Job Search
Strategies in the Job Search Process
Strategies in the Job Search Process
“Successful job seekers must have both good information and well-developed job
hunting skills.
Three important factors for a successful job search are:
A) an awareness of your skills and goals
B) an understanding of the labour market
C) a well planned job search campaign”.
Strategies in the Job Search Process
The following six steps will help you conduct an effective job search:
STEP 1: SELF-ASSESSMENT
Identifying your values, interests and skills will help you with your job search.
Although self-assessment can be a time consuming process it will provide you
with valuable information and help you to facilitate career decisions and
prepare you to market yourself as a potential employee.
Strategies in the Job Search Process
Values
An awareness of what you value in a career will help you
when exploring career goals and help to attain
satisfaction in your work.
Below is a possible list of career values. Which values are
important to you?
Salary
Benefits and pension
Professional status
Job Security
Working conditions and schedules
Working as part of a team
Working independently
Mental challenge
Challenging and stimulating co-workers
Variety
Strategies in the Job Search Process
Interests
Interests are closely related to values and frequently trigger skill
development.
You can identify your interests by looking at enduring themes in your life
such as activities that persist over time, consistent choices or the way you
spend your time.
A tip for discovering your interests is to keep a log of what you like to do
and then rank them.
Strategies in the Job Search Process
Skills
A skill is something that you do
well.
Recognizing your skills and
communicating their usefulness
in writing or verbally to a
prospective employer will help
you with your job search.
Strategies in the Job Search Process
Below is a list of ways to effectively
communicate your skills:
Describe your skills in concise,
unambiguous terms
Refer to actual experiences to
demonstrate your skill level.
Connect your skills concisely to the need
of a prospective employer.
Strategies in the Job Search Process
Below is a list of ways to effectively
communicate your skills:
Be sure to list some transferable skills.
Transferable skills are skills which are
useful in a variety of work
environments.
Some examples include word
processing or database software
knowledge and writing effectively.
Strategies in the Job Search Process
STEP 2: RESEARCH AND EXPLORE CAREER OPTIONS
This next step in the job search process will help you take the values, skills,
and interests that you assessed in step 1 and relate them to the demands of the
work world.
Personality and career guidance assessments are excellent tools for this search.
Internships, cooperative education positions, part-time, summer jobs and
volunteer opportunities are great ways to explore career options.
Strategies in the Job Search Process
STEP 3: CHOOSE A CAREER AND TARGET
EMPLOYERS
After you have completed researching possible careers,
several field options will emerge as the most realistic and
attractive.
It is most likely that there will not be one, single career
that will utilize all of your skills, interests and values.
Therefore it is important that you try to target a career
that will satisfy some of your high priority needs.
Strategies in the Job Search Process
At this point it would be beneficial to
speak to a career counselor or get
feedback from professionals in the
prospective field which you have chosen.
Good research on employers will not only
provide you with a competitive
advantage, but it will also help you when
deciding which employers you want to
reach and which strategies you could use
to contact them.
Strategies in the Job Search Process
STEP 4: PREPARE JOB SEARCH MATERIALS
Once you have targeted your career
goals you should start to tailor your
resume and cover letter to reflect
your interests, values and skills.
Your resume and cover letter should
reflect the needs of your prospective
employers.
Strategies in the Job Search Process
STEP 5: PLAN AND CONDUCT A JOB SEARCH
CAMPAIGN
Develop a list of employment contacts and job
opportunities. The more contacts and interviews a
job seeker has, the more job offers they will
receive.
Listed below are some possible job search strategies:
1. Advertised job opportunities
The most common means of job searching is
applying to advertised job openings. Several
popular sources of job listings include Employment
Resource Centres, classified ads (newspaper, on-
line, etc.) and websites (employmentservice).
Strategies in the Job Search Process
2. Develop a contact network
Once you have targeted a specific career or position, you
should familiarize yourself with professionals in that field
or organization.
These professionals offer you an insider’s view and build
your contact network.
This contact network may open doors for you that may
have otherwise been closed.
Your network may also include friends and family
members, classmates, lecturers, professors and on-line
discussion groups.
Strategies in the Job Search Process
3. Contact employers directly
There are several ways that a job seeker can go
about contacting a potential employer, including:
Send a cover letter and resume to the Human
Resources department.
Contact managers in organizations that interest
you to request an appointment to discuss possible
employment opportunities.
During your appointment emphasize your
knowledge and interest in their organization.
Be sure to follow up all interviews with a thank you
letter or phone call.
Strategies in the Job Search Process
4. Follow-up and record keeping
No matter how many job search
strategies you choose, always
be sure to follow up and keep
records.
Maintain a careful record of all
interviews, thank you notes and
referrals.
Strategies in the Job Search Process
5. Be Persistent
If your job search is not producing
the results you are looking for try a
new approach.
If your job search campaign has been
successful, you may find yourself
with multiple offers. Determine
which position you would like to
accept and thank everyone else.
Strategies in the Job Search Process
STEP 6: NETWORK
What is networking?
Networking is the art of building alliances.
It's talking to people you know and asking them to
introduce you to others.
It's not contacting everyone you know when you are looking
for a new job and asking if they know of any job openings.
Networking starts long before a job search, and you
probably don't even realize you are doing it.
Strategies in the Job Search Process
What is a network?
A network is a group of people connected to
you through family, friends, education,
employment and community.
Strategies in the Job Search Process
Why network?
Most jobs are in the hidden job market.
Only 20% of available jobs are formally advertised.
Employers would much rather talk to someone who
has been recommended by someone they already
employ or know.
It'seasier for them because they have your first
reference and it saves them considerable effort in
advertising the position and sorting through resumes
and cover letters.
Strategies in the Job Search Process
You are networking when you:
Attend professional association meetings
or trade shows.
Talk to other people at sporting or
music events.
Volunteer for a local charity or
community event.
Join a social club or religious group.
Talk to your neighbors.
Strategies in the Job Search Process
Fears and Misconceptions about Networking
“I will start networking in a few years.
when I am on the job market.”
“I’m so nervous about networking that
I will embarrass myself.”
“I’m just a Diploma student. I don’t
have anything to offer my contact in
return.”
“I don’t know anyone” .
Strategies in the Job Search Process
Avoid Job Scams
Beware of Craigslist
You should never have to pay a fee in order to be
hired.
Interviews should be conducted at an actual place of
business, such as a store or office. Be careful of
anyone who asks you to meet them somewhere else,
like their home.
Be VERY careful about “work from home” and postal
forwarding jobs. Again, you should never have to pay a fee to
begin work.
Strategies in the Job Search Process
Avoid Job Scams
Don’t accept money orders as
paychecks.
When responding to a job ad that contains a
link, type the web address for the company
into your address bar to make sure you are
giving your information to a real company.
An ad asking you to transfer money for
someone? Definitely a scam.
Does it sound too good to be true? It is. Run.
Strategies in the Job Search Process
Dealing with Rejection?
It’s okay to feel angry or
frustrated
Regain perspective
Volunteer
Work your network
Consult an expert
Strategies in the Job Search
Process
TAKE HOME ASSIGNMENT
QUESTION: List at least Ten Job Search
Websites/Sources in Tanzania.
Strategies in the Job Search Process
Making the Connection
LinkedIn
Alumni Groups
Industry/topical groups
Departmental groups
Alumni Databases
Connect with alumni from your undergraduate and graduate
institutions
Be Visible
Presentations at Conferences & Meetings
Profile on Departmental or Lab Websites
Volunteer for Committees and Leadership Roles
Attend local networking events (Biologue, AWIS, etc.)
Strategies in the Job Search Process
Sources of Information and Postings
Stay tuned into multiple career information sources:
University Career Services
School-specific Career Services Office
Career office of your undergraduate and graduate institution
Academic Department/Advisor
Student Organizations
Don’t forget about your personal network!
Friends and Family
Former employers and professors
Mentors
Alumni (from undergraduate AND graduate institutions)
Informational Interviewing contacts
Strategies in the Job Search Process
•Family
•Friends
•Career Fairs
•Recruiters
•Professional Organizations
•Student Organizations
•Fraternity/Sorority Members
•Other organizational members
•Athletic teammates
•Friends of friends
•Mentors
•Anyone missing?
YOU
