Career Handbook
9th Edition

Career Handbook

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Job Search Strategies

There are many ways to look for a job or internship; some are better than others. Presented below are some of the most popular ways.

Job and Internship Search Strategies
Strategy Pros Cons Helpful Hints

NETWORKING

The majority of jobs are obtained through networking. Talk to everyone you know to develop a list of contacts; ask for information on jobs and companies and circulate your resume.		 May learn of unadvertised openings. May result in courtesy interviews. Often results in a closer match of your interests to a job. Approximately 80% of openings are never advertised; therefore, networking is an important strategy for learning about possibilities. A contact in itself is not enough to get you a job. You may feel like you’ve exhausted all leads without landing a job.
  • Follow through on all leads.
  • Keep broadening your network of contacts.
  • Attend meetings of organizations in your field and get involved.
  • Networking is about connecting with people and building relationships. You are networking all the time. Ask questions, learn about other people, and let them know about you.

ON-CAMPUS INTERVIEWING

Follow specific procedures to secure on-campus interviews.		 One of the primary ways in which companies recruit for technical and business positions. May be less effective for nontechnical and non-business candidates.
  • Use the interview schedule as a way to identify possible employers, even if you don’t get to interview on campus with those employers.

WANT ADS

Scan want ads. Mail resumes with cover letters tailored to specific job descriptions.		 Involves minimal investment of time in identifying companies. Resume and cover letter are sent for actual job openings. Resume and cover letter will compete with large number of others. Ads follow job market. The least effective means in times of economic downturn.
  • Use as a meter on the job market in a certain career field.
  • Try to get your materials in as early as possible.

JOB FAIRS

Attend job fairs to network with recruiters and distribute copies of your resume.		 Small amount of time to develop network of contacts. Guaranteed access to more than one employer of interest. Get pre-selected for on-campus interviews. Student traffic can be heavy. Arrive early to maximize time.
  • Follow up on leads and networking opportunities.
  • Obtain a list of companies in advance to create a plan of action.

INTERNET

Search online job banks and company web sites. Submit resumes online and post on job boards.		 Consist of actual job openings. Many employers use a wide variety of job listing services. Many listings have free to low-cost access. Worldwide geographic reach. Competition is growing as use of the internet increases.
  • Use the internet frequently as information and sites change quickly.
  • May need to conduct your search at off-peak times.

TARGETED MAILING

Develop good cover letters tailored to specific types of jobs and the needs of the companies. Send letters with resumes to selected companies.		 Better approach than the mass-mailing method. Investment of time and effort should merit stronger response from employers. Requires a significant investment of time in researching companies, writing cover letters and following up with contacts.
  • Try to find out who is in charge of the area in which you want to work and send your materials to that person. Great method when used in conjunction with networking.

IN-PERSON VISIT

Visit targeted companies. Ask to see a person in a specific department. Submit resume and application, if possible.		 Resume and application are on file with the company. Requires a great deal of time to make a relatively small number of contacts.
  • Research companies prior to your visit. Ask for a specific person or ask about a specific type of job.

STAFFING/TEMP AGENCIES

Offer three types of employment in a variety of fields: contract, contract to hire, and direct hire. Lengths of assignments vary. You contact an agency and they meet with you, review your resume, interview you, and test your skills to match you with their openings.		 Completely free to job seekers; fees are paid by the employers. Know about openings not advertised to the public. Get the chance to “test the waters” at various companies and in types of positions with no long term commitment. Gets your “foot in the door” and can lead to a permanent offer. The job hunting is done by the agency, saving you time. Doesn’t necessarily mean an ideal job at an ideal company. The work is not permanent so you may find that you go periods without work. May have to start at menial tasks. Need to adjust to a new work environment every time an assignment changes.
  • Find an agency that specializes in the area or field of employment in which you are interested.
  • Be flexible with location, hours, and duties, and sign-up with more than one agency.
  • Be selective when accepting assignments, but be aware that if you turn-down too many offers they are likely to stop calling you.

Adapted from the University of Minnesota Career Center for Science and Engineering

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