Strategies for a Successful Job or Internship Search

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• Strategies for a Successful Job or Internship
  Search

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Elements of a Career Plan

• Know Yourself--understand skills, interests,
  values, and abilities
• Know Industry/Field of Interest-- explore fields,
  industries, organizations
• Develop Outreach Campaign--create a plan obtain
  skills, knowledge, and education market
  yourself and manage your time

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Career Planning Steps 1. Assess
Yourself
YOURSELF
JOB MARKET

• Interests
• Values
• Skills
• Accomplishments
• Personal preferences and needs
• Ideal Work

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Career Planning Steps 2. Assess the Job
Market
YOURSELF
JOB MARKET

• ? Research careers and occupations matching your
  personal
• profile
• ? Understand the job market
• - Occupations
• - Industries
• - Employment outlook
• - Local economy and employers
• ? Networking
• External Opportunities

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Research Field/Industry/Organization

• How to target companies/organizations that
• fit your goals
• Tools for researching careers and occupations
• Occupational Outlook Handbook books on various
  careers or fields
• Internet sites e.g., ONet, Americas Job Bank,
  Rileyguide.com
• Economic and labor market information publications

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Research Field/Industry/Organization

• Tools for researching employers
• Business magazines/newspapers
• Career sites (e.g. Vault, Hoovers, Idealist)
• Professional trade journals
• Annual reports
• Organization web sites/linked sites
• Hiatt and Heller career web pages

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Research Field/Industry/Organization

• Research the following before contacting an
• organization
• Mission and goals
• Services/programs/products
• Competitors
• Business volume, profitability, stability and
  history
• Salary ranges and rates for various positions
• Recent employment activity ( employees, layoffs,
  turnover, hiring trends)
• Titles of positions for which you qualify

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Research Field/Industry/Organization

• Networking and Informational Interviewing
• Process of contacting people who may be able to
• help you learn more about careers, organizations,
• or find an opportunity
• Start with who you know e.g, faculty, friends,
  family, peers, past employers, alums
• Join a professional networking group
• When meeting personally or on phone
• Be prepared do some research beforehand
• Know what you want to learn have questions ready
• ASK for additional contacts
• Maintain your network

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Career Planning Steps 3. Targeted Outreach
Campaign

• Ideal Work External Opportunities
• Ideal Job or Internship
• Create a Plan to Achieve It!
• - Organize yourself
• - Manage your time
• - Market yourself
• - Motivate yourself

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Organize Your Job Search

• Create a job search space
• -Files
• -Computer/printer
• -Stationery
• Minimize distractions
• Employ time management strategies

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Job Search Productivity

• Effective time management is essential
• to your job search.
• Techniques to keep on track
• Set goals and objectives
• Partner with fellow students
• Utilize a file system/personal organizer
• Spend more time on activities that yield more
  results (e.g., networking)
• Dedicate a specific time to your search and stick
  with it develop a daily or weekly search plan

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Market Yourself

• Effective resumes and cover letters that convey
  your accomplishments (use qualifications summary
  and accomplishment statements)
• Networking
• Broadcasting
• Responding to advertised positions
• It is estimated that 75 of available jobs
• are never advertised!

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Stay Motivated

• Maintain a positive self-image--try not to take
  it personally or dwell on negative past
  experiences.
• Stay organized.
• Exercise daily. Keeps you healthy and helps you
  maintain a positive mental outlook. Motivates you
  to keep an active search going.
• Be aware of how you are handling your emotions.

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Summary

• Know your skills
• Have a clear objective
• Know where and how to look for leads
• Spend at least some time every week on your
  search
• Utilize networking and informational interviewing
• Follow up on all contacts