Page 348 - Keys To Community College Success

■ Check the web pages of individual associations and companies, which may post job
listings and descriptions.
■ Look up career-focused and job listing websites such as CareerBuilder.com,
Monster.com, America’s Job Bank, Indeed.com, JobBankUSA, or ZipRecruiter.
com. Many sites offer resources on career areas, résumés, and online job search-
ing, in addition to job listings. Note: Competition is fierce on these large sites
and you may not hear anything from them. Target companies where you think
there is a fit, and try to find a specific person at that company to whom you
can submit your résumé.
■ Access job search databases such as the Career Placement Registry and U.S. Employ-
ment Opportunities.
■ Do not hesitate to contact companies about jobs that are not advertised. For exam-
ple, you see several jobs posted for a company you are interested in, but none for
which you are qualified. Contact someone at the company and ask if there may be
openings in your area of expertise in the near future. In addition, consider sending
your résumé with a cover letter, to increase the chances that your name will come
up when a position does become available.
If nothing happens right away, follow up with a short email, mail a hardcopy ver-
sion of your résumé with a note that you are still interested, or call and ask the status
of the application process. Keep in mind that statistically, networking results in far
more hires than online posting. Some experts recommend you spend no more than 10
to 20% of your time responding to online job sites. You don’t risk much with this
7
activity, but your chances for reward are likewise low.

Use an Organized, Consistent Strategy

Organize your approach according to what you need to do and when you have to do it.
Do you plan to make three phone calls per day? Will you fill out one job application
each week? Keep a record—on 3 by 5 cards, in a computer file or smartphone, or in a
notebook—of the following:
■ People you contact plus contact information and method of contact (email, snail
mail, phone)
■ Companies to which you apply
■ Jobs for which you apply, including those you rule out (for example, a job that
becomes unavailable)
■ Responses to communications (phone calls to you, interviews, written communi-
cations), information about the person who contacted you (name, title), and the
time and dates of contact
Keeping accurate records allows you to both chart your progress and maintain a
clear picture of the process. Your records help you follow up and stay in touch. Key 12.6
shows you what part of a typical contact list might look like. If you don’t get a job now
but another opens up later at the same company, well-kept records will enable you to
contact key personnel efficiently.

Your Résumé, Cover Letter, and Interview

“How-to” information about résumés, cover letters, and interviews fills entire books.
To get you started, here are a few basic tips on giving yourself the best possible chance.

12 Cover letter and résumé
CHAPTER 310 paper so they will want to meet you in person. The purpose of the cover letter is to get
Cover letters and résumés are how you introduce yourself to prospective employers on