Job Search Strategies

Seeking Strategy?

Need a strategy for finding a job or an internship? What do you want? What type of position are you seeking? First of all, identify your target(s). Hopefully, you have some idea of what type of position interests you. This can be specific such as a finance internship at a particular financial institution, or you may want a certain type of position like sales, teaching or computer programming. It is also possible to target a type of position in a particular industry such as a sales position in the aviation industry. Don't worry if you have a couple areas of interest.

Below are details on five key steps to help you create your strategy for finding a job or internship.

If you want more information, especially for job search strategies in tough economic times, read what career services directors from more than forty universities recommend.

Five Strategic Steps

Step 1: Understand the employer's needs

If you were an employer seeking a qualified employee, what information would you need to evaluate the candidate's qualifications? Consider these questions:

Does the person have the skills or knowledge to perform the job?
Does the person know anything about our company/agency?
Why is the person interested in employment here?
Does s/he know what direction our company is taking?
What can the person offer that can help improve our situation?
What skills or strengths can s/he offer us?
I do not want to waste time and money training someone who will leave us after a short while.

So, what are the person's goals and how can this position lead to fulfilling them? An employer wants to know as much as possible about the job candidate to decide if the person is a good match for the position s/he is attempting to fill. You can use the skills required for that position as a way to measure how well you fit the job.

Step 2: Assess your qualifications

While on the job hunt, you want to stay one step ahead of potential employers. You want to be able to answer their questions in a way that will show them you have the strengths and qualifications they are seeking. Before you can do that, you need to understand what those strengths are and which employers are seeking your qualifications. Start examining your work-related strengths by pondering the following questions:

What type of experience do I have that is related to my career goals?
Do I have appropriate co-op or internship experience?
Do I have appropriate experience gained from volunteer projects or class assignments?
What has my educational training prepared me to do?
What types of personal skills do I possess?

Step 3: Identify your most desirable functional skills

After assessing your qualifications, decide which skills and interests you want to use most. Try to identify your top three skills. This list can help guide you in your search to find a position that aligns with your interests, skills and talents.

Step 4: Use job search resources

You know what your skills are, now comes the hard part--deciding how you want to use them. Make use of multiple resources when researching. To start your search, head over to the Career Services office. Career Services offers a wide range of services including recruiting opportunities, job listings, career fairs and database services. Plus, they have a library of materials on careers, options for various majors and industry research.

An internship or part-time job can also help you gain first-hand knowledge about your field. An internship also helps you develop the skills needed for employment (and employers love to see internships on your resume!)

Step 5: Put it all together

After figuring out what you want and where those jobs are, develop a plan to implement your strategies. Consider when, where and how to make contact with your targeted employers. What will you emphasize with each employer? What materials do you need to put together to best market yourself? Create a timeline and stick to it. And, keep records of your progress! It's a time-consuming process, but it's worth it.