Transcript Gearing Up for Job Search - Southwestern Community College

YES YOU CAN
Find Your Dream Job
Presented by
Dr. Philip Weast
February 25/26, 2009
Authored by Ms. Patty Kirkley
Like Playing Darts
You Need Targets in Mind
Have a Plan
Successful job searches do not happen by
Accident
Determine businesses that hire people with your
degree
Identify job titles appropriate to your degree
Review job descriptions on the Internet and in
the newspaper
Identify companies in your field of interest
Research companies of interest
Get Organized
 Identify a work space
 Double check arsenal of sales materials – resume,
sample cover letter, and reference list. Contact
your references.
 Collect the information you will need to fill out
job applications
 Listen to the voice mail messages on your cell and
home phones and be sure they sound professional
 Create and practice your commercials & scripts
Keep Track…
If you do not have them, buy a planner/
schedule book & a portfolio
Buy a 2-inch binder (and a hole punch)
Make copies of tracking forms
Prepare to track every call and letter (and
the expenses you incur) – (see sample
forms: Internet/Newspaper, Letters, Contacts)
Be Realistic
• You need work experience in your career
field
• You will not start in the executive office –
you will have to prove yourself
• Understand likely starting salary range
• It is easy to get discouraged and give up –
you need a positive “headset”
Secrets You Need to Know
Three Types of People Hiring Managers Want
to Avoid
Those that cannot learn the job
Those who will not do the work
Those who are not cooperative or
have an over-inflated sense of
their worth
Persistence is the Key to Finding
a Job
Recognize that finding a job is hard work
It takes time and effort
Dedicate a minimum of 25 hours each week
to calls, follow up contacts, and research
Your goal is to identify every possible lead
Ways to Get Job Interviews
Network
Send letters to specific businesses asking for an
interview
Call companies, especially hiring managers
Answer employment ads
Use the Internet
Register with an employment agency
Tapping the Source of Secret
Jobs..
Conquer your fears and learn to “Network”
75% of all jobs are not advertised
(hiring managers know the best
employees come from employee
referrals)
Practice your personal commercials –
30 second & 2 minutes
Then start talking …
Who Do You Talk To?
 Talk to friends and relatives
 Talk to people who know lots of other people
– teachers, the guy you know at the local coffee
shop, members of your church …everyone you
know or can identify
 Ask for help (additional contacts or info about
available jobs)
 Your network is larger than you think.....
Remember the Verizon Ad
Send Letters…
 First identify specific industry or business
 Find names and addresses of businesses in
geographic area you are targeting
 Send a minimum of 5 letters a day
 Increase chances of success by sending
letter to the hiring manager and a few days
later, following up with a phone call
The Telephone Can Be
Your Friend…
 Before you begin calling, develop your personal
calling script
 Practice it with a friend
 When you are ready, call a real manager
 Don’t give up if you get nervous or bomb the first
couple of times
 Call before 10:00 (often before 8:00 & after 5:00
is the trick)
Respond to Ads
 Check out the
employment ads
every day
 To respond to an ad, first read it carefully
 Write each employer a letter telling them
how you can help them
Respond to Ads...more
Mention the requirements listed in the ad
and specifically describe your ability to
meet them
Do not forget to include advertisement code
if there is one
Mail letter and your resume to the indicated
address
Use the Internet
 Post your resume to one or more of the big job
boards (you may be one of the lucky ones)
 Check out posted jobs on the job boards and apply
for the ones you are qualified to do
 Go to the web sites for targeted companies and
look for openings
 53% of Internet hires come through company’s own
website
Employment Agencies
• Identify employment agencies who
specialize in your chosen occupation
• Do not rule out temporary jobs – many
work into employment opportunity or new
contacts and references
• To find these agencies in your field, ask
your friends or instructors or check the
yellow pages.
Questions?
Good Luck!
Resources: The Job Hunting Handbook,
Dahlstrom & Company, Inc.