 Over 85% of the jobs in today’s job market are not heavily advertised  Personal networking remains the number one way people obtain employment  76% of successful job searches were attributed to personal contacts

 Network with “warm contacts” ◦ Warm contacts on average include about 50 people you already know--who are they, for you? ◦ Each of those 50 people knows 50 or so other people ◦ Keep your warm contacts informed on what you are looking for

 Friends  Parents of Friends  Advisor  Faculty Members  Student Development Staff (RA)  UK Alumni  Former co-workers  Relatives  Neighbors  Family acquaintances  Organization members  Former Teachers  Former employers

 Network with “cold contacts” ◦ People that you do not know or have an established connection with ◦ Endless numbers—up to you on how assertive you become ◦ Develop from “warm contacts” or on your own

 Names received from your warm contacts  Names you get from job postings  Companies/names you get from internet research  Companies or organizations you find in the phone book or from just passing by  Professional association member names  Job fair connections

 An introduction is a must  Include: ◦ Introduction of yourself (major, graduation date) ◦ Knowledge of company ◦ Express interest in the company and/or opportunities ◦ Tell what you can offer

 Making Your First Impression  60 – 65% of communication to others is non-verbal communication  Tips for Non-verbal communication for an introduction  Dress professionally  Make good eye contact  Smile  Give a firm handshake  If wearing nametag, wear on your right side for easy readability  Speak clearly  Listen carefully for names when introduced

 Your name  Your class year and major  Your career interests as they relate to the target company or organization

Let’s practice now!

 Explain your circumstances ◦ Graduating in May with a Social Work degree and looking for a case management position ◦ Junior English major looking for a copy editing internship for this summer  Ask if they know of or anticipate any related openings in their setting  Ask how they make their opening known  Ask if you could send your resume  Get additional referrals, if possible

 Indirect way of making job contacts  Request min. appointment (in person or on phone)  Goal is to learn more about their occupation, work setting, and journey  Prepare questions ahead of time  Goal is NOT to ask for a job  Send a thank you card

 How long have you worked here?  Describe a typical day.  What do you like most about your job? Least?  What education and training did you receive to get to this point?  What is unique about your setting when compared to others?  What qualities and skills are most needed to succeed in this field/setting?  What suggestions do you have for someone breaking into this field?

 Linkedin ◦ Build profile and recommendations ◦ Build connections ◦ Job postings feature ◦ Provide status updates about your search

 Job Resources through ◦ Job Angels ◦ Follow HR professionals/recruiters ectory.pdf ◦ Consider separate accounts for personal and job search updates

 Learn more before you begin: ◦ To Tweet or Not to Tweet /02/27/to-tweet-or-not-to-tweet- pradvice-career-hr/ /02/27/to-tweet-or-not-to-tweet- pradvice-career-hr/ ◦ How to Use Twitter in the Job Hunt ps_How_to_Use_Twitter_to_Job_Hunt ps_How_to_Use_Twitter_to_Job_Hunt

 Employers pay attention ◦ According to a CareerBuilder.com survey, 26% of employers say they used the web to research job candidates ◦ One in ten use social networking sites in screening process ◦ 63% found details on social networking sites that led to dismissal of a candidate

 Be careful: Don’t post content on your or your friends’ sites you don’t want your employer to see  Be discreet: Consider setting your profile to “private” so you control who sees your site  Be prepared: Check your profile regularly to monitor comments. Google your own name periodically to see what comes up. Be prepared to respond to questions.

 View job postings from the following sources ◦ Postings sent to UK (Wildcat CareerLink Jobs) ◦ NACElink Network  Utilize search agents  Upload resumes and post in resume books  Get employer contacts from employer database  Apply for on-campus interviews  Get details about job fairs

 Tuesday – Thursday ◦ 12:00-3:00  15 minute career consults ◦ Resume critique ◦ Cover letter critique ◦ Questions regarding internships, job searching, interviewing, and graduate school.

 Career counselors are available for individual appointments with students and alumni that include: ◦ Interpreting career assessments ◦ Exploring careers related to majors ◦ Resume critiques and job search letters ◦ Practice “mock” interviews ◦ Job search strategies ◦ Evaluating job offers and salaries

If you want individualized assistance with this process you can make an appointment with a Career Counselor Contact the Career Center