Job Search Strategies

The current job market can be called "tight." It takes a lot of "digging" to identify jobs in the open market. Today, we're operating in a "replacement" market rather than a "new-job" market. People must quit, retire, die or be promoted for an opening to occur. One of the most important elements in a "tight" or "replacement" market is to understand the process of selection and hiring and how you can plan your job search to accommodate it.

Here's How!

Plan your search for a six- to 12-month period. Jobs happen at random geographically and over time. There is no way to predict when they will occur. It takes a fairly long time for jobs to occur and you never know how they may coincide with your particular job search. You must give the market a chance to work for you.

Make as many direct personal contacts as you can. Go to the employer dressed for an interview and hand-carry your resume. They'll remember your face!

Obviously time limits the personal search. Use the telephone as much as possible. It's the second most personal way. You can at least project a personal image by telephone.

The third way is to mail your resume with a letter of inquiry to as many employers as possible. You can cover a much greater territory this way.

It is imperative that once you make the initial contact, you check back on a regular periodic basis. This puts you "in the right place at the right time." Every four to five weeks is a good time frame. Why? Most termination requirements are from two to four weeks, so you'll only be a week or so away from that termination using this four- to five-week check-back system.

If you are looking in a restricted geographic area, you should start your search early and saturate the market.

Don't expect employers to get back to you. Even though they may have good intentions, they are busy and probably have small staffs. Even if their letter says "Thanks for writing, we will keep you on file and let you know" -- check back!!

Use this approach as your primary search. Then fill in your search by using job bulletin lists, newspaper ads, personal contact information from relatives and friends plus any other source to help saturate your market.

If you see or hear of a job, make your contact immediately to see if you can arrange an interview. Your availability is extremely important to the employer. Most people (perhaps as many as 90 percent to 95 percent) will search for two to three months and if little or nothing happens, they pull out of the market. That's why you should continue your search. Letting the employer know of your continual availability and interest will help them in filling positions.

Keep your job search system alive. There are always some jobs, even in a recession job market. The people who get them are the people who persist.

One important aspect of choosing a position is understanding yourself. Self-evaluation can help you analyze what is important to you in the kind of work you will do and the kind of organization in which you will work.

Conducting Your Search

Your career and job search should be a reaffirmation of your personal interests, values and abilities -- a thoughtful choice, not a conditional reflex. There is no one-to-one relationship between college major and career. Most employers are looking for well-rounded people who can adapt quickly to change. A Ripon education taught you those qualities. Therefore, expand your career options to include a variety of choices rather than set limits based solely on your major. Your education, experience and energy can be translated into a meaningful work opportunity if you are willing to work at it. Now, more than ever before in your college experience, the old adage applies: "You get out of it what you put into it."

Job Leads From the Career Development Office
Employers list openings with our office throughout the year. Visit our office and look through these listings. If employers think highly enough about Ripon graduates to send us their openings, that should enhance your prospects.

Classified Ads
These are advertisements you will find in newspapers, job bulletins and professional and trade journals. You may be one of hundreds who answer an ad, so you need to do some homework. Research the company and tailor your cover letter to fit the position that is advertised. These positions are to be filled as soon as possible, but you may want to wait five to 10 days before responding. The position will not be filled by then, but the number of daily responses will be fewer and the better your chances of getting a full reading.

Private Employment Agencies
These agencies make their living by introducing applicant and employer. Some are ethical, professional; some are merely interested in placement fees. Fees typically fall into the $500 to $1,500 range. They are paid either by you or the employer. Visit a few agencies and find out what they can do for you and who pays the fees. If you find one that impresses you, let them know of your interests and leave a resume.

State Employment Services
These services are slowly moving into professional and management placement. In most offices, you can even scan computerized job listings. It may be worth a try.

Government Agencies
The federal, state and many city governments offer qualifying tests that cover a multitude of positions in several agencies. The fact is, the government is the single largest employer. We encourage you to consider this method in your job search. Most of these tests cost you nothing and if you are offered a job you can always refuse it.

Professional Associations
Many groups to which you belong (or would otherwise want to join) offer job lead assistance to their members. The amount of help will vary but at the very least you stand to make excellent contacts through these associations.

World Wide Web
Advances in technology have created a new and ever-expanding resource for job seekers. There are sites for everything from writing a resume to job listings. By using any search engine you will be able to generate a list of sites to visit.

Although the tools listed above are helpful, don't rely on them totally. Use them in conjunction with other resources available to you.

Dealing with Discouragement

It's certainly natural to get discouraged when your job search takes months and months, but there are coping mechanisms which should help. Here are a few of them!

Give yourself credit for small results; that is, take notice of events that happen because of your hard work. For example, any letters you receive in response to applications you've made, any tips from acquaintances regarding job openings you receive, any "check back with us next month" responses, any "check with Jayne Palmer at Acme Chemicals" referrals -- all these should be recorded in a prominent place, like on a big sheet of paper on your refrigerator! You are getting results, and all the small ones will ultimately lead to "the big one."

You also might consider forming an information network of job-seekers who are supportive of each other and share job leads. Make sure that the group does not function for the purpose of sharing discouragement. If you spot a "moper," try to avoid that person until after you find a job.

A very important way to avoid discouragement is to have fun. Try to spend time with friends who are lighthearted and pursue the recreational activities which are most enjoyable for you. Spending time with friends also has the advantage of exposing you to more job opening information, but the main purpose is to relax and have fun.

Keeping physically fit is one of the best ways to deal with discouragement. There's nothing like accomplishing physical goals to help a person feel more "in control" of their total environment. Getting involved in teams (volleyball, softball, bowling, etc.) of different kinds is also an excellent way to keep fit and meet new people who work in organizations where you might want to work.

Taking classes at your local college or in an adult education program can help you meet new people and help you stay in "the learning mode" which will help you as you start your new job. It's also the perfect opportunity to "broaden your horizons" by learning something you've always wanted to learn -- for instance, a foreign language, public speaking, the history of Japan, etc. Usually, these courses aren't very expensive and are well worth whatever investment it takes.

Set goals and deadlines for yourself. Try to construct reasonable objectives, such as "By July 20, I will have written 15 letters of inquiry to employers in the Houston area" or "By Oct. 1, I will have conducted six informational interviews with people in the field of personnel administration." Don't give yourself a deadline for finding that professional job. If you need to buy groceries, you may have a deadline for finding a job, but give yourself plenty of time for finding a job which will start your professional career.

Last, reward yourself. If possible, give yourself a weekend trip to the lake with friends or an occasional movie, or whatever is a reward for you (not too many hot fudge sundaes!). For all your efforts, you deserve rewards, but you may have to give them to yourself. You may think that the big reward is the professional job, but you'll need some others along the way.