Job Search Strategies
Career Counseling and Support Services
1640 Neil Avenue, 2nd Floor
Younkin Success Center
(614) 688-3898
ccss.osu.edu
Career Counseling and Support Services
Federal Glass Ceiling Commission:
Facts
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The U.S. workforce will become more diverse than ever by 2015
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Up to 80% of all new entrants to the work force in the year 2015 will
be ethnic diverse and women
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Wage gap (e.g. African American men with a bachelor’s earned on
average $15,180 less than the White non-Hispanic male
population)
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95% of senior level managers are men and of that 95%, 97% are
White. Of the 5% who are women managers, only 5% are
minorities.
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Nearly 75% of women of all racial and ethnic groups are more likely
to be employed in services industry and finance, real estate, and
retail trade
Career Counseling and Support Services
Federal Glass Ceiling Commission:
Facts
•
Women and minorities are 2/3 of the population, 2/3 of consumers
and 57% of the work force.
•
Since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in
1990, people will disabilities still experience unemployment at a
rate far above the national average.
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It is still legal in 36 states to fire an employee because he/she is
gay. Over 2,333 employers in America have employment nondiscrimination policies including sexual orientation.
•
International students face a difficult task breaking into the job
market. Of respondents to the 2012 Job Outlook Survey, only 1 in 5
employers said they would hire International students in the coming
year for full time permanent positions in the United States.
Career Counseling and Support Services
Some Reasons People Choose to NOT
Disclose Their Diverse Background
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The fear of harassment (either physical or emotional)
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Fear of the effect of disclosure may have on hiring,
personnel, and advancement (glass ceiling issues)
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Fear of alienation, isolation, and rejection
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Fear of being perceived as different from the majority
culture or of being perceived as the same as every
member of the minority culture
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Fear of the invasion of privacy
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Some Reasons People Choose to
Disclose Their Diverse Background
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Individual mental health reasons ~ full integration of
identity with ethnicity, sexuality, disability, international
status, gender
•
Personal reasons (e.g. integrity, honesty, recognition
and support from peers who one is as a person)
•
Professional, political, and societal reasons (e.g.
provide role model for other diverse people, desensitize
co-workers, eliminate stereotyping)
•
Practical reasons (e.g. benefits, professional
development, career fulfillment)
Career Counseling and Support Services
3 Important Factors
• Awareness of your
career goals and job
skills
• Understanding of the
labor market & job
outlook
• A well-planned job
search campaign
Career Counseling and Support Services
When do I begin?
•
Begin the process by
visiting a career services
office at least 9-12 months
before graduation.
•
It is recommended that you
begin an ACTIVE job search
6-9 months before your
target employment date
Career Counseling and Support Services
Awareness of Your Employability Skills
•
It is very probably that no single job will utilize all of your
skills, allow you to develop all of your interest, and
incorporate a value system 100% compatible with
yours.
•
Inventory your skills and relevant experiences and
relate them to specific job requirements.
•
Target a career filed that will satisfy some of your high
priority needs.
•
Develop a flexible career identity.
Career Counseling and Support Services
Developing Job Search Skills
• Learn what job search strategies are most
productive
• Learn how to market yourself and experiences
• Learn how to research employers
• Learn how to interview confidently
Career Counseling and Support Services
I. Advertised Vacancies
• This is not the most effective method.
• According to the Harvard Business Review,
nearly 80% of the openings available at any one
time are never advertised.
• Job seekers should respond to ads BUT the
main thrust of your efforts should be toward
establishing networks and identifying the hidden
job market.
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I. Advertised Vacancies
Sources include:
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Online job banks
•
Job postings in Career Services offices
•
On-Campus Interviews
•
Newsletters and Journals from Trade or Professional
Organizations
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Personnel Department postings or hotlines
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Job postings on corporate web sites
•
Newspaper classified ads
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Tips When Applying for Advertised Vacancies
• Do not waste your time responding to long
shots.
• Use your cover letter to answer every
requirement in the advertisement.
• Personalize your response as much as possible.
Direct your materials to specific individuals.
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II. Develop a Contact Network
• Most effective method.
• Once you have targeted a specific career, you
should acquaint yourself with professionals in
that field.
• Get the insider’s view
• Opens doors that might otherwise remained closed.
• Conduct Informational Interviews
Career Counseling and Support Services
II. Develop a Contact Network
Sources of Possible Contacts
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Family members
Friends
Neighbors
Previous employers
Professors
Area Chamber of Commerce
Alumni
Other Students
Job Fairs
EVERYONE!
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III. Attend Job Fairs
Prepare your 2-Minute Commercial
You will need to introduce yourself
• Demonstrate you know something about the
organization
• Express why you are interested in that organization or
company
• Be able to relate your background and skills to what you
know about the employer’s needs
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So… what do I say?
“Good morning, my name is ______ and I
am a _____ major. What appeals to me
about your company is _____. I am very
interested in _____. As you can see in my
enclosed resume I can offer you my _____
that will make us a great fit.”
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IV. Contact Employer Directly
• Send a letter of application
and send your resume to the
HR department or to specific
managers.
• Call them and ask them how
their jobs are being advertised.
• The success of this method is
greatly increased when letters
are followed up by phone calls.
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V. Utilize Career Services
• Contact your career services
office and register with them
Career Counseling and Support Services
Employer Research
Good research on employers will
not only give you the competitive
edge, but also help you decide
which employers you want to reach
and which strategies you will use to
contact them.
Career Counseling and Support Services
How can I tell if a company is Culturally Sensitive?
• Do your homework, look carefully over the company’s literature.
RESEARCH THEM!
• Employee photographs can give a good indication not only of a
company’s diversity, but also of its promotion practices.
• Employ the “six degrees of separation” strategy. See if you know
someone who knows someone who works for the company in
question. Get the inside scoop on company politics.
• If very concerned, expand your research to include possible EEO
lawsuits pending against the company. You may search a legal
database such as Lexis or Westlaw.
Career Counseling and Support Services
How can I tell if a company is Culturally Sensitive?
• Non-Discrimination policy (i.e. move in vs. move up)
• Company-wide education to raise awareness of diversity issues
• Professional development and training opportunities
• Equitable benefits programming
• Pay equity
• Employee resource groups
• Demonstration of public support to diversity issues in the community
• Fostering of a safe work environment
• Institutional rigidity that deny the fragile family and work balance
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Researching Employers
• Internet research
• Annual reports
• Directories
• National Trade & Professional Associations
• Newspaper & Professional Journals
• Talk with professionals working in the field
• Local Chamber of Commerce
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Presenting Yourself on Paper
Once your career goals have been
targeted, resumes and cover letters
can be tailored to reflect your
qualifications as they relate to the
interests of your prospective
employers.
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You will need a Resume!
• Your name, address, phone #, and email
• A job objective
• Your education, starting with OSU
• Work experience(s) (demonstrate your skills)\
• Additional Skills
• Additional Subheadings (awards, honors, campus
activities, civic engagement, community service)
• References available upon request
Career Counseling and Support Services
Practice Interviewing Skills
• A resume can get you the interview, but the
interview will get you the job!
• At a minimum, obtain a list of most commonly
asked interview questions and practice
answering those questions out loud.
• Schedule a mock interview.
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Follow Up and Record Keeping
• Maintain a careful record of all
job announcements,
interviews, thank-you notes
sent, and follow up actions.
• Job seekers who fail to do this
often lose valuable contacts
as well as credibility with
prospective employers.
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Will you hire me?
NO NO NO NO NO
NO NO NO NO NO
NO NO NO NO NO
NO NO NO NO NO
NO NO NO NO NO
NO NO NO NO YES
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Be Persistent!
• Searching for a job is a full time job
• If your search is not producing the results you
would like, try a new strategy.
• Do not hesitate to send your resume to an
employer more than once.
Career Counseling and Support Services
Review
• Clarify your career goals
• Identify and research potential employers
• Establish a network
• Develop a professional resume
• Arrange and prepare for job interviewers
• Follow up as necessary
• Seek help as needed
The greater the number of
contacts and interviews a job
seeker has, the greater the
number of job offers.
It makes sense to use multiple strategies!