Non-academic job search
©2007, Wanda Tiller, Memorial University of NL
7 Steps to Finding Employment
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Self-Evaluation
Choosing the path that is right for you
Job Market Search
Hidden Job Market Search
Research Employers of Interest
Up to date Job Search Tools
Follow-up
Step 1:
Self Evaluation
What do you need to know about yourself?
Analyze your likes and dislikes-what do you enjoy:
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evaluating reports & experimental design
data collection & analysis
oral presentations
technical writing
working with others
supervising & teaching
establishing policy
Self Evaluation: Information About
Yourself
What do you want?
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Independence
Responsibility
Impact
Income & Security
Stress
Prestige &Travel
Identify short and long term goals
Self Evaluation-What Can You
offer?
• Evaluate your qualifications (what skills have you
acquired through work, school, etc.)
• Transferable Skills: The skills you’ve gathered through
various jobs, volunteer work, hobbies, sports, or other life
experiences that can be used in helping you secure
employment.
(October, 11, 2004,
http://careerplanning.about.com/library/weekly/aa121202a.h
tm)
• E.g. Communication, Research, Planning, Human
Relations, Organization, Management,
Leadership, etc…
Self Evaluation: Information About
Yourself
What are your strengths?
• Lab skills-general or specific
• Research
• Accomplishments-publications, awards,
education, experience
• Recommendations-from supervisors, faculty,
others in field, previous employers
• Social Skills-relating to others
• Leadership-what have you done to demonstrate
Choosing the Right Path
• How do you go about this?
• What information do you need?
Step 2: Choosing the right path
• Match interests and qualifications with requirements and
rewards in specific careers
• Explore the Campus Career Centre, HRDC offices, local
libraries and the Internet for specific info on various career
opportunities
• Take internships, part time employment or summer
employment in your field
• Do some Labour Market Research and talk to people in your
field of interest
• www.jobfutures.ca
• www.labourmarketinformation.ca
• http://salary.monster.ca
Considering Career Options
• Research: university, research institutions,
industry?
• Teaching: university, college, continuing ed.,
web-based, K-12?
• Clinical: private practice, academic position?
• Administration?
• Journalism? Writing?
• Law?
• Sales? Finance?
…and many more
Searching the Open Job Market
• How do you go about searching the
open job market?
• Sources of information?
Step 3: Search the open job market
• Check classified ads in local and national
newspapers
• Attend Career Fairs
• Attend campus employer information sessions
• Check online job listings
Job Fairs
Why Attend?
- Collect information about job openings,
employment trends, types of careers
- Get advice
- Build network & practice selling yourself
Who will be there?
• Research these companies of interest (Focus
on most interesting employers first)
Job Fairs Continued
• Practice your presentations
• Make a list of what you want to learn
• Develop questions (current openings, hiring
patterns,% with graduate degrees, growth
potential, career paths)
• Collect business cards
• You are always being interviewed so be
professional (eye contact, shake hands, smile,
project confidence)
Hidden Job Market
What is the hidden job market & what
percentage of jobs are available at any
given time in the hidden job market?
• Approximately 75-85% of jobs are never advertised
• i.e. for every 100 jobs, only 15-25 of them are advertised in
the Saturday paper
Step 4: Search the Hidden Job
Market
How large is your network?
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Develop a list of friends, family, past employers, professors etc.
• Talk to these contacts and let them know you are looking for work
Make contact by telephone, face to face or networking letters
Talk to people already working in your field of interest about careers in
that area
Attend career fairs and campus information sessions given by recruiters
Talk to headhunters
Hidden Job Market
• If you have identified a company
that you want to work for, what do
you do?
Step 5:
Research Companies
• Research employers you are interested in working with, whether a
position is advertised or not
• Explore available resources:
• The Canadian Job Directory: The Ultimate Canadian Guide to
Canada’s Hidden Job Market
• The St. John’s Board of Trades
(www.bot.nf.ca/membershipdirectorysearch.asp)
• Industry associations
• Research growth areas and recent developments (mergers and
new products)
Step 6: Effective Resume and
Cover Letter
• Have an up-to-date cover letter and CV or resume
• Target both the position and employer you are interested in
pursuing
• Have it critiqued before sending it out
• No spelling errors!
• Only one chance to make a good first impression!
• Attend a workshop or read current literature on developing
effective cover letters, CV’s and resumes
Step 7: Follow up
• Sometimes it is appropriate to call the organization after you have
applied for a position
• Try and get a name
• If you get someone in a hiring position on the phone, restate your
interest in the position
• Be polite
• Try to get idea of hiring date
• Inquire about the interview process and when they are expected to
take place
Cyber Job Search
• Numerous Websites
• http://www.mun.ca/cdel
• http://www.monster.ca
• www.universityaffairs.ca
• Various industry specific websites
• Online Newspapers
• Post your resume on various sites
• http://www.workopoliscampus.com
• Explore employers of interest and their
recruitment practices
Points to Consider:
• Looking for a job can be a full time job!
• If unemployed, treat it as a 9-5 job.
• Keep a notebook with up to date records of all contacts and
contact information
• Be Prepared! Always have a copy of your resume on hand, pen
and paper, and questions developed
• Explore Job Directories such as The Canada Student Employment
Guide and The Career Directory
• Know yourself and what you are looking for
• Send Thank you cards to those who have helped you
Thank You!
For additional help, please visit us at
Career Development
& Experiential Learning
University Centre, UC-4002
737-2033
cdel@mun.ca