The Fine Art of NetworkingThe Fine Art of Networking

Job Search Methods Job Search Methods FavoredFavored

by General Populationby General Population

1. Apply directly to employer1. Apply directly to employer

2. Private employment agency2. Private employment agency

3. Answer local newspaper ads3. Answer local newspaper ads

4. Union hiring hall4. Union hiring hall

5. School career/placement office5. School career/placement office

6. Friends in organizations6. Friends in organizations

7. Relatives7. Relatives

8. State employment service8. State employment service

U.S. Dept. of U.S. Dept. of LaborLabor

Job Search Methods FavoredJob Search Methods Favoredby Executives with Earnings by Executives with Earnings

from $50-500K per Yearfrom $50-500K per Year

MethodMethod % Positions Obtained% Positions Obtained

•Friends & ContactsFriends & Contacts 75%75%

•Search Firms & Employment Search Firms & Employment 13%13%

AgenciesAgencies

•Newspaper AdsNewspaper Ads 5% 5%

•Mailing Resume & Cover LetterMailing Resume & Cover Letter 1% 1%

•““Other” (cold calls, professionalOther” (cold calls, professional 6% 6%

associations, etc.)associations, etc.)

Drake Beam MorinDrake Beam Morin

NetworkingNetworkingMost effectiveMost effectiveSINGLE method SINGLE method of finding a jobof finding a job

If If (a) you want a (a) you want a good good jobjob

oror

(b) the economy is (b) the economy is poorpoor

Two uses: Occupational Research

Job Hunting

Can include:

Friends Family AlumniProfessors

Employers Doctor DentistAccountant

Stockbroker Realtor Clergyman Civic Groups

Professional Organizations

Some Good Online Some Good Online ResourcesResources• Linked InLinked In

• Your Alumni CoYour Alumni Communitymmunity

• FacebookFacebook

• PlaxoPlaxo

Sources of Contacts Sources of Contacts for College Studentsfor College Students

• • Career Services “Career Advising Career Services “Career Advising Networks”Networks”

• • Alumni Relations Office: Alumni Relations Office: Directories and on-line networking Directories and on-line networking toolstools

• • Faculty membersFaculty members

““Blind” SourcesBlind” Sources

• Regional Employment OrganizationsRegional Employment Organizations(One-stop Career Centers, State Dept. of Labor, etc.)(One-stop Career Centers, State Dept. of Labor, etc.)

• State and Regional Technology CouncilsState and Regional Technology Councils

• State and Regional Arts Councils & State and Regional Arts Councils & CommissionsCommissions

• Religious CongregationsReligious Congregations

• Career FairsCareer Fairs

Networking Networking ProtocolProtocol

• Set up appointmentSet up appointment

• YouYou conduct the interviewconduct the interview– Be prepared to listen; ask questionsBe prepared to listen; ask questions– Gain new referralsGain new referrals

• Follow up with Follow up with Thank You Thank You letterletter

• Maintain contact with key people by telephone Maintain contact with key people by telephone or or

e-mail: “progress report”e-mail: “progress report”

• Make contact through a referralMake contact through a referral– Stress that you are looking for Stress that you are looking for informationinformation, ,

not a jobnot a job

The Fine Art of Information The Fine Art of Information InterviewingInterviewing

• THINK about what you must ask!THINK about what you must ask!

• Use Use Open-ended questions…Open-ended questions…– What do you like What do you like most most about your job?about your job?– What do you like What do you like leastleast??– Describe an “average” day…Describe an “average” day…– What kinds of people do well in this field?What kinds of people do well in this field?– What jobsearch methods are most productive?What jobsearch methods are most productive?– What are the salaries like?What are the salaries like?– Can you suggest anyone else with whom I should Can you suggest anyone else with whom I should

speak?speak?

• Be prepared to LISTEN to the Be prepared to LISTEN to the answersanswers

Using College Using College CareerCareerAdvising NetworksAdvising Networks

• Identify persons who are in a position to give Identify persons who are in a position to give goodgood advice: either on career choice or your advice: either on career choice or your job search.job search.

• Contact the advisor personally, preferably by Contact the advisor personally, preferably by telephone. Introduce yourself and let him/her telephone. Introduce yourself and let him/her know what kind of advice you are seeking.know what kind of advice you are seeking.

• Arrange a follow-up meeting or telephone Arrange a follow-up meeting or telephone conversation. It is polite to ask for a half conversation. It is polite to ask for a half hour.hour.

Meeting Meeting Preparation Preparation and Follow upand Follow up

• End the visit by expressing your appreciation for End the visit by expressing your appreciation for this person’s help.this person’s help.

• Be sure to send a Be sure to send a Thank You Thank You note with specific note with specific reference to the ways in which you are using the reference to the ways in which you are using the knowledge you gained.knowledge you gained.

• Be Be ready ready to conduct the to conduct the

interview: be specific interview: be specific about about

your goals and plan your your goals and plan your

questions.questions.

USING A CAREER FAIRUSING A CAREER FAIRSome Suggestions Some Suggestions from the National from the National Association of Association of Colleges & EmployersColleges & Employers

1. Learn and use proper interviewing techniques. Communicate 1. Learn and use proper interviewing techniques. Communicate

effectively. Ask appropriate questions and speak clearly using effectively. Ask appropriate questions and speak clearly using

proper grammar. proper grammar.

2. Make sure you are interested in the organization you are 2. Make sure you are interested in the organization you are talking talking to rather than the "goodies" they give out. to rather than the "goodies" they give out.

3. Do a little research on the companies of interest and ask 3. Do a little research on the companies of interest and ask appropriate questions. A list of organizations scheduled to appropriate questions. A list of organizations scheduled to attend a career fair is usually available in your school's attend a career fair is usually available in your school's career career center. center.

4. Do not ask employer representatives, "What jobs do you 4. Do not ask employer representatives, "What jobs do you have have for me?" or "What can your organization do for me?" for me?" or "What can your organization do for me?"

Using a Career FairUsing a Career Fair

5. Prepare a resume that is accurate and 5. Prepare a resume that is accurate and grammatically correct. Then proofread it grammatically correct. Then proofread it and have others do so. and have others do so.

6. Dress neatly. While different employers have different expectations 6. Dress neatly. While different employers have different expectations

of dress, you can't go wrong by dressing as you would for an of dress, you can't go wrong by dressing as you would for an interview interview or business meeting. or business meeting.

7. If you are not looking for full-time employment, let the recruiter 7. If you are not looking for full-time employment, let the recruiter know know that up front. that up front.

8. If you do not know what type of position you want, provide the 8. If you do not know what type of position you want, provide the recruiter recruiter with information (major, courses taken, skills, experiential with information (major, courses taken, skills, experiential education education assignments, and other experience) that could help determine what assignments, and other experience) that could help determine what positions might be suitable for you. positions might be suitable for you.