Once your résumé is ready to go, what’s the next step? Search for open positions that interest you. Just as the word search implies, this is an active process that often requires patience and persistence. The good news is that there are employers out there looking to hire students and recent graduates. In this section, we’ll look at some of the places where employers advertise openings and interact with students who are interested in these opportunities.
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Get Online
When employers have an open position to fill, they develop a description of responsibilities and qualifications the job requires. While few employers make use of newspaper classifieds in this digital age, some do list opportunities on online job boards like Monster.com, CareerBuilder, or Simply Hired. Keep in mind that while there will be some part-time and entry-level positions on these sites, online job boards will also have jobs for more experienced professionals. So do pay close attention to the qualifications and requirements listed in these postings.
If there are specific companies you’d like to work for — perhaps you admire their product or the way they run their organization — you might also look for job opportunities in the employment section of the organization’s Web site. Keep in mind that these sites are updated as jobs become available, so if you don’t see any openings the first time you look, don’t lose hope! Instead, visit the site once or twice per week to look for new postings. You can also check out the target company’s Twitter account or Facebook page, or look on LinkedIn. The federal government also advertises jobs online (www.usajobs.gov), as do some cities and states.
Use Campus and Community Resources
If your school has a career center, set up an appointment to get personalized guidance on your job search. Some college career counselors have vast networks of local and national hiring managers. They may be able to steer you toward specific companies or industries that are hiring. Additionally, your college career center may host on-campus interviews and have an online job search engine, free seminars on job search strategies, or other resources to help you in your job search.
Job fairs hosted by your school or in the community are another great place to network and learn about many open positions at once. Even if you aren’t actively looking for a job at the time the fair is happening, take advantage of this opportunity to learn about employers in your area and make connections with recruiters.
When attending a job fair, dress professionally. This signals to recruiters that you’re taking this process seriously and you want to make a good impression. In addition, print copies of your résumé on high-quality paper so you can provide them to employers whose opportunities interest you. And finally, to make the most of your time at the fair, develop a brief summary of the kinds of job you’re looking for and your relevant experiences and skills.
Join a Professional Association
Affiliation with a professional association is another good source of employment information. Professional associations are nonprofit organizations through which individuals who share a specific trade or job function can network, share best practices, and promote their profession and its interests. Student memberships in these organizations are generally quite affordable, and provide access to job listings on members-only Web sites and listservs. More generally, professional associations allow you to learn about your chosen industry from insiders who may be hiring now or in the future. By attending professional association meetings or events, you can introduce yourself and ask for advice on how to gain entry-level employment.
Professional Association: An organization through which individuals who share a trade or job function can network and promote the interests of their profession.
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One way to identify appropriate professional associations is to consult your library’s copy of National Trade and Professional Associations of the United States. This comprehensive directory of professional organizations includes membership and contact information, as well as dates and locations of upcoming conferences. You might also look for LinkedIn groups of professionals in your field, as this is another popular place to find job listings.
Network
As we’ve mentioned throughout the book, networking is a great way to find a job opening. Networking is really just about talking to people — everyone from fellow members of professional associations to instructors, classmates, friends, family members, neighbors, or those affiliated with your faith community, volunteer work, or recreational pursuits. Once you’ve identified the people you already know in your network, start contacting them. Explain that you’re looking for a job, and be specific about what type of job or career field. Then ask them if they have any job leads or know anyone who could give you some advice on following your chosen path. If they give you a name, follow up with that person immediately.
When you get in touch with a contact, your best strategy is to ask him or her for advice or insight — not a job. Many people like to give advice, but if you ask for a job outright, you’re putting them on the spot and they may feel ambushed. A better strategy is to meet with your contact and ask for insight into the field. If your contact does know of a job, he or she may tell you how to apply or give you an additional person to contact. Networking is about establishing relationships with people, so be sure to follow up any networking meeting with an electronic or handwritten thank you note.