LESSON 1JOB SERACHING TECHNIQUES

BY: HÜSEYİN GÜRSEVSPRING 2010

INTRODUCTION

GRADUATE JOB SEARCH

GRADUATE JOB SEARCH

1. HOW TO GO ABOUT JOB SEARCHING?

PRIOR TO GRADUATION

Attend ‘Milk Round’ events prior to your graduation, where people from companies visit universities and interview students who are interested in working for them.

AFTER GRADUATION

a) Shift your ‘Networking Skills’ into high gear.

Ask friends and family members to ask their co-workers and other acquaintances if they have either heard of available and relevant job openings, or if they know of someone to whom you ought to talk.

b) Contact the University Alumni Office or Career Service center

c) Rregister wıtgh Labor Exchange office of your country

d) If you have held internship or summer training at a company , get in touch with the company managements and ask them to point

you in the right direction.

1. HOW TO GO ABOUT JOB SEARCHING?

Remember that best jobs never gets advertised!!! However, this does not mean you can not find job outside the Networking.

e) Check Job advertisements in:

Local and national press, Trade magazines, Professional magazines etc….

f) Check out Internet Job listings - Go to Websites for the career field (Employment Agencies) in which you are interested.

g) Visit Job Fairs. (Job fairs are usually advertised in your local newspapers).

h) Visit Companies Websites, which you would like to work. See if they have any job listings posted within the site.

j) Call the Human Resources department of potential employers and ask if they have any job openings.

k) Write speculative letters to prospective companies for job enquiry.

2. JOB SEARCH TIPS 1) Answering the ‘Why You’ Question

Remember that the following question always goes through the employers mind !

‘’Why should I hire you when there are so many

candidates with experience and credentials?"

Put yourself in the shoes of the person who's hiring.

- What does the world look like through their eyes? - What might they be afraid of if they hire you? Finding

answers to these 'unasked' questions can lead to get a job.

2. JOB SEARCH TIPS

2) Build a “Brag Book"

All jobs will require you to submit a Curriculum Vitae (CV) that's clear, concise and focused on results.

You also have to build an ‘Experience Portfolio’ of what you have done and then bind it like a book to give to employers during the interview.

What to include in a Brag Book?

- Academic Degrees. Diplomas and technical Courses Certifications

- Samples of your work (e.g. Graduation Project work etc)

- Written articles and comments about you.

Book Brag has produced break through results for many years. The reason behind the success very simple:- Because very few Job

seekers take the time to assemble an effective Brag Book.

2. JOB SEARCH TIPS

3) Network Smartly

Networking is the most effective but less remembered job search techniques .

The starting point of Networking is to have an Objective (i.e. clear sense of what you are after.)

A scattered approach to networking will leave you with a pocketful of names and no clear plan.

Golden Rule of Networking:

"All serious Networking is reciprocal ".

People who devote time and energy to you deserve something in return, so you need to find ways to give something back,”

.

3. JOB NETWORKING TIPS 1. Brainstorm for Contacts.

Think of everyone who could possibly serve you as a contact.

- Don't limit yourself to people who could clearly help you out.

- Also consider friendly and accessible people (in unrelated fields) who have contacts that would be happy to share with you.

2. Be Prepared

Networking is like planning a political campaign. Think about what you tactically need to accomplish, convey, and gain.

You should approach Job Networking opportunities with a good Plan.

3. JOB NETWORKING TIPS

3) Networking Knows No Boundaries

University graduate reunions, cocktail parties, Business conferences and Seminars etc… are obvious networking opportunities

You could walk away from these events with a few business cardsand some recommendations for potential entries

Always be ready to make a contact and exchange business cards.

Don't hesitate to establish Network link with someone who has no obvious connection to your ambitions: These contacts may be able to give you relevant names of his or her friends and colleagues.

3. JOB NETWORKING TIPS

4) Follow Up

After meeting with a new contact, it is absolutely essential to write a thank you note to the contact.

Tell your contact how much he or she helped you, and refer to particularly helpful, specific advice.

Keep in touch with your contacts. This way, they may think of you if an opportunity comes up, and they will also be forthcoming with new advice.

It's important to stay on your contacts radar screens without being imposing or invasive. And, of course, if you get the job, be sure to tell them and thank them again for their help.

3. JOB NETWORKING TIPS

5) What Goes Around Comes Around

If you want to be treated with respect, treat others with

respect.

If you want your phone calls and email messages returned, call and write back to the people who contact you.

6) Make It Easy For Your Contacts

When you call, meet with, or write to a potential contact, make it as easy as possible for them to help you by explain what you specifically want, and ask detail-oriented questions.

3. JOB NETWORKING TIPS

7) Stay Organized

Keep a record of your Networking. (Whether you do this in a notebook, or in a database file on

a computer, it is important to keep track of your contacts. )

Make sure your recording system has plenty of room for: - Contact name, - Address, (including e-mail address) - Phone numbers, (Land line and mobile numbers) - Company name, - Job title, - Where you meet them and subsequent conversations you've

had with them. - Any other comments

4. JOB SEARCH TACTICS

The following tactics for finding the first job faster can help you make that all-important leap from being a University student to a full-time employee.

1) Don't Sit Back - Be Aggressive

Don't wait for Employment Agencies or prospective Companies to respond to your mailed job applications .

"Deal with Decision makers only. Not with middleman!

- Call head of the department you want to work in, and ask for an appointment.

- Never deal with Human Resources department ; Because they do not make decisions and they are more ‘CV Traffic Managers,‘”

The more persistent and proactive you are, the better it is.

- You might get the phone slammed in your ear once or twice. But the more “NOs" you hear, the closer you are to getting a "Yes" answer that comes with a job offer.

4. JOB SEARCH TACTICS 2) Research For Insights

Research the company you are trying to seek employment with. The more you know about the company you want to work for, the better you can tailor your CV’s and Cover Letters to hit

them right between the eyes.

The more extensively you research a company, the more intelligently you can approach them with potential solutions to their problems.

(Remember -- Never think: - Give me a job. Rather think ‘Here is how I can help you’.

4. JOB SEARCH TACTICS 3) Plug Into Your Network

Networking is both the most effective yet most overlooked tool in every job seeker's tool kit.

- Regardless of your experience levels make a list of 50 companies you like to work .

- Call the Companies and get the name of the Manager(s) you would work like to work for.

- Call each Manager and ask for a 20-minute appointment . If you've researched the company ahead of time you can wow the

manager with your knowledge and ideas.

5. JOB SEARCH SECRETS

The Three Creative Job Search Secrets to locate job openings

using ‘Free Resources’ at your disposal are:

1) Read the News Paper Job Advertisements

- Almost everyone reads a daily newspaper, why not start your Job search there? However, don't spend a lot of time on the Want ads.

- All it takes is a little digging to uncover the "jewels" that point you toward companies in need of new employees.

5. JOB SEARCH SECRETS 2) Consider Temporary Employment

Temporary Employment Agencies can open the door to a wider range of jobs than you think.

Temporary employment is sometimes used by many companies

as the screening device to put temporary workers through a trial period . And, if the employee is talented enough, a job can be created just for him or her.

Use of Temporary Employment Agencies for this purpose is very common in Europe and USA.

5. JOB SEARCH SECRETS

3) Network Smarter, Not Harder

Networking is how 70-80% of the best jobs are filled. You must network smartly and more creatively.

- When you call or meet networking contacts, ask for names of growing companies who could use someone with your experience.

- Ask for a contact person at the target employer(s), but avoid the Human Resources department, since they often act as gatekeepers

and may shun you.

6. JOB SEARCH LESSONS

You can do great things in your career, if you exercise persistence, politeness and be smart.

1) Don't take every Help-want advert at face value

Some job advertisements are written to prevent all but the most gung- ho job seekers from applying. The Reason behind is to prevent a flood of CVs that would take days to read, some employers purposely place

ads that ask for unrealistic qualifications.

If you want to get this job then you should take the direct approach and call the company without any fear.

Tell them that even God himself couldn't meet all their requirements, but if they want a top-notch person you are the one.

6. JOB SEARCH LESSONS

2) You may be more qualified for the job than you think. Be aware of your capability, be flexible and fight to get he job if you want it.

3) Replying Rejection Letters sometimes can be a good thing

When several applicants were interviewed by a Panel but still can't decide on one candidate, the panel may send out rejection letters to

test the mettle of those job seekers. So replying the Rejection letter may win you the job.

7. JOB SEARCH MISTAKES

When your job search go nowhere:

You can blame the economy or the seasonal hiring slump.

Or you can look to yourself. You might be secretly sabotaging your job search

The Three Job Search Mistakes to Avoid

Lesson 1: Find a job you want to do.

Unless you're passionately committed to the job you seek, you won't pursue it enough determination to be successful in the long run.

7. JOB SEARCH MISTAKES

Lesson 2: The best jobs are never advertised in the classified advertısements or online media. They are filled by

word of mouth through networkıng..

Lesson 3: Take action in your job search now.

You can supercharge your job search by learning what NOT to do.

This will help you pursue a job you really want, uncover the hidden job market through networking, and take action – now !!!!

Remember that a Curriculum Vitae (CV) is an essential tool in Job Search.

When applying for a job vacancy you generally first have to send your CV to present yourself to the prospective employer.