Planning Your Job Search The Office: Strategies to get you there…

Presented By

Sonjala AllenCFA Career Consultant

www.cmu.edu/career

The Office: Big Picture

“Michael Scott: A boss's salary isn't just about money. It is about perks. It- for example, every year I get a one hundred dollar gas card. Can't put a price tag on that.”

“Being able to do the job well will not

necessarily get you hired;

The person who gets hired is often the

one who knows the most about how to get hired.”

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Workshop Goals

To understand the benefits of conducting a Targeted Job Search

To review the four most commonly used job search strategies and the 2 Minute Me

To understand the reasons, goals & process involved in Networking

To review the purpose & process involved in Informational Interviewing

To discuss habits to avoid & helpful resources

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Job Search Campaigns

Three Phases Preparation Interviewing Follow-Up

Planning Your Strategy: A Targeted Approach

Self-Assessment Defining your skills Putting your skills to work

Your advertisement What you have to sell

“YOU” Goal Setting/Strategizing

Must have a goal and strategy to be effective

Treat your job search like a 9 unit course

Get a notebook, stay organized, give yourself homework assignments

Research Job Leads and Employers

Start early Have your Career

Consultant review your resume

Start checking TartanTRAK now

Must have EXCELLENT interviewing skills

Networking Persistence  

During Your Search Remember…

No specific job strategy will work

for every applicant! Be flexible. Be persistent. Allow extra time to conduct your job search. 3 key steps - Assessment, Research and

Implementation.

The Office: Self Promotion

“Andy: I am a great interviewee. Why? Because I have something no one else has. My brain. Which I use to my advantage, when advantageous.”

Self-Assessment: Take Inventory

• Skills• Experience• Personality• Likes and dislikes• Working conditions• Salary requirements• Geographic preferences• Interest in advancement

Important Questions

What Type of Job are you seeking? Values: what’s important to you in a job? Have you researched your target employers? Do you know what skills this company is looking for? Does your resume and portfolio reflect the companies and opportunities you are targeting? Are you able to give examples of how you exhibited those skills? Are you prepared to talk about your abilities? (2 min me) Are you ready to negotiate your salary?

Your advertisement: Two-Minute Me

Backbone of Your Search Sales Pitch consists of: Who You Are, Educational Bckgrd,

Professional Bckgrd & Job Objective. Plus, any Relevant accomplishments.

Used in: cover letters, info mtgs, networking, interviews. Keep in mind: Your Audience, What they are interested in,

Who your likely competitors are, what you offer that competition does not.

Pointers to Keep in Mind be relevant & @ proper level, be able to tailor it to fit

situation, keep it conversational, not laundry list. PRACTICE & SHOW ENTHUSIASM!! (Practice

again & again & again…)

Your advertisement: Resume/Portfolio

Resume Cover Letter (customized) Portfolio – (my3D) Teasers or Post Cards Your Web Site – (my3D) Plain Text Copy Resume for Emailing

Facts and Trends

Job Search can take between 6-12 months, Longer in tenuous economic times.

Only 2% of mass resume/cover letter mailings get responses 85% of job seekers find jobs through networking with friends,

acquaintances, relatives or direct contact with employer. 15 % of job seekers find jobs through advertised positions Small Organizations will be the first to hire after an economic

downturn. Small organizations, of 100 or less employees hire 55% of the

workforce Employers post an est. 36,000 new job listings online each week

What is the Current Job Market?

Less companies are recruiting on-campus

Economy is still slow Layoffs are still occurring Companies are being conservative

with their money BE PROACTIVE! DON’T DEPEND ONLY ON

TARTANTRAK

Hidden Job Market

There are two ways to find a job:1. The employer looks for you

(classifieds, websites, TartanTRAK, etc.)

2. You look for the employer the hidden job market

** 80% of all positions are filled without employer advertising.

STRATEGIES

Passive Submit your resume on

TartanTRAK and wait Attend job fairs Use classified ads Submit your resume on

employer websites

Active Be creative Research companies Network A LOT Very assertive Find the hidden job

market 75% active strategies 25% passive strategies

The Office: Know Your Industry…

“Michael Scott: There are four kinds of business. Tourism, food service, railroads and sales. And hospitals slash manufacturing. And air travel.”

Why Research Employers

Employers expect it

Displays your seriousness, thoroughness and attention to detail

Helps to personalize cover letters and resumes, and answer questions appropriately

Helps determine your “fit” with the organization

What to Learn About a Company

Description of job responsibilities Know conditions of employment such as salary, hours, and

working environment

Personnel information (NAME, policies, relevant information of executives)

Organizational culture, goals, and strategies. Size, age, location, history, ownership Products or services, major competitors,

recent development, expected growth

Use Your Resources

CPDC Resources – Career Library and Web Page Online Resources

wetfeet.com vault.com Alumni Directory

National, local, and trade specific publications (Trade-specific publications are best source for targeted information.)

Membership directories of professional associations Headhunters—pros and cons Newspapers

Use Career Center’s Web Page http://www.cmu.edu/career/

TartanTrak Professional Development Tools

Success guides on Resume and Cover Letters Job Search Graduate School

Testing Schools Personal Statement Interview Questions

Portfolio development

Job Fairs Workshops

Salaries Post Graduation Statistics

Calendar of Events Employers at Carnegie

Mellon Business Card Database Employer websites

Going Global CareerSearch Vault Network Nights

Use TartanTrak Effectively

New system! Attend the workshop! Update your profile, and upload your resume! View:

Jobs Summer Internships Student Employment (Campus Jobs) Information Sessions Mock Interviews my3D – a Professional Portfolio

Use TartanTrak Effectively

Submit your resume online Continually check ‘Personal Dates’ to see if you

were PRESELECTED If you are emailed that you are ‘pre-selected’ for an

interview, then sign up for a specific interview time Must cancel an interview before 24 hours or

TartanTRAK privileges will be revoked Use an active strategy

Information sessions Contact information

Use TartanTRAK as only one of many job search resources!

Job Fairs and Events

Career Center Workshops [ongoing] Network Nights: Multiple dates

http://www.cmu.edu/career/events/network_nights/network_nights.html

Career Express Weekend - Fall Creative Careers Seminar - Fall

http://sites.google.com/site/creativecareersseminar Job Fairs: http://www.cmu.edu/career/employ/jobfairs.html

Technical Opportunities Conference TOC - Fall Business Opportunities Conference BOC - Fall Employments Opportunities Conference EOC - Spring Creative Arts Opportunities Conference CAOC - Spring WestPACS: Multiple dates

The “Hidden” Job Market

Approximately 80% of available positions are never advertised – they rely on personal contacts

Most employers prefer informal and personal methods of identifying employees, and believe personal contacts result in more in-depth, accurate information.

Make contact before an employer knows they need you Gather Your People Network -- THE most powerful

job search strategy Networking does not eliminate the need to use other job-

search methods, but it will produce helpful referrals.

Why is Networking Important?

75-95 % of jobs are never advertised US Dept. of Labor:

24% Direct Contact with Employers (Cold-Calling) 23 % Career Placement Offices 5% Classified Advertising 48% Referrals from Friends and Relatives

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Reasons to Network

Myth: The purpose of networking is to get a good job offer.

Reality: purpose of networking is: Job Search Make Contacts Explore Another Career Path Obtain Information Relate with Peers Keep Current in your Profession An Advanced Marketing Tool

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Networking:The Process

Determine Your Purpose Make List of People You Know Contact the People You Want to Meet Call to Set Up the Appointment Prepare for the Meeting It’s Your Meeting

Networking:Telephone Techniques

Principles of Telephone Communication Principles of Scripting Additional Tips

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Networking:Getting Past the Gatekeepers

Getting into Impossible Places Small v. Large Organizations

Referrals v. Direct Contact Fraulein Frieda & Other Handouts

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INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWINGThe most effective job search strategy

Benefits Getting Visibility with a prospective employer

They see your resume and portfolio They get a chance to meet you and see how you conduct yourself They enjoy giving advice, sharing trends in the industry and local

Gather information Company information Job search advice for the local scene Trends in the industry Hidden or possible job leads Organization, Events or Associations you should attend or join.

Additional Contacts Names of other people in other organizations that you should

interview Other organizations that may be hiring

INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWINGThe most effective job search strategy

The Process Make courteous initial contact Ask for information….NOT a job Make an appointment Have your questions ready Ask advice on your resume and portfolio Ask, “who else should I talk to”? Stay within your time limit Send Thank you letter and keep in touch

See “Informational Interviewing” on website for additional tips

Networking Etiquette

Know your purpose Do your homework Don’t act desperate Remember, networking is a two-way street Listen Respect your contact’s time Get permission Don’t be pushy or aggressive Be careful with the word “networking”

Direct Contacts

Cold Calling Direct/Targeted Mail Direct E-Mail

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Let’s talk about time…

The average person should spend 30-35 hours per week in job hunting activities

Full time employees or students should expect to spend about 15 hours per week

It takes the average person 6 months to find a job

Goal Setting/Strategizing: Effort/ Implementing and Managing Your Search

Organize yourself with a system Schedule your job search as you would schedule classes or

activities (e.g. a total of a few hours over a number of days each week, rather than blocking off an entire day)

Set reasonable daily/weekly goals for your career search Keep track of what you’re doing (i.e. notes after interviews) Keep records of initial contacts and follow-ups Update/review resume with your Career Consultant It’s usually better to explore several possibilities at once, rather

than pursue one job at the exclusion of all others. Continue to assess process

The Office: Bad Habits

“Michael Scott: [on phone] Hey Pam, yeah, I forgot what day the interview was and I drove to New York accidentally. I'll be like three hours late.”

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Habits to Avoid - Common Networking Mistakes

Selecting 1-2 targets too quickly Not being specific in selecting target - Lacking a target list of good

companies Not doing accurate research/ranking targets Relying on only 1 technique for getting interviews Contacting the wrong people Weak resume/cover letters/2 Min. Me Not spending enough time (8-15 hrs/week) Not having 6-10 things going at all times Talking to people at wrong level Trying to bypass system Inflating time you’ve actually spent working Not staying in contact with your network!!

Habits to Avoid - Common Job Search Mistakes

Relying on one strategy Selecting 1-2 targets too quickly Not being specific in selecting target Not doing accurate research/ranking targets Contacting the wrong people Lacking a target list of good companies Weak resume/cover letters/2 Min. Me

Habits to Avoid - Common Job Search Mistakes

Lack of focus/career objective Failure to identify and use network Targeting only large employers Failure to follow–up Unprofessional materials/appearance Impersonal approach Underestimate time needed to search

Evaluating an Unsuccessful Job Search

If you’ve searched for 6 months, you may need to redirect your search or gain experience Take a temporary position or internship Volunteer work

Keep It In Perspective

Don’t take rejection personally… Maintain a balance between job search and

everyday routine Remind yourself of your skills and

accomplishments Use your resources Be persistent - you will find employment

Redirect Your Search

Clarify goals and redefine options – broaden or narrow them

Have your resume reviewed by a Career Advisor or other professional

Geographic restrictions Do your skills match with the needs of the

company?

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Still Stuck?

Are You Running a Good Campaign?

-Remember, this is your 5th Class

-6-10 “things” in the works @ all times

-Assess your progress regularly

-Keep some kind of records to track activity Habits to Avoid The Importance of Resiliency

Job Search Checklist

Create your promotion materials (Resume, Cover Letter, Portfolio) Practice interviewing-schedule mock interview Meet with your Career Consultant Visit the Career Center Library Develop a list of potential employers Organize all contact names, companies, phone numbers & your

favorite URL’s Figure out the best way to send your resume to employers

(networking, U.S. mail, email, hand deliver, job fairs, TartanTRAK…) Follow-up two weeks later with each employer Start a notebook and stay organized Schedule times for your job search

Job Search Checklist -Continued

Research Company Websites and relevant job banks. Review Industry Journals for companies Study Job descriptions Gather information about Trends and Companies Look at Opportunities on TartanTrak Conduct Informational Interviews Attend Portfolio Reviews Participate in Internships Freelance/Contract Work Attend Job Fairs/Workshops Join Associations Volunteer Work BE PERSISTENT! and START NOW!

Job Search Ethics for Interviewing, Site Visits and Job Offers

You are expected to -- Attend all scheduled campus interviews Be on-time for campus interviews and site visits Present your qualifications in a truthful manner Honor all agreements made with recruiters. This is

especially true with site visits. Honor all agreements made with recruiters. This is

especially true of accepting a job offer Cease interviewing upon your acceptance of a job offer

FYI: Offer Policy

Fall Interviews: Employers conducting interviews in the fall semester must give students until December 1 to respond to an offer, without pressure to respond on an earlier date. Students interviewing on or after December 1 should be given three weeks to respond to an offer.

Spring Interviews: Employers conducting interviews in the spring semester must give students three weeks to respond to an offer, without pressure to respond on an earlier date.

Full-time offers to summer interns: Employers who give an offer for full-time employment to a student who has had a summer internship with the employer must give students until November 1 to respond to an offer, without pressure to respond on an earlier date.

The Next Step…Contact Your Career Consultant

Call 412.268.2064 or stop by the Career and Professional Development Center for an appointment with your Career Consultant (except MISM-see below):

Walk-ins Wednesday 2—4 pm BA Jennifer Frick CFA/BXA(Architecture, Design) Sonjala Allen CFA/BXA(Art, Drama, Music) Elaine Stolick CIT (BME, ChemE, CivE, MechE) Lisa Dickter CIT (ECE, EPP, MSE) Carol Young H&SS (History, IS, Mod Lang, Psych, and SDS) Debra Johnson H&SS (Economics, English, IS, Phil, and Stats) Ray Mizgorski INI Jennifer

Burkett MCS Renée Starek MISM (call Heinz School) Susan Timko SCS Kevin Collins

Conclusion

An effective strategy will help you use printed resources, web-based resources, and networking contacts to help you identify and consider a variety of jobs until you secure the opportunity you want. Your employment future is your responsibility. Savvy job seekers will make full us of the wide

array of resources provided to them.

The Office: You can do it!

“Darryl: Make it happen, Captain.”

“Michael Scott: I am makin' it happen. Sargent.”