Transcript JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES - Florida Institute of Technology

JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES
Career Services
STEPS TO SUCCESS
Self Assessment
 Research & Exploration
 Prepare Materials & Develop Job
Search Skills
 Networking
 Conduct Job Search
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Self Assessment
Identify your:
1. Values
2. Interests
3. Skills
4. Accomplishments
5. Experiences
6. Goals
Research & Exploration
Conduct Informational Interviews
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Professional Associations
Professors
Professionals in the field
Research the job market:
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Where are the jobs?
Who is hiring?
What career fields are in demand?
What are the qualifications needed (certificates,
education, etc)
**Begin to target potential employers
Research Online Resources
Occupational Outlook Handbook:
www.bls.gov/oco/home.html
JobWeb:
www.jobweb.com
Career Library section has extensive listings under “General
References” to assist in employer research
MyPerfectGig
A unique application that links Engineering and Technology
companies' job requisitions and needs to your skills and
availability. Provides in depth and real-time industry information on
employment demand.
Career Services:
www.fit.edu/career
Current lists of employers for each discipline locally and nationally
Preparation & Materials
Resume, Cover Letter, transcripts, etc
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Targeted to position & industry
References
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Past employers
Professors/Instructors
Volunteer Associations
Interview skills
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Participate in mock interviews if possible.
Practice answering interview questions.
Marketing Preparation
Develop Marketing & Conversational skills
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Networking, presentations, interviews, etc
Professional interview attire (Eventually
Career)
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Suit, slacks, shoes, accessories, etc
Prepare for several options since you might
have second & third interviews
Professional voice mail/email service and
professional sounding messages and
nicknames.
Networking
Develop a career network:
(The “hidden” job market)
Assess your current network and that of
your parents, relatives, friends. Include
a list of whom each of them know.
 Tell everyone you know that you are
conducting a job search and ask for their
assistance.
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Networking Contacts
Sources of Contacts:
 Professors, administrators, graduate
students, or alumni.
 Supervisors from any previous jobs
including internships or part-time
jobs.
 Members of professional associations.
 Friends, relatives, or contacts from
community.
Effective Networking
Making new contacts or cold calling:
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Contact by phone or email first.
Be sure to mention mutual acquaintances early on.
Prepare a script of what you are going to say
in advance (if on the phone).
Proofread email messages and be sure to use proper spelling
and grammar.
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Successful contact
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Be prepared to concisely discuss your qualifications and what you expect
from this contact.
Try to schedule a personal meeting or informational
interview.
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Reassure the contact that you will only need 20 or 30 minutes of their time.
Effective Networking
Do not ask for a job during the first
conversation.
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Ask for career information and advice in your job search.
Manners go a long way.
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No way to get around “Please, thank you, I appreciate, it
was so nice of you”
Always follow up on successful contacts
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Be sure to thank them for their assistance.
Plan and Conduct Job Search
Commit a considerable amount of time
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A job search can be thought of as a fulltime job in itself.
Start the process early
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Especially research and preparation. Do
not wait until the last semester before
graduation to begin the process.
Plan and Conduct Job Search
Job Search Tracking
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Spreadsheet or binder with all your job
search correspondence, notes, list of
network contacts and applications, notes
on when to follow up on applications, a
calendar of important dates, etc.
**Refer to it frequently and follow up on anything
that you need to take care of.
Conduct Job Search
Pursue advertised vacancies
 College Central Network
 Popular job listing websites such as Career
Builder, Monster
 Employer websites
 Professional association websites
 Classified ads – most are online
www.fit.edu/career/jobcenter/generall_inks.html
***Do not blindly submit resumes, make the connection***
Plan and Conduct Job Search
Improve your chances
 Target your resume to the job
description.
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Personalize your response as much as
possible.
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Follow up with hiring manager if
possible.
Conduct Job Search
Finding the “hidden” jobs:
 Utilize your career network contacts.
If you started that process early, they
should know you well by the time you
need to start applying for jobs.
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Get pass the Gatekeeper and follow
up with hiring managers when
possible.
Maximizing Online Resources
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Realize that most employers, especially large
ones, will only accept resumes through online
systems.
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Target your resume to their system and the
openings they have available.
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Use online job listing sites to post your resume
but also to learn who is hiring. Applying directly
to the company is preferred.
**Do not get stuck in this trap: avoiding employers with a difficult
recruitment process
Maximizing Online Resources
Protecting Privacy:
 Be careful of posting your resume and
personal information on job posting sites
before reading their site’s privacy policy.
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Never give out your Social Security
Number or any financial information on
third party job posting site.
Protecting your References Privacy
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Only disclose reference information
when specifically requested by hiring
employer
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This will allow you the opportunity to
give your references a heads up when
applying to positions
Final Advice
Be persistent
A successful job search takes a lot of hard
work and time.
Take control of your job search
You are the one ultimately responsible for
your job search.
Be flexible!
Do not create your own obstacles by
developing job search goals that cannot be
met.
Stay positive!
A positive attitude is a must.
Career Services
Part-time and full-time job postings –
College Central Network
 Internships & Co-op
 Federal Work-study
 Florida Work Experience Program
 Workshops
 Resume & cover letter critiques
 Career Fair & Employer Day
 Mock interviews
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321.674.8102
www.fit.edu/career
Keuper Bldg Room 210
Questions? Contact Us
Dona Gaynor, Director
[email protected]
Elizabeth Farney, Assistant Director
[email protected]