidate that fits. This can increase your chances of finding a job, since employers have the ability to search for you. Some sites will also use the information in your resume to automatically send you relevant job postings. The downside to posting jobs online is the lack of security and the potential to receive a lot of spam email.
If you are currently employed, you may want to avoid posting your resume. If your current employer should find your resume it could possibly lead to termination.
Online Privacy and Security Tips:
Remember to always exercise caution when using the internet—especially when you are looking for a job. The following tips can help you guard your privacy during your job search:
• Avoid jobs that seem suspicious or "too good to be true."
• Avoid giving out personal information such as birthday or credit card numbers.
• Never put your Social Security Number on your resume.
• If you're viewing a web site, make sure the domain in your browser's address bar matches the web site.
• If you feel uneasy or suspicious about a web site or email, follow your instincts or Google it for more information.
Go to www.onguardonline.gov for more information about internet safety.
Networking for a Job
Introduction
Networking is generally considered the most effective way to find a job and is essential to any job search.
In this lesson, we will explore how to network and build advantageous relationships with your connections. We will also review strategies for utilizing social media and creating a brand for yourself.
Introduction to Networking
Networking, or the art of making connections, may come more naturally to some people than others, but it really isn't an activity to shy away from. Networking is simply the process of building positive, advantageous relationships—something you likely already do and just may not acknowledge as networking. As mentioned in Lesson 1, the majority of jobs are not advertised, so networking is essential to finding opportunities that will lead to employment.
Who should I network with to find a job? If you are unemployed, then you will want to network with everyone. Do not discount anyone as an unlikely source, as the majority of job referrals are made through friends of friends. For example, your hairdresser may not know anything about the field of advertising, but she may know that her sister's friend works for an ad agency.
You should also plan on pursuing opportunities for Direct Contact with people in companies or the industry you are interested in. This may mean building a polite, but persistent relationship with the administrative assistant of a manager you would like to interview with.
Take some time to identify networking opportunities and organize your connections. Listed below are examples of places and groups you may find connections through:
Social
• Friends, family and acquaintances
• Church or social organizations
• Recreational organizations (golf, hiking group) or fitness clubs
Professional
• Business networking groups
• Professional and trade organizations
• Former colleagues, professors or alumni groups
Online Social Media Sites
• Meetup
• Blogs
If you are currently employed then you may want to be careful about how you network. In other words, you can build relationships and show interest without pronouncing your desire for a new job until you are sure your interests will remain confidential.
Networking for a Job
Strategies for Networking Effectively
Have the Right Attitude
How you feel about yourself and your job search will communicate itself while networking, so make sure you develop a winning and confident attitude. Consider the following two statements and ask yourself which one you would prefer to help:
• Victim Bob - "Even though I was the best programmer at my job, they still laid me off and now I don't know what I'm going to do if I don't get a job."
• Optimistic Bob - "Yes, I was part of a mass layoff, but it's been a great opportunity for me to take the time to update some of my skills and now I'm looking forward to finding a senior programming position."
Victim Bob sounds desperate and unsure which may garner sympathy, but not true assistance. Optimistic Bob sounds like he is turning the situation to his advantage and is clear about the direction he wants to go in which will make it easier to help him. Remember, your attitude can really make a difference in your ability to successfully connect.
Be Clear About What You Want
People can't help you if they do not understand what you want. Don't just tell people you need a job, be specific about what you are looking for. Make a business card with some bullets that might include the job(s) you are looking for, the type of company you seek and the skills you have to offer. Create and practice a self-introduction and be prepared to offer additional information about your job experience and interests if asked.
Engage Effectively
In busy social settings, you may only have a few moments to capture someone's attention or make an impression. Be clear, succinct and specific and consider catering your introduction based on the occasion. What you say at a business event may be considered too pushy at a social event, so make sure you judge your setting and audience to determine your approach.
An introduction has the potential to become a more lengthy conversation or even a screening interview, so it is important to be prepared to talk about your experience and how it may apply. You can do this by listening and showing interest in the person you are talking to. Keep in mind, that networking is a two-way relationship and you may have something to offer as well.
If you get uncomfortable in social situations then you may want to role-play with a friend. If you feel good about yourself (attitude) and you are confident in what you want, then you may be surprised at how easy it is to interact with others without feeling pushy or bothersome.
Build Relationships
How you conclude an encounter is vital in building an effective relationship. Even if your encounter is brief, make sure you leave it with a request to make additional contact. For example, you can ask if you can email your resume or call them on Monday to set up a lunch meeting.
Many connections may not have anything to offer you initially, but if you politely follow-up and build a relationship with them, then they will have you in mind when an opportunity does come up. Some people consider networking to be a long-term lifestyle choice requiring the consistent building of mutually beneficial relationships.
Make sure you have an organized system for maintaining and tracking your connections, so that you can effectively follow-up and maintain contact.
Using Social Media
Social media outlets are increasingly becoming the preferred method for finding a job. Many companies are exclusively using social media, like the career networking site LinkedIn, for their recruiting purposes.
What is Social Media? Basically social media describes the online tools people use to share information, opinions and content for the purpose of social interaction and communication. Some of these tools include blogs, message boards, podcasts, lifestreams and interactive communities. A few popular examples of social media sites are Facebook, MySpace, Wikipedia, YouTube and Twitter.
Review the interactive to learn how you can use Social Media sites to search for a job?
Netiquette and Your Online Presence
As you can see, social media can be a great tool for networking. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Always get to know a site before posting. Just like in real life, social networks online can have various standards, culture and etiquette, so you should take the time to get to know a site before posting.
In addition, you will want to maintain a professional online presence, therefore you may want to think carefully about the kind of content you post and whether it may turn off a potential connection or employer.
Go to NetManners.com for advice on Netiquette.
Go to Mashable.com for the latest trends and guidance on using Social Media.
Creating a Personal Brand
Personal branding is simply how you market yourself to others. The concept has become very popular with networking and job-hunting, especially with the growth of social media online. There are a couple of reasons why you might want to consider personal branding:
• Learning how to market yourself can help you communicate more effectively and stand out in a crowd.
• Figuring out your personal brand is part of a bigger process of figuring out who you are and what you want. This obviously promotes clarity and confidence while pursuing a career, but can also be interconnected to other parts of your life.
• Directing your online presence is becoming increasingly important as a growing number of hiring managers are conducting online searches on job candidates.
Personal Branding is a process and how much time you devote to it depends on your individual needs and desires. At the very least, you should spend some time defining who you are, exactly what you want and how you want others to perceive you. Consider the below example of personal branding:
Marc Jones is a former car repairman who now specializes in custom car installations. He can brand himself as an Automobile Enthusiast with "Enhancing a Driver's Experience" as his motto. When networking he should share his business card that includes a logo and design he uses in all of his marketing. It should include the website he created showcasing the work he has done on cars along with his experience and a message board where he can give advice to other enthusiasts. His work can be highlighted in videos that he can post on a YouTube page. Marc may also promote his expertise with posts about customizations on his Facebook and Twitter pages. When you meet Marc you find that he is a friendly, well-dressed man who has a genuine love of cars and truly appreciates the quality and luxury that his customers find appealing.
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