How to Conduct a Job Search

Define Your Career Objective
Locate Job Opportunities
Generate Interviews
Adopt a Positive Attitude
Keep Records
Follow Up
Consider/Accept/Negotiate Offers

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Define Your Career Objective

To help define your career objective, answer these questions:

• What job titles or specialty areas are you seeking?
• What types of positions are you looking for?
• Regardless of the job title, what industry areas interest you? (ie. Business, healthcare, education, government, legal, technology, sports, entertainment, etc.)
• What type of organization would you like to work for? (public, private, non-profit, government)
• What size organization is a good fit for you? (large, mid-sized, small)
• What geographical locations do you prefer?
• What is your desired salary? What is the minimum salary you can accept?
• What benefits are you seeking that might affect the salary you would be willing to accept?

Then find information describing your target organizations using resources such as those found at our Company & Organization Profiles page. Develop written materials that describe the jobs you are seeking and why you are qualified for those positions. You will need this information to customize your resume according to the job you are applying for, if you are applying to more than one type of industry or organization.

Locate Job Opportunities

Utilize a variety of job search methods including our Flash Forward recruiting system to locate position openings.

Generate Interviews

Arrange as many in-person interviews as you can. Don't wait for people to call you; telephone them first. Some interviews will be formal, others will be information gathering meetings. Always request an interview, even if you are not sure you are the right candidate for the job. Be firm and confident in marketing your skills, but don't be pushy or annoying. Practice your interviewing skills (come to the Career Services Center to do this!) and set a goal of obtaining an interview with all organizations on your list, even if there are no current openings. An interview is your best chance of being remembered once an opening does occur.

Adopt a Positive Attitude

Think of your job search as a homework assignment to be completed each week. Seek out support from friends and the Career Services Center staff to help you stay motivated as you pursue your job search options.

Keep Records

Set up a system to manage your job search. Keep photocopies of the cover letters and resumes you send out, as well as of the position announcements you respond to. Maintain a list of all prospective contacts, companies contacted, people you talked to (including their phone numbers and dates of your contact), follow-up dates, and status of contact.

Follow Up

Employers will usually NOT contact you right away, so be sure to follow-up. It's important, however, that you do not pester employers or call people every week to check on the status of your application. Two or three weeks after you send in your materials, you may wish to call and confirm that they were received; this may also give you the opportunity to re-express your interest in the position. If someone takes the time to speak with you in detail about the company or positions, follow-up that conversation with a brief thank-you letter. If anyone requests that you send additional information, do so promptly and re-express your interest in the position in your cover letter. After you have spoken to someone, ask them what "the next steps" are or what the time line is for this position search, this will help you determine when you will want to follow-up with them again.

Consider / Accept / Negotiate Offers

Prepare for outcomes ahead of time - experiencing rejection is inevitable. Try not to take the rejection personally. You are evaluating, accepting, and rejecting potential employers just as they are doing with you. Be ready to redefine your plans as required.

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