What must be Held in Mind and Done in Job Hunting 第9页
3.3 Different methods of job hunting
3.3.1 Taking advantage of career fairs
Career fairs are an excellent place to meet new employers and interviews for possible jobs. But you need to make more than 20 copies of your resume and have your business suit cleaned and pressed. You also need a game plan.
■ Make sure that your resume is well-written and error-free. Generally speaking, you will need to print out copies (rather than use photocopies) because the quality will be better.
■ Read the career fair handout in advance to figure out which companies will be represented. If possible, do some advance research on those companies so that you can present yourself intelligently.
■ Focus on three to five companies that really interest you. Try to engage the recruiters in an intelligent conversation about their company goals and priorities.
■ Prepare a 30-second “elevator speech” to use with recruiters. Basically, this is a succinct introduction of who you are, what you know how to do, and why you are interested in them.
■ When you give recruiters your resume, ask them what the next step in the process will be. Also, get their business card so that you can follow up with them if, for some reason, they neglect to follow up with you.
3.3.2 The incredible power of networking
Numerous studies of employment sources clearly show networking to be one of the most productive sources for landing a job. Estimates of jobs found through networking range from an average of 25 percent to a high of over 90 percent. Moreover, it has been clearly demonstrated that the higher in the organization you are, the more likely networking is to play a key role in finding employment. At the executive level, for example, some believe networking accounts for well over 90 percent of all jobs landed.
Networking reveals the hidden job market. These jobs are “hidden” from the public’s view and are known by only a small handful of internal employees (typically the hiring manager, the functional executive, and the human resources manager). In many cases, word about these openings has not yet reached the company recruiter. So, at this stage, if a corporate recruiter received your resume, you would likely be receiving a “no interest” letter or e-mail, despite the fact that a job opportunity actually existed for which you were ideally qualified.
Using networking contacts to get to these jobs, before the public knows of them, can obviously provide you with an enormous competitive advantage over other candidates with whom you might otherwise have had to compete. Think about it. If you can network to the hiring manager and generate interest in your candidacy before anyone else is even aware of the job opportunity, you have effectively reduced your competition to zero. This is what happens when you skillfully use networking.
Networking, thus, becomes key to an effective job search. Failing to take advantage of this important tool substantially reduces your chances of landing the job, as you now are one in a “cast of thousands,” all competing for the same position. These are not odds on which an experienced gambler would choose to bet. So, why should you?
Here are step-by-step instructions on using networking as a strategy in your job search.
1. Get your goal in focus. Decide what you want to do and where you want to do it. Use earlier checklists to identify key skills and potential employers.
2. Prepare a contact list. Include anyone who might have some information about your field. Think broadly.
3. Contact your connections. Meet with them to explain your goals, share your resume, and ask for advice and for referrals to others who might be able to help.
4. Follow up. Pursue any information, other contacts, and potential opportunities you learn about from your contacts. Make sure that you keep in touch with them by following up on leads and checking in for new information.
5. Say thank you. Be sure to formally thank all the people with whom you meet. Reciprocate by sharing information they might find useful.
6. Attend programs and events. Participate in all networking programs and services available through professional trade associations, alumni groups, and other membership organizations.
3.3.3 Using search firms and employment agencies to generate job opportunities
Executive search firms and employment agencies continue to be a major source of jobs, and should therefore be part of any well formulated job search strategy. Most studies show that these firms account for filling about 10 percent of all jobs, with some research showing this number to be higher. An online survey of more than 2,000 job seekers, recently conducted by Staffing.org, showed that 13.5 percent of respondents had found their last position with the help of a search firm or employment agency. When you properly use search firms and employment agencies, in combination with the Internet sources recommended in this book, you have the opportunity to generate many job opportunities rather quickly, and thereby greatly increase the probability of landing your ultimate job. Using search firms and employment agencies is an important component of this combined strategy; therefore, make it a part of your overall job search plan.
4. Conclusion
For college graduates, what must be held in mind and done in job hunting while facing global financial crisis? Some experts explained their advices.
Firstly, college graduates should keep in mind firmly that the society is fair. Those students who have good performance in studying and profound understating of teamwork spirit will be always favored by the job market. They must believe in themselves that they are able to find an ideal job through confidence and hard work.
Secondly, as an old Chinese goes, “There is no royal road to learning.” It is the same in seeking for a job. College graduates should evaluate themselves objectively. It is difficult to differentiate between winners and losers in the beginning. We have to be perseverant.
Thirdly, do you consider yourself a good salesperson? If yes-good for you-you will be putting your skills to work throughout the job search process. If not, get ready to become one-because in order to be effective in your job research, you have to become effective at marketing and selling. Your “product” is you and “your” market is the segment of the employment marketplace that is a potential purchaser of you product.
Remember these two key points:
1.No one knows your product better than you.
2.No one can make the sale other than you.
Last but not least, because of the global financial crisis, college graduates should get employment before seeking for another satisfactory job position. Finding a more decent job is based on being employed. For job situation is in a very severe state at this moment, college graduates can choose to work in small or medium size companies which cannot afford high salary at the beginning. Besides, they can also consider jobs with flexible working hours or part-time jobs. It is necessary for them to accumulate experience so that they are able to seek for another better opportunity. What’s more, college graduates should cultivate their ability in working. On one hand, they should focus on the knowledge, skills and attitude they have already received in universities; on the other hand, they should attach importance to the understanding of the overall labor market, operational capability and their ability to present to employers so that they will be able to find an ideal job combined with their own interest and strengths.
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