Employment Search

Job Search Strategies

Researching Employers

Why research employers?

1. To aid you in your job search.  Determine more about that organization and your potential place in it.
1. What activities are carried out by the employer
2. How financially stable the employer is
3. What types of jobs exist with the employer
4. What career potential exists

2. To help you prepare for your interview:
1. know what they do
2. how they do it
3. their financial state (are they expanding, downsizing)
4. expectations of potential employees:  skills, education and experience
5. what you can offer them

Use a hierarchical strategy:

1.      find industries that meet your needs

2.      locate employers within your targeted industries

3.      research information on executives

Where do you find information on employers?

1.      monstertrak company profiles

2.      annual reports (public relations office)

3.      directories (library) information on products, services, #s of employees, executives, locations

4.      trade associations:  membership directories, conferences

5.      newspapers:  business section, non-profit, local interest section

6.      fellow professionals:  “word-of-mouth”

7.      competitors:  often competitors offer insightful information

8.      public documents:  government organizations have public information

9.      Computer databases:  library may have special sources for researching companies:  “dialogue,” “BRS,” and “ABI Inform”

Networking for success

Finding a job in today’s market means facing competition.  That’s OK!  Are you are up for the challenge?

Now is the time to identify everyone who can help you find your next great career opportunity.  Believe it or not, the people you already know, your family, friends and business associates are your best source for job leads.  It’s like dominos, one contact opens the door to another.  This process is called networking. 

 When you think of “network” you envision telephone lines, elaborate computer systems connected to data…  Yes, this data is managed and moved by people you know.

 A good resume and your ability to utilize your network are your most valuable job search tools.  Each of our contacts has its own network (at our service).

 Potential network candidates:

• Current employer
• Co-workers
• Previous employers
• Contacts at social organizations
• Internship supervisor
• Volunteer coordinator
• Vendors/suppliers
• People you know who recently sought employment
• Family and friends
• Neighbors
• Fellow club members
• People on your Christmas card list

Create a list

• Prioritize that list
• Write a letter to your contacts, or call them, make appointment to visit
•  75% of all positions are acquired through networking
• If you are new at it, start slow, maybe a brother or sister, ask for suggestions and leads
•  You will be pleasantly surprised

Off to the interview

• Preparation – dress – groom – arrive 15 minutes early
• Bring  SS card, resume, pen, completed "sample application for employment" with correct addresses/phone #s of employers and references (available in the document section of the CalWORKs home page).
• Be cautious – business setting -  not home.  If home-office, bring someone with you.

Review

• Commonly asked interview questions
•  Questions you can ask the interviewer
•  What to do After the interview

Make an appointment with a Career Services Advisor at the Career Services Center for interview advise and interview practice.

Advice

• Show enthusiasm
• Listen carefully
• Say what you can do for the company
• Don’t be a motor mouth, 50/50
• Never say anything negative about a former employer