Job Search Strategies

Review the seven steps below to help increase your chances of successfully finding the right job.

Step 1:  Know Yourself

• Understand your responsibility in managing your job search.
• Assess what you want out of a job and what is important to you.
• Determine the skills you have to offer and what skills you may need to develop or renew.
• Identify the type of position you are seeking as your objective.

Step 2:  Get Organized

• Write down your goals and commit to established timelines.
• Create a job search plan, and use a career portfolio to help you stay organized.
• Update your resumé at least once a year to ensure current information.
• Keep track of networking contacts, job leads, and resume versions.

Step 3:  Do your Research!

• Research careers, specific positions, and industry trends.
• Learn about the target employer's products, services, and culture before the interview.
• Search the Internet, and use printed materials and other resources in the career center or library.
• Contact professional organizations and associations for information as well as networking opportunities.

Step 4:  Develop Your Network

• Participate in Counseling and Career Services sponsored events.
• Join and participate in professional associations.
• Keep in touch with classmates, professors, and previous co-workers.
• Use daily encounters with people to expand your network.

Step 5:  Write an Effective Resume

• Target your resumé for the position you are seeking.  You may need more than one resume depending upon your career goals.
• Emphasize your skills and experiences by using adjectives and quantifiers to describe your job duties.
• Update your resumé periodically to include current information and appropriate recognitions.
• Utilize resumé samples from the career library, including electronic resumé formats, to help with sylistic issues.
• Visit resumé writing websites for additional tips and resources.
• Proofread your resumé for grammatical and spelling errors. 
  
  Contact the Counseling and Career Services Office 443-518-1340 to schedule a resume critique.

Step 6:  Become Comfortable with the Interview

• Know what value you can bring to a company/employer.
• Identify typical interview questions, and prepare effective responses.
• Practice answering interview questions through a "mock interview."
• Write thank you notes or letters after each interview. 
• Visit interviewing websites for additional tips and resources.
• Debrief with a counselor on how the interview progressed.  What worked well?  What needs improvement?

Step 7:  Evaluate Your Job Search

• Identify the job search strategies that you have been using.  What has worked?  What areas might you strengthen?
• Pursue all job leads provided to you from your network.  Make follow-up calls regarding job leads and completed interviews.
• Constantly improve your skills and your ability to market them. 
• Be alert and ready for when your next opportunity comes along. 
• Be proactive and take action: do not wait for opportunities to come to you.

Visit job search websites to stay updated on possible job opportunities available to you.