Job Search Strategies Academic Advising and Career Center (916) 278-6231

Job Search Strategies

Academic Advising and Career Center (916) 278-6231

www.csus.edu/careercenter

Job Search Background

August 2009

Before You Begin Your Job Search: Self-Assessment

Skill preferences Transferable skills / Skill set Work and Personal Values Attitude Work / Life Balance Self-care strategies Interests Personality Strengths Aptitude

Least Effective Job Search Strategies

Applying for one job at a time Conducting little or no research on the

company, industry or position Only applying for positions you find online Using the same resume and cover letter for all

positions Never sending a thank you letter Keeping your focus general, applying for

anything Wearing casual or business casual attire to an

interview Not including cover letters Using poor grammar and having punctuation

errors on your paperwork Presenting a non-professional demeanor or

attitude

Before You Begin Your Job Search: Targeted Search

Geographic area:

Industry:

Job Function:

Companies:

Targeted positions:

Adapted from: Job-Search Secrets, Kate Wendleton, 1996

Expand Your Horizons: Creating Options

#1. Conduct Internet searches to identify career options within your fields of interest:Go to Google and/or to professional association sites to learn career options in your fieldUse the following search strings to identify career options. In Google, type:

biology careers intitle:biotechnology careers allintitle:”marine biology careers” biotechnology inurl:careers Career Opportunities for Chemistry majors

Expand Your Horizons: Creating Options

YouTube Searches: Use YouTube to research career options in your field(s) of interest. In YouTube type:

In YouTube Type: A day in the life of a __________ _________ careers Social Work careers

Disclosure?

Disclosure: a personal choice Be strategic and know whether

disclosure is necessary or beneficial Connect disclosure proactively to

accommodations, if necessary Disclosure: When and to what degree Turn disclosure into a positive

professional proactive discussion, related to the position

http://www.ncwd-youth.info/assets/guides/411/411_Disability_Disclosure_complete.pdf

Assistive Technology

You are the expert in your use of assistive technology Proactively discuss assistive technology, if needed Be able to discuss proactively and positively how your

use of AT will allow you to perform the essential duties of the position

Have vendor and price information ready for a prospective employer, unless you utilize your own

Community Resources and Services

What services do you wish to add to your team? Do you know what is available? How can their program or service be beneficial? How do the services and/or programs relate to your

goal? How will the service positively impact your job search?

Social Security Work Incentives: Red Book

Are you on SSI or SSDI? What SSA work incentives are available for you? Who can assist you with understanding your rights? How are the incentives beneficial regarding your job search

and employment goals? Does your position of interest offer benefits? What criteria or benefits need to be a part of any job you

consider? How long will the SSA work incentive benefit me and allow

me to successfully transition into employment?

Before You Begin Your Job Search: Checklist

Job search corner and organization

Update resume / documents

Professional dress

Attitude / Support

Career Counselor / Coach

Obtaining references

Preferred skill set

Job search business cards

Before You Begin Your Job Search: Checklist

Professional email & voice mail message

Assemble portfolio (optional)

Practice interview skills

Practice 30-second commercial

Consider transition experiences

Assess transferable skills

Review negotiation process

Social Media

One year ago this week, a survey commissioned by Microsoft regarding how online reputation affects candidacy for employment, and presumably internships, was released.

The survey showed:Most recruiters and HR professionals surveyed check online sources to research potential candidates

70% rejected candidates based on information they found online

85% said that positive online reputation influenced their hiring decisions at least to some extent; nearly half said that a strong online reputation influences their decisions to a great extent

Recruiters and HR professionals said that use of online reputational information will significantly increase over the next five years Is Your Online Reputation Affecting Your Career?Mark Babbitt | January 11, 2011ClassroomCubicle.com

Once You Have Identified Your Targets

Research trends / current issues in the field

Best practices

Legislative issues impacting field

Organization’s services

Research job duties

Identify related community services

Job Search Pointers“Getting from College to Career” Lindsey Pollak, 2007

Get organized Upgrade to professional contact

methods Email like a professional Clean-up your internet image Become an industry expert Conduct informational interviews

or job shadow Explore a passion Seek a mentor Talk with people everywhere Utilize professional associations,

conferences and networking events Leave your negativity at home

Job Search Pointers“Getting from College to Career” Lindsey Pollak, 2007

Be able to introduce yourself Don’t be afraid to risk or stretch Work some new rooms Dress for success Update and remake your paperwork Be the first to follow-up; keep in touch Allow yourself to fail Be nice to support staff Persist and follow-up Be available Buy a professional suit Don’t curb your enthusiasm

10+ Most Effective Job Search Strategies

#1: Give Yourself the Edge Practice your interviewing skills Be knowledgeable of the industry

and company Conduct informational interviews Connect with professional

Associations Know what the company and

industry expects Integrate research information into

your interview answers Dress and speak professionally Professional Paperwork


#2: Network, Network, Network… Faculty Professionals in the field Family and friends Contacts made through informational

interviews Conferences / Trade Shows New people you meet Articles you read


#3: Combine Your Job Search with Connecting with the World of Work Alumni internships Internships Coop positions Volunteering Conferences / Trade Shows Local Professional Association Meetings Create a Job Search Club with Friends Sacramento Professionals Network

http://www.sacpronet.com/~spnadmin/

10+ Most Effective Internship Search Strategies

Go to: www.csus.edu/IRT/web/listserv/subscribe.html

Several examples include: Enter: HEALTHCAREERS-L Enter: INTERNSHIPNEWS-L Enter: SOCIALANDRECCAREERS-L Enter: CJCAREERS-L

#4: Sign-up for the NSM listserv and go to the Career Center website NSM page for links to internships:

#5: Use Career Connection

Go to the Career Center website Click: Career Connection Click: New user registration Enter username (Saclink ID) Enter registration password

(sacramento) Create Student Account Click: Submit You will automatically receive a

confirmation email with a new password that you can change once you login

Search internships by keyword, College or Academic Department

10+= Most Effective Job Search Strategies

#6: Volunteer Opportunities can be a great way to begin gaining experience

Use: www.vounteersac.org www.handsonsacto.org www.volunteermatch.org



In Google Maps, type: Social Services Organization near Sacramento, CA

Use your best guess for the company category, then use the category Google uses to conduct further searches

#7: Google Maps: To locate agencies and organizations

#8: Use allintext:, a Google search strategy to locate key words and phrases on web pages:

Go to Google.com and search on the following:allintext:”career counseling internship”allintext:engineering co-op OR internshipintext: accounting internship OR co-op OR “part-time job”California intext:accounting internship OR "part-time job" OR co-op


#9. Utilize some rare used Google search strategies, such as:

Examples include: graphic design ~internships Sacramento

~ means synonyms “career counseling” ~internships –therapy

- means eliminate pages with this word undergraduate internship site:*.ca.gov * means a wildcard showing everything with .ca.gov after it Use Google Alerts to have search strings sent automatically to

your email.


#10: Job Alerts in indeed.com or simplyhired.com!

Example: www.indeed.com Create an account Go to Tools and then my.indeed Select, alerts Select “advance search”, next to Find Jobs Button Create an advanced search job alert to receive openings daily

www.spb.ca.gov/jobs/special/student_employment.htm



Over 43 million professionals Roughly 1 new sign-up per

second 150 industries 5.1 million students 37,000 college and university

alumni groups

#11: Use Professional Networking Sites like LinkedIn

10 Most Effective Job Search Strategies

Local, State-wide and National Job Listings Networking Meetings and Conferences Portal to contact people in the

field Informational interviews Mentor contacts Job postings

#12: Utilize Professional Associations

Search using Google: Social Work association OR society OR council


#13: Create a Targeted Plan to Get Focused

Identify geographic preference(s)

Target an industry or company size

Identify a function or department

Identify positions of interest, if known

Identify specific companies


#14: Utilize Job Posting Sites www.indeed.com www.simplyhired.com www.careerbuilder.com

Including Specialized Job Posting Sites www.socialservice.com www.socialworkjobbank.com Social Work Jobs in the Federal Government NASW Job Link Opportunityknocks.org Idealist.org


Employment Agencies, Search Firms, Contract Recruiters, Resume Referral Firms

Inquire about the positions being filled or number of openings

Your confidential information can only be shared with a prospective employer

All candidates must be treated equally and fairly

Who pays the fee? Make sure they are 100% employer paid

#15 Consider Third Party Recruiters


#16:Utilize Internet databases and sources to locate organizations and agencies.

Examples include: www.opportunityknocks.org Jobs with non-profit

organizations www.nprcenter.org Non-Profit Resource Center,

Sacramento, CA www.dmh.ca.gov California Department of Mental Health www.google.com Locate organizations using GoogleSearch on: Community Services Directory of Sacramento


Contact a specific person by email or business letter

Indicate if someone suggested that you contact them

New companies in the area Significant changes in personnel

or company structure Identified need in the company

that you can address or help resolve

#17: Target Individual Contacts

10+1= Most Effective Job Search Strategies

Conferences Creating new job search strategies Creating new niches for your

talents Finding hidden job opportunities Weighing the risk and benefit of

creative strategies Connecting contacts through

current events or media stories, i.e., Business Journal article, legislation, articles

#18: Creative Approaches

Go to Google.com Type the following search strings:

internship OR co-op site:www.gene.com

biology intern federal site:*.gov

#19: Locate Internship Opportunities at a Specific Company or Sector:


#20:Use Academic Departments to Locate Internship Links

Use Google to locate academic departments that have internship listings links:

Type the following search strings: CSUS geography internships department biology internships department chemistry

internships site:*.edu


#21: Search the Internet to Locate Specific Companies

Specialized Industry Directory Websites Google Directory Use any of the following search strings:

Criminalist association directory Bioscience and biotechnology

companies in California Research Lab directory Use Google Maps to locate

biotechnology companies around Davis, CA

Animation database


#22: Search the Title, Text or URL of Sites

Go to Google: Type any of the following search strings:

“stem cell” inurl:internship Intitle:”physics intern” geology inurl:co-op California conservation inurl:intern “stem cell research” California

inurl:internship allintext:”career counseling internship” geology internship California site:*.gov


During and After Your Job Search

Debrief your interviews Evaluate your strategies Stay connected Take time for yourself: reenergize Get feedback on resume and

interview techniques Reward yourself Use your resources Believe in yourself!

Thank you

Questions and Comments…

Documents

Job Search Strategies Academic Advising and Career Center (916) 278-6231