36 STEPS EVERY COLLEGE GRAD (OR SOON TO BE GRAD)

MUST DO FOR AN EFFECTIVE JOB SEARCHJENNIFER COHEN, SVP LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

G E T T I N G R E A D Y1) Create your resume – One page only, summary at top which is your 10 second elevator pitch (no “Objective”), normal

email address, and LinkedIn link. Proofread – NO errors. All communications for your job search must be error free! 2) Create your LinkedIn page (your 3D resume) – Be sure to have a great tagline as your job title, change your automated

LinkedIn url to include your name, try to post something 1 to 3 times a week related to the job or industry your pursuing, use Pulse and “like” articles. Be engaged and active on LinkedIn, Twitter and other sites related to your career interests.

3) Clean up your FB page and other social networking sites. Create a new email address (include your name, keep it simple, e.g. jencohen100@gmail.com) just for your job search. Check this email and LinkedIn two times a day. Update your voicemail message – keep it simple and professional.

4) Visit your school’s Career Services – Meet a counselor, do mock interviews, sign up for interviews on campus, attend job fairs, and take advantage of training offered (e.g. How to use LinkedIn).

5) Read the book, Never Eat Alone, by Keith Ferrazzi with Tahl Raz. THIS IS AN ABOSULTE MUST READ TO UNDERSTAND THE WHY AND HOW OF NETWORKING.

BUILD AND NUTURE YOUR NETWORK THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER. GIVE, GIVE, GIVE….. GET!

6) Have two suits – no exceptions, you MUST wear a suit to interviews. You only have one chance to make a good first impression. Everything needs to be pressed, shined and clean. Women – simple jewelry. Dress up for phone interviews (stand-up and smile, too!).

7) Visit Monster.com and Quintcareers.com and review information for conducting a job search, networking and behavioral based interviews.

8) Practice your handshake – seriously! No wimpy or break-my-hand handshakes allowed.9) Review job postings to learn job titles & qualifications, plus the companies and locations hiring.

BUILD A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR YOUR JOB SEARCH.

N E T W O R K I N G10) Create a networking list – ABSOLUTELY everyone you know who can help you with your job search. Don’t be shy! Your

parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors, high school teachers & alumni, past employers & co-workers, non-profit staff & board members, coaches, sorority/fraternity members, professors, are all great resources – USE THEM and every other adult you know who is working or has worked!

11) Make one to two networking calls a day, starting with individuals you are most comfortable meeting. Request a 30 minute informational meeting to learn about their career, gather advice they can offer for your job search, share potential companies you should contact/apply to, and suggest who they can introduce you to (never leave a networking meeting without one new contact – more is better!).

12) As you become more comfortable with networking meetings, begin targeting the individuals most relevant to your desired career and industry or have significant business and community contacts. Use LinkedIn to identify and connect with individuals in your network that work at companies you’re targeting.

** 78% of college graduates felt networking was a prime factor in landing their first position **13) Research people you are going to meet with; if they are working, research their company. This will help you prepare

potential questions or topics to discuss with the individual. 14) During the meeting, focus on genuinely establishing the relationship. Come prepared with questions, take notes, and DO

NOT take phone calls, respond to text messages or look at your phone for any reason! Keep your eyes focused on the person (don’t be looking to see who else is at Starbucks!). Focus on them 100%.

15) Introduce yourself to guest speakers at college programs – ask if you can forward your resume to them. If they say yes, then ask for their business card.

16) Send Thank You card/email within 24 hours of the meeting. Reference a topic you discussed, look for an article or other piece of information you can include hardcopy or e-link. LinkedIn is a great resource to find articles.

17) Create an email distribution list of everyone you meet with and send out a “job search update” every 8 weeks – will keep you “top of mind” with your network. When you land your job – share your happy news and provide your updated business contact information.

PAY IT FORWARD WHEN YOU GET REQUESTS FOR NETWORKING MEETINGS - SAY YES!

A P P L Y I N G O N - L I N E18) Monitor your target companies’ websites for job openings, and be sure to submit your resume for jobs that you are

qualified, or within 5 years of being qualified. Get your resume into organizations’ candidate database. 19) Ask family and friends who are working, whether their organization has an Employee Referral program. If yes, ask them to

submit your resume. These resumes may get more attention. 20) Learn which job boards are most popular for the location/s you want to work (e.g. Careerboard.com in Cleveland), and be

sure to monitor for openings. 21) Become familiar with indeed.com and simplyhired.com – the two main job posting aggregator sites. 22) Use the job search feature on LinkedIn. 23) If you have a connection into a company, still follow protocol and apply formally on-line. Don’t work around company

policy when seeking a job opportunity (you want the HR/recruiters to be your friend!). 24) Look at job postings through your school’s Career Services job posting site. Companies love to post on these sites.25) Research job posting sites related to your industry or career (e.g. Society for Human Resources Management for human

resources positions) and monitor these sites closely. 26) Always include a cover letter to the organization, even when applying on-line and it is only an “option” to do so.

“TEN AND TEN” - DO 10 NETWORKING AND 10 INTERNET ACTIONS EACH DAY.

I N T E R V I E W I N G

27) Know what you have to offer – the skills, experiences and accomplishments that are valuable to employers and distinguish you from other candidates. You have to know what you offer an employer – and be able to speak about it with confidence and self-assurance.

28) Prepare examples that back-up and demonstrate your skills, experiences and accomplishments. Research and learn about BEHAVIORIAL BASED INTERVIEWING AND STAR ANSWERS.

29) Develop interesting questions to ask the interviewers – DO NO ASK ABOUT BENEFITS, VACATION TIME, PAY OR HOW QUICKLY YOU CAN APPLY FOR ANOTHER JOB IN THE COMPANY.

30) Research the company on-line and know five interesting facts about the company – something you can reference during interviews to demonstrate you have prepared for the interview.

31) Accommodate the recruiters/interviewer’s schedule – make it easy for them to schedule time to meet you. 32) Get a good night sleep and eat before you leave for an interview. Take a test drive if you are not familiar with location.

Arrive early to the area and 5 to 10 minutes early to the interview location.33) Bring extra copies of resume, a leather folio and pen with you. Women – try not to carry a purse. 34) Create your interview “close” – close the interview by expressing you appreciation for time spent, confirming your interest

and what you have to offer. DO NOT ask how you did. DO ASK about next steps and timeline.35) Purchase Thank You cards in advance. Send thank you cards/emails immediately after the interview. Reference specific

points discussed during the interview. Multiple interviewers? Each one gets their own thank you card that is written specifically for them. If you have poor handwriting, send an email.

36) Keep your search active and don’t stop until you have a job offer and start date confirmed. Don’t be surprised if you have multiple job options coming at the same time and be prepared to negotiate the offer.

PREPARATION, PRACTICE AND PERSERVANCE ARE KEY TO YOUR JOB SEARCH.