Job Searching in Todays Economy with Todays Technology

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Job Searching in Todays Economy with Todays
Technology

• Jessie Lombardo
• Senior Career Counselor
• Career Development Center
• Cleveland 306
• 716-878-5811
• www.buffalostate.edu/offices/cdc

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Four strategies to identify job openings

• Advertised job openings
• Interstate highway
• Job fairs campus recruitment
• The face-to-face connection
• Targeting specific organizations
• The scenic route
• Networking
• Its not about who you know, but who knows you!

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Before You Begin

• Self Assessment
• Examine your situation
• Research skills necessary for your desired
  occupations
• Occupational Outlook Handbook http//www.bls.gov/O
  CO
• Preparation is key - Updates are essential
• Resume
• Cover letter
• References
• Interviewing skills
• Portfolio

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Advertised job openings

• Resources
• http//www.buffalostate.edu/offices/cdc/job-links.
  html
• http//www.buffalostate.edu/offices/cdc/job-links-
  edu.html
• Classified ads paper and online
• Online job search engines
• National, regional and local
• ORCA CDC job postings
• NACE Link on ORCA
• Websites and publications related to your field
• Websites in the areas you are searching in
  http//www.1st-writer.com/index.html
• Going directly to the organizations website

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Things to consider when targeting/applying to
advertised postings

• Use job agents, or push technology to save time
• Research both online and paper postings
• Local, national and regional publications
• When possible go to the organizations website to
  apply directly to positions
• Upload your resume and cover letter when possible
  
• Target your resume and cover letters to each
  specific position/organization

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Job Fairs Recruitment

• CDC fair schedule
• Use job fair participant lists to develop inquiry
  lists
• CDC recruitment calendar
• Job Fair/recruiting events on ORCA
• WNYACCC - www.wnyaccc.org
• National Career Fairs - http//www.nationalcareerf
  airs.com/

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Targeting Possible Employers

• Approximately 85 of jobs are unadvertised
• Target your search to specific industries,
  positions and/or locations
• Define where you would like to work
• Define the work you would like to do
• Know your options
• Run separate job search campaigns

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Targeting Specific Organizations

• Using online and paper directories
• Career Search on ORCA
• Business First Book of Lists
• Business First Publication
• Buffalo News
• Directory of Community Service Agencies
• Yellow pages
• Buffalo Niagara Partnership Directory
• Hoovers - http//www.hoovers.com/free/
• The Riley Guide - http//www.rileyguide.com/intro
  .html
• Careers In what employers would hire you -
  http//www.buffalostate.edu/offices/cdc/careers-in
  .html

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Strategies

• Keep track of who you are contacting and follow
  up
• Send tailored resumes and cover letters of
  inquiry
• Conduct extensive research on the organization
• Visit the organizations website and check for an
  employment page

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Networking 101

• Old school style
• Make a list of everyone you know (friends,
  family, neighbors, teachers, colleagues, peers,
  etc.)
• Make it known you are looking for work
• Be as specific as you can about the details of
  the work you are seeking
• Have your resume and cover letter ready

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How to Increase Your Network

• Use employer directories to contact employers to
  conduct informational interviews
• Always ask current contacts who they might refer
  you to for more information
• Professional Associations
• Connect with a mentor
• Conferences
• Workshops/Seminars
• Alumni Chapters/Groups
• Read journals and newsletters

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Informational Interviewing

• What is it exactly? Interview initiated by you
  with someone working in an organization or career
  field which interests you
• Why they are useful
• gain realistic information about what you've
  heard or read about careers
• expand your knowledge of the job market
• learn about additional career paths
• build your professional network
• Learn about the skills and attributes sought in
  potential hires
• http//www.buffalostate.edu/offices/cdc/info-inter
  view.html

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Make Your Meetings Count

• Ask your contacts to keep you informed stay in
  touch
• Ask for a business card keep a log
• Bring your resume just in case
• Make sure you can identify what you have learned
• Send a thank you note

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5 Common Networking Mistakes

• Networking on the fly
• Expecting too much too soon
• Job seeking described as info interviewing
• Not paying attention to advice
• Ignoring the give back dimension

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Networking - 201 Introduction to Online Social
Networking

• LinkedIn www.linkedin.com
• Facebook www.facebook.com
• Ning - http//www.ning.com
• Myspace www.myspace.com
• Twitter www.twitter.com
• BSC Alumni Online Community Alumni Affairs
  Office
• Blogs www.technorati.com
• Bookmarks - http//delicious.com/
• Jibber jobber Job search management tool
• RSS Feeds Real Simple Syndication
• Spoke - http//www.spoke.com/
• Bright Fuse - http//www.brightfuse.com/
• Myworkster - www.myworkster.com
• http//jobsearch.about.com/od/networkingsites/a/ne
  tworkingsites.htm

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Additional Resources

• Buffalo Employment Training Center -
  http//www.workforcebuffalo.org/
• ECC Employment Training Center -
  http//www.ecconestop.org/
• Every Women Opportunity Center
  http//www.everywoman.org/index.php
• Small Business Development Center -
  http//www.buffalostate.edu/sbdc/index.xml

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Final Thoughts

• A positive attitude goes a long way
• Be patient and persistent
• Evaluate your situation
• Make the necessary changes/updates
• Follow up with all contacts and positions
• Take advantage of the resources that are
  available to you

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• The Career Development Center Office of Alumni
  Affairs thanks you for coming!