Page 301 - Keys to College Success

■ Access job search databases such as the Career Placement Registry and U.S. Employ-
ment Opportunities.
■ If you see several jobs posted for a company, but none that you are qualified
for, contact someone at the company and ask if there may be openings in your
area of expertise in the near future. 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, or mail a hardcopy
version of your résumé with a note that you are still interested, or call and ask the sta-
tus of the application process. Keep in mind that statistically, networking results in far
10 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
15
CHAPTER activity, but your chances for reward are similarly 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 ones you rule out or that become unavailable
■ Responses to communications (phone calls, interviews, written communications),
information about 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 10.5

KEY 10.5 Keep accurate records to follow up and stay in touch

CONTACT AND COMPANY INITIAL PHONE CALL LETTER/RESUME FOLLOW-UP INTERVIEW

Out Signals SEPT. 13 SEPT. 14 SEPT. 21 NO
Jackson Fortnet Called and spoke briefly Sent email to Jackson, Made follow-up call to find
PR Director along with resume and out if graphics design manager
400 South Fields Street job description. would be available for an
Suite 201 informational interview. No
Chicago, IL 60622 such luck. Very unfriendly.
312-505-0400
jfortnet@outsignals.com
Carto Net SEPT. 15 SEPT 19 SEPT. 22 SEPT. 27
Scott de Frey Called Scott re: info. Emailed Scott my letter Called Scott to set up info at 10:00 AM
495-1000 interview. He suggested and resume. interview. Need to come up Informational
scott.defrey@cartonet.com sending in a resume . . . with list of questions interview with
but I don’t know. Scott by phone
Map Communication, Inc. — SEPT. 19 SEPT. 26 SEPT. 28
Rachael and David Jacobson Responded to ad with Called to check if my info. was At 3:30 PM
203-0101 resume and cover letter received. Rachael said she liked Interview at Map
rjacobson@mapcomm.com what she saw and talked to me Communication
some more. She wants to
interview me!

264