Pam Herrmann Career Advisor New River Community College This presentation is funded by a U.S. Department of Labor ETA grant award. This presentation is the creation of the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the USDOL.

Purpose of Presentation Provide participants with effective job search strategies Goal of Presentation Provide participants with at least one new strategy to add to their current job search process

Introductions Your job search (current) Success in a job search 6 steps in an effective job search Your job search (revised) Questions

Describe your job search Types of positions you are seeking How are you finding these positions What process do you follow How much time do you devote to your search Do you have a job search log or tracking system What are your results BE HONEST

To be successful, you need: Good and accurate information Good job hunting skills Factors include: Awareness of your goals and skills Understanding of current labor market information Well planned campaign Knowledge is powerful

Step One: Start with self-assessment Finding the right job begins with an identification of your interests, values, skills, experiences, accomplishments and goals Will provide invaluable information for you to market yourself effectively to future employers Know the product

Self-Assessment Values clarification (brief example)

Step Two: Research and explore career options Explore suggested occupations discovered through your self-assessment Compare your choices with demands of the career field and organizations Conduct informational interviews to obtain relevant information; additional options include job shadowing, internship, volunteering, etc.

Step Three: Choose a career field and target employers Researching employers will give you a competitive edge and help in planning your strategy Evaluate the realities of your choice; will this option work for me at this time Seek help from a career advisor or career professional

Step Four: Prepare job search materials and develop job search skills Tailored resumes and application letters that reflect qualifications of interest to prospective employers Obtain copies of other documents necessary for your job search (certifications, recommendation letters, academic transcripts, etc.) Discover job search strategies that are most effective for your career field Polish your interviewing skills

Step Five: Plan and conduct job search campaign Establish a target date for your new job Devote time each day to your campaign Keep a record of who, what, when, and how; plus next steps Track these daily activities in a log along with follow- up actions and their dates due

Job Search Campaign Actively investigate advertised vacancies, both in print and electronically; resources include: Newspaper Classified Ads Trade or professional association newsletters Department of Labor (OneStop Center) Employment Services or agencies Career Center job listings (alma mater) Various on-line sources (monster.com) Most popular, least effective

Tips for responding to advertisements Avoid long shots Use letter of application (cover letter) to address every requirement in the job ad Personalize your responses; direct materials to a specific individual; avoid To Whom it May Concern Try and contact the hiring person as well as human resources or personnel representative named in the advertisement

Develop your network Become familiar with professionals in your career field to help open doors that would normally remain closed Network can also include family, friends, classmates, professors, co-workers, colleagues, church members, electronic discussion groups such as Link-In It’s not WHAT you know, but WHO

Networking Is your netWORKing?

Contact employers directly Send letter of application and resume to human resources or specific managers More successful in high demand fields (engineering, computer science, healthcare, etc.) Contact managers by phone or letter requesting an appointment to discuss opportunities Offers you an opportunity to relay your skills and background to their hiring needs Requires background research and motivation by you Always follow-up with a thank-you letter or

Attend local job fairs hosted by area colleges/universities, workforce development, chamber of commerce, economic development, etc. Excellent opportunity for job seekers to talk to a wide variety of employers at one time Excellent opportunity for employers to talk to a diverse group of job seekers at one time Very cost effective for both parties NRCC Job Fair, March 27, 2013

Follow-up and record keeping No matter which job search strategies you choose, keeping record of your activities and follow-up actions are important to your success Includes referrals, thank-you notes or phone calls, future actions, etc. Maintain your credibility at all times Be persistent; takes time to manage your job search Always DO what you say, WHEN you say

Step Six: Accept an offer and continue to develop your career action plan Treat these steps as a continuous cycle; always evaluating where you are in your career goals Be prepared to revamp or restart your job search if necessary Been searching, but just can’t find a job? What do I do?

Ask yourself these questions: Are you networking? Are you limiting yourself? Are you targeting employers who most likely need your skills? Are you spending enough time? Are you following up after sending out your resume?

Are you even getting interviews? How are your interviewing skills? Do you send thank-you notes after interviews? Do you follow up after the interview and thank-you note? Have you asked what you are doing wrong?

Revisit description of your job search from exercise #1 Can you add at least one new strategy? Is there anything you would change or do differently? What is your biggest challenge? Where do you need the most assistance?

QUESTIONS? Contact Information: Pam Herrmann, Career Advisor New River Community College , ext