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Topics Addressed in This Handout Include:
Skill development is one component of a job search. A professional resume and well-defined interviewing skills will enable the job seeker to move through several phases of the screening process. But the key to securing a job offer is to identify a number of employers offering career opportunities that match the job seeker's career interests and goals. Once organizations are identified, there is a need to understand the external and internal screens that exist to eliminate candidates. In order to do so, it is important for a job seeker to have a planned and organized approach to the job search. A planned job search begins with a great deal of research and hard work. You must use a combination of job search strategies in order to develop the most effective approach to securing a position. After you have reviewed the information in this guidebook, you are encouraged to start planning your own search and speak with a staff member in Career Services. The Hidden Job MarketYou are probably aware of the uncertainty of the job market. The economy, the demand for goods and services and many other factors determine the stability of certain industries and the availability of positions. The "hidden job market" refers to the positions that are never actively advertised or released to the general public. Your awareness and understanding of both job markets can assist you in your search.
Now that you understand a little about the hidden job market and that it is your responsibility to identify employers, you can begin your job search. When you first embark on a job search, you need to consider "How much do you really know about the career opportunity you need to pursue?" Ask yourself the following question: Am I aware of the necessary skills, job responsibilities and duties, education and training required? Thorough research is necessary in order to be successful. Consider the following sources of information for your research. People - employees, employers, competitors and customers Corporate Websites - look for annual reports, corporate newsletters and other information on the organization Written Resources - employer directories, professional and trade journals, reference materials and the list goes on Professional Associations - consider becoming a student member. You will receive current information about new products, services, discoveries, etc., as well as information about conferences and conventions. Some associations may even have a job network or listing service. Career Services - our library contains books, directories, job search resources and more for the interested job seeker. In addition, review our office website at http://www.uwgb.edu/careers. As you complete your research, your focus will turn to prospecting. When prospecting, you are trying to identify where opportunities exist and who are the individuals in the position to hire. Based on your earlier research, you will focus on specific organizations and industries. Any organization operating in your field could potentially have a job for you. Before developing your prospect list of organizations, consider the following information: Develop an objective - What are you really seeking in a job? You should have specific ideas from your self-assessment and research. Focus on a geographic area - You need to have workable limits. Your job search needs to be manageable. Select a region of the country in order to begin the search. Identify kinds of organizations - Use employer directories, telephone books, and other organization listings to find those types of organizations that will meet your needs. Search the Internet looking at Chamber of Commerce listings and websites, as well as websites by career field or industry. Communications companies, financial investment firms, commercial banks, etc. - all represent different opportunities. Do not waste your time and energy if you really would not consider working for certain types of organizations. Focus on specific organizations – Now it is time to create a target list. Identify those organizations you really want to contact. Once again you will need to be somewhat selective. A prospect list of 500 organizations is somewhat unrealistic, where as a target list of 25-50 employers is manageable. You should take your target list and separate it further to create several lists of 10-15 organizations that you begin to contact in stages.Now that you have a prospect list complete, you are ready to examine and expand your personal network. You want to establish contacts with those organizations on your list. Your
Personal Network
This can be your most effective method for obtaining a job. It also is the most misunderstood term in the job search process. Networking effectively is a skill that many job seekers do not possess. Often times this is because networking is viewed as "unnecessary" and “time consuming.” Remember the statistics about the hidden job market: 75% of all jobs are never advertised. Networking is the job search strategy to help you uncover these opportunities. Networking is the planned process by which one becomes known, through in-person meetings in business and social settings, to people who can provide information about job openings, leads, personal contacts and start-up companies and who have the power to hire. Networking goes beyond planning a pick-up game of basketball and an afternoon social hour with friends at a restaurant. Keep these objectives in mind when networking:
You should also be on the look out for new contacts because you never know who you might be talking to or who might be sitting next to you on an airplane or in line for the movie theater. Networking requires initiative and assertiveness on your part, however, the time and effort is well worth the results. Your personal network is limited only by your willingness to contact individuals. Your personal network can begin with parents and relatives, teachers, supervisors, Career Services staff, UW-Green Bay faculty and administrators, friends, classmates, informational interview contacts, UW-Green Bay alumni/ae and parents, and church & community members. One way to expand your personal network is to utilize the Phoenix Network sponsored by Career Services.
The
Phoenix Network
The Phoenix Network is a computerized program designed to assist students and alumni with career planning and job search related needs by connecting them with individuals who are successfully employed in areas of interest. Members of the Phoenix Network include UW-Green Bay alumni, faculty and staff as well as parents of UW-Green Bay students and community members. Through this database, students and alumni can obtain information for individuals in specific career fields, industries, employers and geographical regions of interest. Students and alumni can also identify individuals who have attended certain graduate and professional schools or who have internship opportunities to offer at their organization. Conversations and discussions with members of the Phoenix Network can give students and alumni valuable insights into the types of job responsibilities, experience, skills, educational background and pros/cons associated with careers or industries of interest. Students and alumni can also learn more about specific geographical locations, graduate schools and employers. In some cases, such connections can even assist students and alumni in getting a "foot in the door" with a particular organization. How Can I Use the Phoenix Network?
Informational
Interviewing
This is one of the main methods utilized by job seekers to obtain information. Informational interviewing puts you in direct contact with professionals in your field. This personal contact with professionals can be difficult and uncomfortable. There are several methods of making contact with a professional. The method of contact is selected based on the level of familiarity you have with the individual. Use your best judgment and professionalism when contacting these individuals. Marketing Emails or letters may be the best approach of all. It allows you as a job seeker to communicate knowledge that you have gained from your previous research. Secondly, an email or letter is likely to receive direct, quicker attention from the individual contacted rather than a phone call. Marketing emails or letters allow the individuals to begin considering your request prior to your follow-up phone call. Cold phone calls are those calls made where a referral from another professional was not received and where the person was identified from your career research. This can be a very awkward way of setting up informational interviews. It is important to also mention how you as the job seeker identified this individual as someone to contact. When conducted professionally, these phone calls can be quite successful. Warm phone calls are telephone calls made to individuals who are a part of your personal network or to whom you have been referred. Begin the conversation by reminding the individual of your connection to the individual. Make reference to your research and your interest in the field. Close the conversation by requesting an informational interview. Drop-ins/meetings occur when you stop by the office of a professional unannounced. At times, spontaneity is a plus. Your assertiveness can impress the professional. However, this may not be the best approach if you are not comfortable with face-to-face contact. This method requires that you think quickly and respond to the individual’s questions. Informational interviewing can be a risk for some job seekers. In this setting, the job seeker becomes the interviewer, controlling the agenda for the meeting and setting the course for what is to happen. Even though you are the interviewer, you will be evaluated. This individual will use the opportunity to evaluate your candidacy in case you apply for a position there in the future. Remember to make a positive impression and perform at your very best. Keep the following points in mind:
This is UW-Green Bay's on-line recruitment program for students offering opportunities for full-time post-graduate employment, student employment positions both on and off campus, and internships. All students have access to PRO with a pre-existing account, which provides a student with direct access to PRO using a campus ID number and birth date. (Students that do not have direct access should contact Career Services for an account in PRO). Navigate to the Career Services’ web site at http://www.uwgb.edu/careers and click on STUDENTS and then ACCESS PRO on the gray tool bar on the left side. PRO allows students to post resumes on-line, review job listings, sign-up for campus interviews and connect with employers. Career Services staff conducts direct referrals from PRO and forwards resumes of students seeking employment directly to hiring officials with organizations. Email search agent technology allows a student to stay current with all opportunities posted in PRO without physically searching daily or hourly. Use of Phoenix Recruitment On-line is the best way to be connected with opportunities directed to UW-Green Bay students and to take advantage of the recruitment relationships that exist in the community and the region. If you have questions about using PRO, make an appointment to meet with a staff member to review the website and get tips about how to use it effectively.
Recruitment
Programs Offered at UW-Green Bay
Career Services sponsors a number of programs that bring students and employers together. This is a prime opportunity for students to demonstrate their qualifications and for employers to educate students about their organizations and available positions. The following descriptions provide general information about the programs. For more details and specific dates, talk with a staff member in Career Services. On-Campus Recruitment - During the spring and fall of each year, Career Services invites a number of organizations to come on campus to interview students for full-time permanent positions and internships. Accounting firms, government agencies, banks, private sector employers, and the Armed Forces are just a few of the types of organizations that recruit on campus. It is required to sign-up in advance for the interviews which typically last for 30 minutes. Some organizations will not conduct campus interview, but will host informational sessions or informational table on campus. All on campus visits and interviews scheduled by employers are located in PRO. Job Fairs - These events provide for less structured, yet professional interaction with a wide variety of organizations that are looking to connect with UW-Green Bay students. Fairs allow students to review and compare diverse organizations with different careers and opportunities. It is an excellent opportunity to ask questions, network and to initiative an application with an organization. Two Job and Internship Fairs are held each year in early October and early March. Teacher Recruitment Fairs - The annual Wisconsin Teacher Interview Day (WTID) is held the second or third Saturday in April at Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. Sponsored by WASPA (Wisconsin Association of School Personnel Administrators), this is an opportunity for Wisconsin certified teachers and prospective teachers to meet and interview with school administrators from throughout Wisconsin. Each school administrator will determine her/his own style and content for the event. Most will conduct brief screening interviews for actual or anticipated teaching vacancies for the coming school year, while others may have a video presentation and/or provide handout materials. Large group information sessions will be presented by some school districts. The format for WTID will be arena style with school administrators set up at booths. There will be no scheduling of interviews prior to the April event so anticipate long lines and keen competition. Registration information is available in mid February. A non-refundable fee payable to WTID is required for advanced registration. On-site registration is available as space permits, however the fee is higher. More information is available at http://services.education.wisc.edu/wtid/. The annual Wisconsin Educational Recruitment Fair (WERF) is always held in June of each year at Monona Grove High School near Madison, WI. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. WERF is a unique opportunity for teachers seeking new positions. It is a day during which teachers can make personal contact with school recruiters from all over the United States. A mix of both in-state and out-of-state schools is present at WERF. The method of selecting candidates is a combination of open sign-up and screening of candidate resumes during the morning with really an open fair type atmosphere where students can browse and talk to district representatives. Interviews begin late morning and continue through the afternoon. Candidates register through Career Services at UW-Green Bay which involves picking up an orientation packet and a registration certificate. WITHOUT THIS CERTIFICATE, CANDIDATES WILL PAY A HIGHER REGISTRATION FEE AT THE DOOR FOR WERF. More detailed information about WERF is available at the WERF website at http://services.education.wisc.edu/werf/. Direct Application – Many organizations have comprehensive websites that allow candidates to search online for available positions and apply directly. Many organizations do not accept direct applications from candidates if positions are not currently OPEN. You can utilize a variety of strategies to locate organizations but the most effect method is use of the Internet. Consider going to Chamber of Commerce websites to locate organizations or simply try to conduct a GOOGLE search for the organization to see if the organizational website has employment information listed. You can also use websites like www.INDEED.COM that will search corporate and other websites to list positions that are posted. There are also numerous regional and national websites that listed positions available. Consider checking those websites listed on the Career Services’ website at http://www.uwgb.edu/careers/Internet_Resources.htm. With today’s use of technology, the old tried and true direct mail campaign is not very effective where a candidate sends directly a letter of interest and resume for consideration. If you plan to do this, it is advised that you email people initially to inquire about openings, procedure, etc. If you are interested in conducting a direct mail effort, keep the following points in mind when doing a direct mail campaign.
More on
Employer
Databases and Searching On-lineTechnology can be a very valuable tool to assist you with the job search process. With the extensive number of websites and resources available on-line globally, at times using technology in your job search can be overwhelming, especially if your search is not focused. A number of organizations sponsor employer databases or job listings. In some cases they will charge you to participate or have your resume forwarded to a select grouping of the employers. Other databases merely make it easier to extract information for research purposes. They may be large-scale national job posting boards, listing positions across all types of career fields, geographic areas and required levels of education and experience. You may also find that some web-based databases or listings will allow you as a candidate to directly apply for a position on-line. There are also sites on-line that can also assist you in researching salary or relocation information. Regardless of the information you want to gather, here are some tips for making this process less confusing. Job Search by Career Field - There are a variety of sites dedicated to specific career fields, allowing individuals to conduct employer research and review position listings. These range from the arts, biotechnology, and communications to education, government and social services. Simply stated, there is “something for everyone.”
Job
Search by Geographic Preference -
If
you have a particular geographic preference for your job search, you may
find some of these types o
You may find it helpful to review sites for content and information and then bookmark or make a list of those sites you may wish to visit again in the future. Depending upon the database or job listing size and how it is maintained, you may find it most useful to check your list of sites once every week or two so you can view the most current openings. Many sites allow users to define search agents or job scouts. This allows you to specify criteria for jobs that you would consider. The search agent or job scout will notify you by email when a position has posted that matches your criteria. By tapping into the expansive resources made available through technology, you will be able to review on-line job announcements, subscribe to list serves, or access other on-line databases. It is highly suggested that you check out the "Online Job Search" link on the Career Services website for information about various databases and sites appropriate for college students. | ||||
