CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER PRESENTATION:
JOB SEARCH SKILLS
Session Agenda
 Who Are We and What Are Our Services
 Creating a Strategic Plan
 The Search
 How to Standout
 Search Habits
 Interviews
 Questions and Answers
The Career Development
Center
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Individual appointments with Career Counselors
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Resumes
Applications
Cover Letters
Interview Preparation
Internships
Graduate School
Targeting Your Dream Job
Monday – Friday
8:00 – 4:30
Drop in Hours no appointment necessary:
W-TH, 1:00-3:00
Wednesday Evenings open until 6:30
Top Floor University Center
570-422-3219
careerdevelopment@esu.edu
MARCH-APRIL
SO YOU WANT TO BE HIRED?
-An interactive interview event to select the right
candidate for a hiring opportunity
APRIL 15th 5:00-6:30
Social Media Drives Hiring
c
How Employers use
LinkedIn:
- 96% Searching
- 94% Contacting
- 92% Vetting
- 93% Keeping tabs on
candidates
LinkedIn – How Job Seekers Use
it in 2014
LinkedIn is where they do most of their
job-seeking activity:
• 40% contacts referred me for a job
• 34% contacts shared a job opportunity
• 32% made a new professional
connection
• 32% contacts provided an employee’s
perspective on a company
http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/job-seekers-use-social-media-2014-infographic/
Things You Need To Know Before A
Job Hunt
 Dress the part
 Keep on applying
 Don’t quit with just the application – follow-up
 Show your serious, consider making a personable
phone
 Beef up the resume
 Be easily reachable
Things You Need To Know About
Today’s Job Search
http://www.careerealism.com/todays-job-search/
Things You Need To Know About
Today’s Job Search
http://www.careerealism.com/todays-job-search/
Things You Need To Know About
Today’s Job Search
http://www.careerealism.com/todays-job-search/
Things You Need To Know About
Today’s Job Search
http://www.careerealism.com/todays-job-search/
Things You Need To Know About
Today’s Job Search
http://www.careerealism.com/todays-job-search/
Things You Need To Know About
Today’s Job Search
http://www.careerealism.com/todays-job-search/
Things You Need To Know About
Today’s Job Search
http://www.careerealism.com/todays-job-search/
Things You Need To Know About
Today’s Job Search
http://www.careerealism.com/todays-job-search/
Things You Need To Know About
Today’s Job Search
http://www.careerealism.com/todays-job-search/
Create A Strategic Plan For Your Job
Search
 Focus And Define
Discover who you are or who you want to be professionally. Make a list of your goals,
values, and beliefs, of your skills, accomplishments, and of experiences. Review the list and
look for repetition and similarities, and then focus in on those key elements or must haves
for your professional self.
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 Job Search Mission Statement
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What you’re looking for – your core values and beliefs, the type of company, the type of
skills used, the environment/culture of the workplace, the level of responsibility, the
geographic region, potential for growth, and salary and benefits.
 The Action Plan
Goal
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Build a network of professional mentors and job search advisors in my chosen career path.
Strategies
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Use LinkedIn Groups feature to connect with leaders in the (fill in the name of the industry). I
will respond to one article or post a week for (fill in the dates).

Follow and connect with 10 new (fill in the name of the field) experts via Twitter each
week from (fill in the dates).
http://www.careerealism.com/job-search-strategic-plan/#Pv7oYcY47ftwmTSI.99
Effective Job Search Plan Steps
 Get a professional resume
 Career Development Center
 Resume/Cover Letter Services - $275-$400
 Optimize your LinkedIn Profile
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95% of companies will check your profile out
Optimize for the right key words
Social conversation tone
Show a little of your resume
Resume writer can optimize for $100-$250
 Distribute your resume
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Job Boards
Recruiters
Direct contact through networking
Direct contact through direct mail letters
Effective Job Search Plan Steps
 Job Boards
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+5,000
Post your resume on niche job boards
Vertical & geographical job boards
International Association of Employment Web
Sites
http://www.gotthejob.com/blog/goto/http_www_employmentweb
sites_org_q_website_tree/74/1
Make your resume get noticed!
 Recruiters – hired by employers, they find
people for jobs
Services offering email campaigns to get your resume to recruiters - $100 $500
Effective Job Search Plan Steps
 Networking
 Employers love to hire someone who comes
recommended
 Employee referral bonuses
 Good Networking is asking for advice
1.
2.
3.
Develop an elevator pitch – 20 second statement
Create a list of contacts – LinkedIn to identify companies
& people
Build a contact plan with specific and measurable goals
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Call on 25 people per week
Ask them who else you should talk to & add to database
Create a direct mail campaign
Effective Ways To Improve Your
Job Search
 Recruitment Resources
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Recruitment agencies and online recruitment websites
 Refining Your Job Search
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Keyword such as ‘Editor’, ‘Accountant’,
Refined advanced jobs search which helps in getting you less common
job opportunities.
 Utilizing Job Alerts
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Based on the keywords and job criteria
Scheduled notifications which you can get in numerous forms
like RSS feeds or email
 Go For Every Kind Of Job Search Tools
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Local newspapers, classified ads section
 Be Searchable
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Making an account in any of the various online job portals
Advertising your resume
Speed Up Your Job Search
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Update Your Resume As Soon As Possible
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Figure Out Who Your Resume Is For
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Show, very clearly, what the you can do FOR the potential
employer
Realize It’s Not About You
 It’s about what you do for others, not about what they can do
for you
 Demonstrate “how can I help YOU?”
 Ideas to get started:
 What connections can you help make?
 Ask open ended questions. You may even choose to treat
the conversation like an informational interview.
 What professional needs does the other party have and how
can you fill them?
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Determine Your Target
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Clearly identify the job/profession/industry you are targeting
Know your audience, be proactive, and remember that it’s not about you.
The Most Important Steps In The Job
Search Process Are…
Researching an employer before, during
and after applying is crucial
Company Website
About Us”, mottos, or slogans,
Explain how you can contribute to their company goal using their self-created
image - you’ve demonstrated that you’ve done your research.
-“
Company Insiders
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Social networking tools (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter) to connect with
individuals
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A contact can also give you information about the company culture
Search Engines
ALSO: Don’t forget to check the company’s financial status.
How To Stand Out When Applying
Online
 Research The Company
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“Tailor your resume to show what you know about them and their
industry. And, more importantly, use key words in your resume that will
catch the recruiter’s attention.”
 Create An Online Presence
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Creating an about.me profile, complete with links to your various
social and professional profiles online. Include the link in your resume
 Beat The ATS
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You MUST read the job description and include key terms in your
resume. The resume needs to be in a format that the software can
read
http://www.careerealism.com/applying-online-how-stand-out/#x8V2DdqmRHFuAzwI.99
Improve Your Job Search With
These Methods
 Recruitment Resources
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Online job portals and recruitment agencies
Trust only those agents and agencies which promise measurable results
Have a solid collection of testimonials from employees and employers too
 Refining Your Job Search
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Put up your keyword
 Utilizing Job Alerts
 Go For Every Kind Of Job Search
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Local newspapers - classified ads section
 You Should Be Searchable
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Open an account in any of the various online job portals and post resume
Top 3 Ways To Waste Time On
Your Job Search
 Applying for positions you are clearly not qualified for
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If you are not a fit, then be legit - Call it the “hail mary”
Overqualified and underqualified candidates are viewed
essentially the same: as “non-fits.”
“random submission” creates the impression that you are
desperate for a job
 Including all relevant information for a specific job in a
cover letter, but not on your actual resume
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Cover letters are skimmed at best
Recruiters generally do not forward cover letters to hiring
Seconds
managers
make your resume “bleed” the job description for which you
are applying
 Applying to jobs only through websites or online postings
Low contact/interview rate when you submit your resume
through a web portal for a specific company or job board
 Due diligence and finding an “in,” - getting your resume
walked into HR or handed to the hiring manager.
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6
Dangerous Job Search Land
Mines To Avoid
 You Nearly Completed Paper Work
 You Didn’t Screen References
 You Underestimated The Depth Of Background
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Checks
You Quit? No, You Were Fired!
You Didn’t Sell Yourself
You Used The “Me, Me, Me” Networking Technique
You Didn’t Listen Well. (Or At All)
You Told A White Lie (It’s A Lie!)
http://www.careerealism.com/job-search-land-mines-avoid/#ivbCDcCUH7SbFyBt.99
The Best Job Boards
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Simply Hired
CareerBuilder
Indeed
Monster
USA Jobs.gov
LinkedIn
Beyond.com
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Glassdoor
Snagajob.com
USJOBS
Craigs List
The Ladders
Job.com
Out of The Box Thinking
 Cold Calling
 Create Your Job – Propose It
 Hidden Job Market
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Make a list of key companies you would like to work for and approach
them directly
 Attend Industry Seminars and Conferences
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They will automatically see you as a peer
 Directly e-mail a Decision Maker with a Personalized
Letter
 Participate in a Sport Popular in Your Industry
 Find a Mentor
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Picture your self in 20 years & reach out to the person who is closest to where
you want to be.
5 Easy Ways To Stand Out To
Employers
 Prove You’re Serious With A
Professional Website
LinkedIn account and a professional-looking Facebook page,
AND a professional website
 About.me
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 Illustrate Your Career With A Graphical
Resume - professional website
http://www.careerealism.com/ways-stand-outemployers/#9LUqizs4qLupEuMC.99
Personal Reviews
Answer The “Strengths And Weaknesses”
Questions With A Personal Review
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Adding a personal review component to your
professional website
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Purpose to show employers that you are, in fact,
a person; that you understand how to work well with
others
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Show Them You’re A Team Player By Learning An
Industry Sport
http://www.careerealism.com/ways-stand-out-employers/#9LUqizs4qLupEuMC.99
Additional Ways to Apply for Jobs
 Mail Your Resume
 Apply Via Fax
 Get the right name
 Drop Your Resume Off With The Employer
 Attend A Job Fair
Remember if an employer carries strict submission
guidelines, then you want to adhere to them specifically.
http://www.careerealism.com/job-search-alternatives-online/#dcyEtKUgacQ8l6bi.99
8 Great Habits That Will Help You
Get Hire
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Blog Daily
Use Business Cards
Use A Professional E-mail
Set Your Alarm- 1 hour earlier
Have Restraint – no jokes, cleverness
Use Networking
Treat It As A Job - Spend eight hours each day on some aspect, whether it’s
applications, interviews, networking or preparing. Wake up on time, start work on
time, make a schedule and stick to it.
 Have A Website
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Static website that you can use to post more evergreen information
professionally presented location for your job hunting information
quick and memorable URL
Professional picture of yourself
Contact information, references and resumes
Information about your professional goals, experiences and philosophy.
Tips for a Great Job Interview
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Plan for the Interview
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Be Confident
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Research the Company
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Practice for the Interview
Prepare Questions for the Interview
Know Your Resume
Panel/Group Interview Tips
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Study their website, financial reports, recent news articles
Eye contact, remember names, include all panel members, research other members if possible, be inclusive
Sell yourself (You are your Brand!)
Salary Negotiation is Secondary
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Get the job offer first
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Thank you notes are important for post interview communication
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The Bottom Line
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Be Confident; Be Prepared; Be Open; Be Honest; Be Collaborative; Be a Problem Solver;
Look for and highlight opportunities to help that company move forward
http://www.careerealism.com/job-interview-great-tips/#TwvDam2u6fvdTmLM.99
5 Things To Ask In A Job Interview
 Why is the position vacant?
 What is a typical day like for this position?
 How would you describe the company
culture?
 What are the goals of the company over
the next five years? How does this
position and this department factor into
those goals?
 Do you like working here?
http://www.careerealism.com/ask-job-interview/
Job Search Tips Summary
 Set Clear Expectations
 What atmosphere do you want to work in?
 How much money do you want to make?
 What kinds of people do you want to work with?
 Consider All The Options
 Post-graduate programs, freelance work
 Build a Strong Online Presence
 LinkedIn
 Don’t Give Up Hope
“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it
can achieve.” Napoleon Hill
Questions & Answers
Thank you!