Job Search Strategy

Organize First

• Expect your job search to take; at least, a few months, if not longer (depending on your major field of study and market demands, professional skills, willingness to relocate, work background, and etc.).
• Realistically assess your interests, skills, strengths, and abilities and compare those to what is currently in demand from employers.
• Update your resume as you gain work experience through practicum, part-time, and full-time jobs.
• Maintain a 3-ring binder with job vacancy announcements that you have applied for with cover letters and resumes.  Record contacts, replies, dates, interviews, and personal notes.  Employers may not reply to your application for several weeks, therefore remaining organized is extremely helpful when you have applied to numerous organizations.

Research the Job Market

• Utilize the library, Internet, trade publications, business magazines, Wall Street Journal, etc. for current job market trends.  This will give you a good idea of your standing as a job seeker.
• Evaluate local and out of area employers on company stability, profitability, growth rate, and average salaries within your career field.  You might also consider promotion potential, retention statistics, and employee job satisfaction (if info is available).
• Pay careful attention to a company’s reputation; this may significantly affect your decision to apply for any available job positions.
• Based on your education and work experience, identify a possible salary range.
• Locate companies that interest you and review their websites, annual reports (www.sec.gov), blogs, message boards and other sources of information.
• Examine job opportunities posted on the Internet, newspaper classifieds, job bulletins, and word-of-mouth job notices.

Networking

• Visit with individuals from your personal and professional network; they can prove to be valuable in your search.
• You can obtain valuable information by listening to others, i.e. discussing with your network about interview questions and items you may not have anticipated.
• Discuss the job search process with people who have recently been hired.  This will give you a fresh perspective and may offer job leads that are still available.
• Feedback from significant others and professional mentors will also provide aid in your job search.

Read and Follow Application Instructions

• Correctly following application instructions are basic requirements for any job and allows potential employers a small preview of your level of competence.
• If you are not sure on how and what materials must be sent, ask questions to clarify application instructions.
• Most employers will require you to fill out an application form.  An application is used to verify data from your resume and to obtain additional information.

Demonstrate Your Determination

• There is a delicate balance between showing persistence with a potential employer when following up on a job lead becomes a nuisance.  Depending on the circumstances, you must judge how often to contact the company to express your interest and gain further information about a particular job position.   
• Don’t let employment contacts who are constantly occupied; discourage you from continuing your pursuit of a job.  A change of tactics may be required. For example, ask a friend already employed at the company to acquire further information concerning the status of your application.
• If you find yourself hitting a brick wall and no one is returning your calls, this is probably an indication that the employer is not considering you for this particular job position.