- THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF A JOB SEARCH
IS TO SECURE AN INTERVIEW AND A JOB OFFER.
ONCE YOU HAVE A CLEARLY DEFINED CAREER OBJECTIVE,
AND HAVE IDENTIFIED JOBS THAT SUIT YOUR PERSONAL
AND CAREER GOALS, IT IS TIME TO BEGIN A TARGETED JOB SEARCH.
THERE ARE MANY SOURCES FOR JOB LEADS.
INFORMATION REGARDING OPEN POSITIONS
WITHIN A COMPANY CAN OFTEN BE OBTAINED DIRECTLY
FROM THE TARGET COMPANY WEBSITE
OR FROM VISITING THE COMPANY'S HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT.
CHECK ONLINE MESSAGE BOARDS
AND POPULAR JOB SEARCH SITES SUCH AS MONSTER.COM,
CAREERBUILDER.COM,
AND HOTJOBS.COM.
MANY LARGER CITIES AND COUNTIES OFFER ONE-STOP CENTERS
FOR JOB SEEKERS.
THESE GOVERNMENT FUNDED AGENCIES PROVIDE JOB SEEKERS ASSISTANCE
AND SERVE AS A LINK BETWEEN JOB SEEKERS AND LOCAL EMPLOYERS.
OTHER JOB SOURCES INCLUDE JOB FAIRS,
NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENTS,
INDUSTRY JOURNALS,
INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS, AND CURRENT EMPLOYEES
WHO WORK IN YOUR TARGETED INDUSTRY AND/OR COMPANY.
IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO FIND A JOB LEAD,
SEND AN UNSOLICITED COVER LETTER
AND RESUME TO YOUR TARGET COMPANY.
WHEN SENDING AN UNSOLICITED RESUME,
SEND TWO COPIES, ONE TO THE HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGER
AND THE OTHER TO THE MANAGER OF YOUR TARGET JOB.
PRIOR TO SENDING YOUR RESUME,
CALL THE COMPANY TO SECURE THE NAMES OF BOTH MANAGERS.
IDENTIFY THE CORRECT SPELLING AND GENDER FOR THE INDIVIDUALS
TO WHOM YOU WILL BE SENDING YOUR RESUME.
INCLUDE A COVER LETTER TO INFORM THE EMPLOYER OF WHICH JOB
YOU ARE INTERESTED IN INTERVIEWING FOR.
AN ALTERNATIVE TO MAILING AN UNSOLICITED RESUME
IS TO PERSONALLY DISTRIBUTE
YOUR RESUME TO A TARGET EMPLOYER.
WHEN DOING SO, DRESS PROFESSIONALLY,
HAVE EXTRA COPIES OF YOUR RESUME
AND TREAT THE JOB-SEARCH SITUATION
AS IF YOU ARE GOING ON AN INTERVIEW.
BE PREPARED TO POSSIBLY DO A SHORT
AND INFORMAL INTERVIEW ON THE SPOT.
DURING THE TIME YOU WILL BE LOOKING FOR A JOB
OR ADVANCED POSITION,
ESTABLISHING A PROFESSIONAL NETWORK
AND MAINTAINING THIS NETWORK
THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER IS IMPORTANT.
NETWORKING IS THE ACT
OF CREATING PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS.
THINK OF NETWORKING AS A CONNECTION DEVICE.
PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING IS NECESSARY
THROUGHOUT A JOB SEARCH.
DEVELOPING A PROFESSIONAL NETWORK IS EASY.
YOU TELL ONE PERSON THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A JOB.
THAT PERSON TELLS OTHERS, THEN THOSE PEOPLE TELL OTHERS,
AND SOON YOU HAVE MANY PEOPLE
WHO KNOW THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A JOB.
ALMOST EVERY PERSON YOU KNOW SHOULD BE
A PART OF YOUR NETWORK, INCLUDING COWORKERS,
SUPERVISORS, INSTRUCTORS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
IN ADDITION TO ADDING PEOPLE YOU KNOW TO YOUR NETWORK LIST,
THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO EXPAND A NETWORK,
SUCH AS WHEN YOU ATTEND PROFESSIONAL
OR TRADE ASSOCIATION MEETINGS, TALK TO OTHER PARENTS
WHEN ATTENDING A CHILD'S SPORTING OR MUSIC EVENT,
VOLUNTEER FOR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES,
VISIT WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF SOCIAL CLUBS
OR RELIGIOUS GROUPS, TALK WITH NEIGHBORS,
POST MESSAGES ON ONLINE DISCUSSION BOARDS,
CHAT ROOMS AND/OR SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES
AND SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS OR EMAIL INFORMATION.
WHEN EMBARKING ON A JOB SEARCH, DO NOT GET DISCOURAGED.
INSTEAD, MAKE THE BEST OF EVERY SITUATION.
LOOK YOUR BEST, DISPLAY A POSITIVE
AND PROFESSIONAL ATTITUDE
AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO SELL YOUR SKILLS
AND ASK FOR ASSISTANCE IN FINDING THE JOB OF YOUR DREAMS.