Careers Centre
The Job Search Process
An effective job search process involves a well-organised
strategy to:
fine tune your resume and cover letter for each job
research organisations and opportunities
prepare appropriate questions and answers
keep records and
proactively follow up applications and leads
This handout describes the who, what, when, how, and
why of job seeking. For information on the where, see
the handout Where to Find Jobs.
Who is my job search for?
Although you may receive career planning advice from
friends and family members you also need to consider
your own needs in the job search process. Youll be most
satisfied in a job, career or working environment that
relates to your interests, goals, skills, values and personality.
So in addition to researching prospective employers, its
important that you have a good understanding of yourself
and what you have to offer an organisation. For more
information refer to the Career Advice section of the
Careers Centres website.
What strategies do I need for an effective
job search process?
Prepare a resume and cover letter tailored to each
application. For further information see the handouts
on Resume Writing and Cover Letters.
Follow instructions. For example, if the advertisement
states that you must post your application to a
particular person and you e-mail yours to someone
else, you run the risk of missing out on an interview.
Use your initiative to uncover the hidden job
market. Cold canvassing, applying on spec and
active job search are terms describing direct
approaches to employers who have not advertised
jobs. Approximately 80% of jobs arent advertised,
so researching opportunities is very important. For
further information, see the Careers Centres handout
Where to Find Jobs.
Shortlist potential employers in an area of interest and
approach them directly with an unsolicited application.
Although each application may seem like more work
than just sending the same letter to many employers,
its more effective and cheaper to choose fewer and
more appropriate targets. You may decide that the
letter you sent to legal firm A will be suitable also for
legal firm B, but in general avoid standard letters.
What strategies can I use to target
employers who have not advertised jobs?
Send an application then follow up by phone:
Sending an unsolicited, personalised and tailored letter can
show your initiative and self-confidence. Studies show
that if you can get your application to the specific person
youd be working for, your chances of gaining a job are
better than if you write to a generic Human Resources
position. Find out who to send the letter to by phoning the
organisation and asking for the name of the person heading
the section you wish to work in or the Human Resources
Manager (or whoever deals with recruitment). Check that
you have the correct title and spelling!
The employer will read your letter with the organisations
needs in mind, so dont just say youre interested in getting
into journalism or property development or finance. State
how you can add value to the organisation and contribute
to its success. Say why that particular organisation
interests you or why your own interests, knowledge, skills,
values and potential are particularly relevant. Relate
these to the industry and the organisation to make a good
impression.
Dont leave it up to the employer to contact you. Say at
the end of your letter, I will telephone on ... (about a week
later) to see whether I can make an appointment with you.
Then show your initiative and reliability by following up as
promised. Find further information in the handout Cover
Letters.
Phone then send your application:
You can avoid the initial letter and instead try direct
personal approaches or telephoning. This can also
demonstrate your initiative and self-confidence. Prepare
questions and answers and practise them before phoning.
Keep your list of questions next to you so you dont
stumble through the conversation and give the impression
that you have inferior communication skills.
What results might I get from targeting
and following up employers?
The outright rebuff.
When you phone you may not be able to speak to the
particular person. When you follow up your letter with a
phone call you may be told that the organisation is not at
all interested in you and they dont even remember seeing
your letter. Although this response can be disappointing,
dont assume there was anything wrong with your
approach or your general employability - just with your
timing. You simply write it off to experience.
The lukewarm response.
Your telephone call is received politely, and your initiative
commended, but there are no immediate prospects and
they dont have the time for you to visit. But you might,
with a few judicious questions, glean more information
about the industry or the organisation, and helpful hints
about where else to try. Be prepared. Before you make that
telephone call, make sure that you have things to ask and
say to enable you to get value from the conversation.
The welcome response.
An invitation to visit the company, talk to key staff
and make your good impression in person. For more
information see our web page on Interviews.
When should I conduct the job search
process?
The job search process involves your time and can be a job
in itself. Devote a regular time each day to your job search.
Graduate Recruitment positions are advertised in March,
so you need to be prepared early if applying for these.
Otherwise commence your job search 1-2 months ahead of
when you hope to be employed.
The University of Sydney Careers Centre
Level 5, Jane Foss Russell Building (G02), 160 City Road, Darlington NSW 2006
CRICOS Provider No. 00026A
T: +61 2 8627 8403 | F: +61 2 8627 8477
E:
[email protected]sydney.edu.au/careers
