How to Start

Job Search Process

Determine what you want to do – There are many resources available to you if you aren't sure which career path you want pursue. Some very common questions you will likely be asked when you start your job research, is "What do you want to do or what kind of job are you looking for?" You will need to have a good answer if you want people to be able to effectively help you. If you are undecided in selecting your major and you are an undergraduate student at Oakland University, you can contact the First Year Advising Center which will provide customized services to you to assist with your career exploration. If you are an alumnus or not an Oakland University graduate, you can contact the Career Counseling Center located in the School of Education & Human Services at Oakland University. Other places that may be able to help are: college career offices, state Department of Labor offices or your local public library.

Identify what fields and industries you will target - Once you do this, you can focus which companies you will research and contact. You can contact them through their websites and also by sending a Letter of Interest. You can also do Informational Interviews.

Research Companies

Don't do your job search alone – If you conduct your job search alone, you will only be able to use the information you find yourself. Enlist the help of friends and colleagues in your network to expand the resources and tools you can use. Also, remember to help others with their job search along the way too. Tell everyone you know that you are looking for work. Ask if they can help.

Be prepared to talk with employers – Set up e-mail addresses and phone numbers (home & cell) and ensure that all of your contact information is professional and appropriate. Make sure that you make and receive employer phone calls at a time when it is quiet and there are no distractions.

Set up a job search tracking system – You can use an excel spreadsheet or on-line tools such as those found on JibberJobber. However you decide to set up your system, you should track contacts and those in your network, jobs search and networking events you attend, companies you want to target, jobs you want to apply for and companies you have interviewed with.

Have a formal resume review – If it has been awhile since you had to conduct a job search, your resume likely needs a few updates and if you are changing careers, you may need to reformat your resume to better market yourself. You can have your resume reviewed at your college or university's Career services office if you are a current student or alumni. Always have an up-to-date resume ready to send - even if you are not currently looking for work. You never know when an opportunity that is too good to pass up might come along. Get business cards made up with your contact information, degree(s), areas of expertise, etc. Have copies of your resume and cover letter ready to edit. That way you can change the content to match the requirements of the job you're applying for, but, the contact information and your opening and closing paragraphs won't need to be changed.

Make use of transferable skills – Transfer your skills to another industry. For example, if you performed marketing duties in the automotive industry, try seeking a marketing position in the healthcare industry. If your employer is cutting staff hours and pay, look at opportunities to work for major competitors. If you work for an airline that is laying off, focus on possible opportunities in PR, or hospitality positions (hotels, restaurants, etc.). Identify several ways that your skills can be applied to a new line of work.

Have your references ready - Have a list of three references including name, job title, company, phone number and email address ready to give to interviewers. Make sure you have received permission from these references to use their name and contact information and as a courteous, if it has been awhile since you were job searching, contact them to inform them that you are starting to interview and that they may be contacted.

Use job search sites and agents as part of your search – You can receive list of jobs via e-mail that may be a good match for you through many of the job search sites. All the major job sites have search agents and some websites specialize in sending announcements. Of course, this is only one of many tools you should be using – don’t rely on only one method of Job Search. . Don't limit your job searching to the top sites like Monster, CareerBuilder and HotJobs. Check the smaller niche sites that focus on a particular geographic location or career field and you will find plenty of job listings.

Use professional networking tools such as LinkedIn – Although you may not feel that these tools are essential, they should be considered as they are a very common way that employers find and check out potential candidates. Networking is key to finding a job and these tools provide opportunities to network with other professionals and information on networking events. In addition, employers check these sites to evaluate a candidate’s professionalism, credentials and achievements. Employers also will often do a Google search of candidates and you may be at a disadvantage if aren’t connected to these networks.

Participate in interviewing and networking workshops/events – You should be spending more time off-line than on-line in your job search! Connecting with others should be a significant part of your job search. You can polish your skills by participating in Interview workshops in the community and you are a student, your college/university will likely offer programs you can participate in. If it has been awhile since your last interview, it would be a good idea to see what the new trends and recommendations are for interviewing.

You can build your networking skills by joining a professional organization related to your field or major. Often, they hold networking events, which may involve employer participation, in addition o regular meetings. You can also look at organizations and companies in the community who may be holding networking events, such as Michigan Works! and local Chambers of Commerce. In addition, colleges and universities and their alumni associations also sponsor networking events and workshops.

Follow up – be persistent, but polite – once you have submitted your resume and cover letter for the position, call the employer to make sure they have received it and to check on the status of the position. Also, send thank you letters immediately after each interview will likely make a positive impression on that employer and send a thank you after each rejection letter you may receive. You may have been a very strong candidate and could be considered in the future for another position. Sending a thank you to an employer in this case, can lock in that positive impression of you.