JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES By Clara Brown Academic and Career Counselor ICARE University

If you don’t know where you are going you will probably end up somewhere else. Too many people take off with no idea of where they are going. Further down the road they wonder why they are there, how they got there, and wish they could be somewhere else.

Job Search Tip: Searching for a Job can be a Job Itself. Things to Remember when searching for a job: 1. STAY FOCUSED (don’t get sidetracked) 2. BE POSITIVE (it may take months before you get an interview) 3. DON’T SETTLE (don’t take first job offer, it may not be worth it) View Your Job Search as an new Adventure to New People, Places, Ideas, and Things (Chabon and Check).

Job Search Strategies 1.WHAT TO EXPECT 2.WHAT EMPLOYERS LOOK FOR 3.CHOOSE A CAREER PATH -SELF ASSESSMENT -INVESTIGATE YOUR CAREER PATH -FIND A CAREER MATCH 4.PREPARE A CAREER SEARCH PLAN 5.WAYS TO FIND A JOB 6.COMMON MISTAKES IN JOB SEARCHING 7.HOW TO FIND JOBS 8.WHAT YOU WILL NEED-(Get an edge over the competition) 9.JOB APPLICATION TIPS 10.CONCLUSION- USE YOUR RESOURCES 11.SEE YOU AT THE NEXT WORKSHOP

WHAT TO EXPECT The best jobs tend to go to the best job hunter not the best qualified individuals (Adams 1992). If you are willing to put forth the extra effort and energy, you can outshine the competition. You may have to apply to one hundred different companies before you get One interview. “The time you put into your search is time well spent if you make sure all of that effort and energy is going in the right direction” (p 9). Every applicant has the same basic qualifications, you must show how you stand out from the crowd.

WHAT EMPLOYERS LOOK FOR ? Commitment (Are you a low-risk hire) Will you stay in position for a long time Can you show company you will not move soon (discuss current trends in industry and genuinely show you are interested in job) Maturity and Confidence Be sure to project yourself as a mature and confident candidate for position Professionalism fitting in with others resume and cover letter dress (know that you are a professional and conduct yourself accordingly)

What employers look for???? Adaptability and Growth Are you capable of adapting to new position? Can you handle a great deal of responsibility? Are you punctual? Employers look for applicants that are eager and ready to enter the business world and who will grow within their company and contribute to it’s success.

Choose a Career Path There are three steps in choosing a career path. 1.Self Assessment 2.Evaluate Career Choices 3.Find a Career Match

Self Assessment 1.What are your interest (what you like to do) 2.Your natural talents (aptitude) 3.What are you good at doing (abilities) 4.What is important to you (values) (In other words take inventory of your skills, experience, personality, priorities, likes, dislikes, and financial situation)

Investigate Your Career Path Once you have identified a career learn as much as possible about the various careers in that field. **Research current job trends by following business news and U.S. government statistics on job growth. You can do this by reading about it talking to people (networking) experiencing it first hand

Investigate Your Career Path READ Occupational Outlook Handbook (over 250 careers) Company’s Annual Reports Go online and read information about company TALK TO PEOPLE Talk to people who are knowledgeable about the career(s) you are interested in. (Find someone who is currently working in the field.) Sample questions to ask: What do you do on a typical day? How did you prepare for this career? How did you get your present job? What do you like/dislike about your job/career? What courses should I take to prepare for this career? Is this a career field that is growing? What is the average starting pay? How can I find out more about this career? What qualifications and personal characteristics does someone need in order to be successful in this career?

Investigate Your Career GET FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE -Course work -extracurricular activities -volunteer work -get a job in a related career field -internships

Find a Career Match NO CAREER PATH IS PERMANENT OR IRREVERSIBLE (Woodburn Press) Make your career and educational choices based on who you are today, but know that you can always choose a different career path in the future. Now that you have evaluated yourself it is time to choose a career.

Prepare a Career Search Plan Spend time analyzing yourself as well as the job market. Market yourself according to the needs in your potential market. Research, Research, Research State your career goal List specifics steps you need to take to reach this goal Have a plan “B” and “C” Prepare a 1 minute snapshot of your experience, skills, talent, and job objective. Determine in advance your bottom line salary requirement based on living expenses.