The 21 st Century JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES FOR Employee and Career Advising

The 21st CenturyJOB SEARCH STRATEGIES FOR

Employee and Career Advisingwww.hr.arizona.edu

The University of Arizona – Human ResourcesEmployee and Career Advising

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A WORD ABOUT JOB SEARCHES

Knowledge is power, and understanding how employers hire will help in planning an effective job search.

Be prepared to become frustrated with the process at one time or another. You will likely feel a loss of control and have the sense that the employer holds all the cards -- and they aren't showing their hand.

The more time, research and preparation you undertake, the better your chances for success. The following presentation is designed to help you map out a job search strategy that brings results!


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STEPS TO CONDUCTING YOUR CAREER SEARCH

Hiring practices vary from industry to industry, employer to employer, hiring manager to hiringmanager. Even managers at the same employer may use different approaches.

However, here are some definitive steps youcan take to improve your chance for success.

• Scan the environmental• Self assess• Improve your job skills• Identify job leads• Create amazing cover letters and resumes • Sharpen your interview skills

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CONDUCT AN ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN

• What companies and industries are hiring and which are downsizing?

• Are there new or expanding companies in your target area?

• What are the most critical skills employers want from employees?


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WHAT DO EMPLOYERS WANT?


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ACADEMIC AND ACQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• Industry specific skills and knowledge

• Reading and comprehensive skills.

• Use of math, logic, and reasoning skills

• Writing skills that enables effective

communication with a variety of people

• Strong oral and public speaking skills.

• Skill in the use of computer and other technologies.

• Effective information accessing and processing skills.

• Ability to conduct research and interpret and apply data.

• An understanding of the environment in which you work and current state of affairs.

• Foreign languages and cultural competency


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PERSONAL TRAITS AND “INNATE” ABILITIES

• Interpersonal skills, including listening,and working collaboratively with others.

• Critical thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving skills.

• Self-discipline; self-responsibility and the ability to apply ethical principles.

• Adaptability and flexibility.

• Conflict resolution and negotiation skills.

• Multicultural understanding, including insights into diversity and the need for an international perspective.

• Being excited about lifelong learning and setting personal and professional goals.


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CONDUCT A SELF-ASSESSMENT

Current Job Situation: Are there opportunities for a different role or alternative arrangement? (e.g. part-time, flex schedule)

Financial Requirements:What is minimum “net” salary you need? What is the cost of benefit premiums? What might be some alternative sources of income?

Preference, skills, abilities, temperament:What are your life/work needs? what type of work culture is desired? What are your strongest skills, abilities, knowledge areas and how are they transferable to other jobs/careers?

Development Needs: What gaps exist between your skills and what employers are seeking? What training/development steps do you need to take to close the gap?


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DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

Formal College Education

Business and Technical Schools

Community Classes

Specialized Training & Certification

On-line courses

Vocational Programs

Temporary or contract work

Volunteer Work or unpaid internships

On-the-Job: Take on additional projects, job rotation, project teams, committees, mentoring


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LOCATING JOB LEADS

You need to decide what sources you will use to locate potential employers.

Everyone you talk to will have a different opinionon this. Some people feel that classified ads are a waste of time and that networking is the only wayto go. Others believe that using recruiters will getthem the job they want.

Some people prefer to conduct their entire searchthrough the internet.

So, which strategies should you use? The answer is, all of them.

The success of each strategy may depend on the type of position or industry you are seeking. When conducting your job search, leave no stone unturned. Use different methods for tracking down potential employers, but always include “marketing” strategies that put you in personal contact with potential employers.


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Employers who hire occasionally, or for veryspecialized positions, will advertise positions through print and internet advertising and willsearch on-line resume banks or use paid recruitmentservices.Strategies: Read classified ads, utilize popular job boards such as CareerBuilder or Monster.com as well as targeted or industry driven job boards.

Employers who need to hire large groups of employees or are expanding or restructuring their organization may be continuously recruiting applicants, even when there isn't an immediate need. They may be building a pool of applicants from which to draw from. Strategies: Pay attention to articles in newspapers and news stories about new or expanded companies; Search company websites, attend career fairs, visit or contact targeted employers directly.

LOCATING JOB LEADS (REQUIRES RESEARCH)


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LOCATING JOB LEADS (REQUIRES PERSONAL CONTACT)

Most employers are always on the look-out for good talent. They are “actively” recruiting, but may not have an specific job opening or they may have positions that are not formally advertised. Strategies: These opportunities can be accessedthrough referral of friends and associates andby networking with others at events, socialengagements etc. You can also sign up or contactrecruitment firms that have a client base in industries that hire for the positions you are seeking

Employers hire people they like. They like people they know. They get to know people by observing them in action.Strategies: Register with temporary staffing agencies; volunteer to work at companies you would like to work for or who can become a source of referral.


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TIPS FOR APPLYING ON-LINE

Employers are frequently turning to technology to help managethe hiring process. Growing technologies include resume scanning systems, databases and job boards. Those seeking to find newemployment are well advised to learn the rules of this new worldand to apply them in their job search.

Tailor your resume to each opportunity and use key words:

Computers can now search scanned resumes and identify key words, skill sets and experiences that match the position’s desiredqualifications. These tools can even be tailored to count the number of times that a specific term occurs in a resume and give more weight to those with higher counts. By modifying your resume to include specific reference in the job announcement to desired skills, you can significantly improve the chances of your resume getting past the electronic gatekeeper and into the hiring authority’s inbox.

Keep your personal information on job boards secure.

Do not include key personal data such as social security, drivers license, bank account or credit card numbers in your online profile or resume. As date of birth is also commonly used for identification purposes, avoid including it as well.


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You likely know about popular on-line jobboards such as Monster.com and CareerBuilder, but you may not befamiliar with niche sites. Niche sites are sites thatspecialize in a particular industry or profession, such as Dice.com (technical) and InsideHigher Ed (HigherEducation). Did you know that many federal, state, provincial, and local government jobs are listed online? Try Statejobs.com and Federaljobsearch.com

Many companies list their job openings on their corporate web sites. You can easily find those sites by typing in the name of the company in any search engine. You can also add the word “recruiter” or human resources to get potential contact information. Other resources include FlipDog.com and Indeed.com that gather job listings from company web sites and place them on single search engine. In addition, newspapers often publish their classified ads on the Web, which you can access at not cost, and free sites like Craigslist are being increasingly popular sites for locating employment opportunities.

ELECTRONIC JOB BOARDS


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USING SOCIAL NETWORKS FOR JOB LEADS

Social networking sites are an excellent sourceof job opportunities. Professional sites such as LinkedIn allow users to develop and extend their personalnetwork by connecting with the networks of others and to allow recommendations andreferences to be forwarded easily.

Personal networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace do come

with a risk. A name-based check on the Internet will surface your

entry on any of these networking sites. It is highly advised that you

make sure that your page reflects you in the best light possible.


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Once employers have an applicant pool, finding the best qualified candidate is no simple task since they are working with limited information.

The reality is that for any one job, employers may have 50, 100 or more applicants. Their first task is to eliminate as many applicants as fast as possible. During the initial screening, employers may take no more than a 30 - 45 seconds on each application/resume. Their only goal is to narrow the pool of qualified applicants to be interviewed. They are looking for reasons to screen you out, not in.

SO, DON’T GIVE THEM ANY HELP! You must spend the necessary time and effort putting together the best cover letters and resumes possible. Typos, poor grammar and cutesy or off-the-cuff antidotes or stories are quick ways to get eliminated. You need to represent yourself as professionally and competently as possible.

Employers will spend more time reviewing the small pool of candidates left after the review of application materials. Some employers will conduct phone interviews first, others only interview in person. In either case, you will need to upgrade your interview skills. (See also: Techniques for Successful Job Interviewing)

HOW DO EMPLOYERS SCREEN APPLICANTS?


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COVER LETTER FORMAT

First Paragraph

State the reason for the letter, name the specific position for which you are applying, and indicate how you learned of the opening andwhy your are interested in the position and the company; expressenthusiasm that your skills, experiences etc are a great fit for this particular position.

Second Paragraph

This is the time to let the reader learn who you are and what value you would bring to the company. Point out specific qualifications and attributes related to stated requirements in the job advertisement.

Don’t repeat what’s in your resume. Highlight the things that are the most unique and impressive.

Third Paragraph

Refer to the enclosed/attached application or resume. Indicate your desire for a personal interview and your flexibility as to time and place, including your willingness to travel and interview at your own expense. Thank them for their consideration and state that you hope to hear from them in the near future.


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RESUME TIPS

• Limit to two pages if possible unless drafting a vita

• Leave off career objective – it is a space waster anddoesn’t add much value.

• Include education at top of 1st page only if recent/relevant and/or impressive

• Begin with professional statement and/or highlightof specific skills and accomplishments – gives the reader a quick summary of your qualifications

• Remember to include technical and computer skills, languages spoken etc.

• Include relevant responsibilities and functions – not every task you performed

• Use bulleted statements to describe duties with outputs, impact and scope

• Talk about measurable outcomes such as # people supervised, $ saved etc.

• Include relevant memberships, associations and community service – but skip references to rock climbing, feng shui and other personal hobbies

Also See: Developing Effective Resumes and Cover letters


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QUICK INTERVIEW TIPS

• Be on time and dress appropriately

• Make a good first impression: (attitude, energy,personality)

• Eliminate possible distractors like chewing gum, visible tattoos, large jewelry, ill-fitting clothes, loud colors, heavy perfume, etc.

• Prepare and anticipate questions around common themes (problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, etc.)

• Be ready with relevant examples, “stories” and antidotes

• Listen for meaning and ask permission to take notes.

• Keep answers brief – 60 seconds to 2 minutes

• Avoid any talk of personal problems, constraints and family situations

• Don’t talk about salary or benefits until you know you are a serious candidate

Also See: Techniques for Successful Job Interviewing


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JOB SEARCH ACTION PLAN

1. Write down your job or career goals.

2. Create an inventory of your job skills and abilities.

3. Identify some development activities.

4. Research places you might want to work (website, informational interviews).

5. Identify specific action items and target time tables for completing each task.

6. Network, make contacts, let everyone know you are looking.


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FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT JOB SEARCHES

• Treat your job search like a job – schedule specific time for job search efforts.

• Identify work that enhances your current skill set and builds toward new experiences.

• Rely on research, contacts and face-to-face interaction to identify opportunities.

• Use multiple job search strategies- but focus your efforts on the most effective methods.

• Focus on industries and organizations for which you would like to work.

• Customize a resume to each position.

• Practice interviewing so that you are confident without being cocky – Learn to “fake it ‘til you make it”.

• Never complain about the people or places you have worked - even if its justified. It’s the biggest turnoff to potential employers.

• People hire people they like – Figure out how to get some face contact with decision-makers.

• Don’t stay idle too long – if you don’t obtain a position within your targeted timeframe – start your own business, work for a temporary agency or volunteer at a company you admire. This will keep your skills sharp and minimize gaps in your work history.


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What are three action items that you will complete by the end of the week?

(Something you are not doing now)

1.

2.

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JOB SEARCH ACTION ITEMS


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JOB SEARCH RESOURCES

Sample of Tucson ASRS EmployersPima Community College - www.pima.edu/jobs.htmCity of Tucson - www.ci.tucson.az.us/humanre/job.htmTucson Unified School District - www.tusd.k12.az.us/Pima County - www.pima.gov/hr/cur.htmlTucson Airport Authority -www.tucsonairport.org/taa/html/taa_employment.html

Complete List of ASRS Employers www.asrs.state/az.us/web/pdf/EmployerList.pdf

Others ResourcesAzStarnet (List of Tucson’s top 200 employers)www.azstarnet.comJob Hunters Bible: Jobhuntersbible.com“What Color is Your Parachute” – Richard Bolles“Job Hunting for Dummies” - Max Messmer

POPULAR JOB BOARDSAlljobSearch.comCareerbuilder.comIndeed.comFlipdog.comHotjobs.yahoo.comJobing.comJobcentral.comJobsnet.comMonster.comTopUSAjobs.comTruecareers.comSimply HiredUsjobs.com

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The 21 st Century JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES FOR Employee and Career Advising