1. Secrets of a Successful
Job Search
Cara Valentine
Graduate Career Counselor
Career Development Center
Cleveland 306
716-878-5811
www.buffalostate.edu/offices/cdc
2. Getting to know you…
Name?
Class Year?
Major?
Possible Career?
Why are you here? What you hope to
learn?
Where are you in your job search?
What efforts have you made thus far?
3. Before You Begin
Self Assessment
◦ Examine your situation- why am I job searching?
Recent Graduate or Graduating
Unemployed
Need new skills
Unhappy in your current role
Upward mobility
◦ Know your options -
http://www.buffalostate.edu/offices/cdc/choose.html
◦ Research skills necessary for your desired occupations
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Preparation is key - Updates are essential
◦ Resume
◦ Cover letter
◦ References
◦ Interviewing skills
◦ Portfolio
4. Job Creation Timeline
1. Hiring manager needs to fulfill a job
◦ Someone got fired
◦ Someone took a job at another company
◦ Someone got promoted
◦ Expansion position
2. Hiring manager asks his “network”: does anyone know
someone?
3. Job is posted internally and resumes come in from current
employees and referrals
4. Resumes reviewed, interviewing starts. If they find
someone, job is filled.
5. Job not filled? Then start advertising and accepting
resumes (A lot of them)
6. Recruiter/Talent Acquisition or HR screen resumes (not
hiring manager) and then pass on a short list of top
candidates to hiring manager.
7. Interviews starts
8. Offer is given
5. Four strategies to identify job
openings
Advertised job openings
◦ Interstate highway- quickest and easiest, but
extremely congested with candidates
Targeting specific organizations
◦ The scenic route- takes more time, but is less
congested
Job fairs & campus recruitment
◦ The face-to-face connection
Networking
◦ Using the people you know and who know to you
to generate job leads
6. Advertised job openings
CDC Website
◦ http://bsccdc01.buffalostate.edu/cdc/libsearch/job-links.php
◦ http://bsccdc01.buffalostate.edu/cdc/libsearch/job-links.php
Classified ads – paper and online
Online job search engines
◦ Indeed
◦ Careerbuilder
◦ Monster
◦ Any many many more!!
Going directly to the organization’s website **
ORCA – CDC job postings
NACE Link on ORCA
Websites and publications related to your
◦ Field: http://www.1st-writer.com/job_sites_by_industry.htm
◦ Location: http://www.1st-writer.com/job_sites_by_state.htm
7. Things to consider when
targeting/applying to advertised postings
Use job agents, or push technology to save time
When possible go to the organization’s website to
apply directly to positions
Upload your resume and cover letter when
possible
Target your resume and cover letters to each
specific position/organization
8. Targeting Specific Organizations
Who would hire you?
◦ Make a list of potential employers and industries
◦ Target your search to specific industries, positions
and/or locations
Local, regional, and national directories
◦ Career Search – on ORCA
◦ Stop by the CDC- Business First Book of Lists
9. Strategies
Keep track of who you are contacting and
follow up
Send tailored resumes and cover letters of
inquiry
Conduct extensive research on the
organization
Visit the organization’s website and check
for an employment page
10. Job Fairs & Recruitment
CDC fair schedule
◦ http://www.buffalostate.edu/offices/cdc/job-
fairs.html
◦ Use job fair participant lists to develop inquiry
lists
CDC recruitment calendar
◦ http://bsccdc01.buffalostate.edu/cdc/oncampus/on-
campus.asp
WNYACCC - www.wnyaccc.org
National Career Fairs
http://www.nationalcareerfairs.com/** Making face to face connections is the best way to build your network!!
11. Networking
What is networking?
◦ Definition: to develop relationships with people who can be
helpful to one professionally, especially in finding
employment or moving to a higher position
How many of you feel like as a college student you
do NOT have a network?
◦ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTU2FkVyoUw
BSC Professor?
BSC Staff?
Part-time job?
Volunteer?
Family Members?
Friends?
**The work you do and the relationships you build stay with you
forever!
12. How to Increase Your
Network Use employer directories to contact employers to conduct
informational interviews
Always ask current contacts who they might refer you to for
more information
Professional Associations
Connect with a mentor
Conferences
Workshops/Seminars
Alumni Chapters/Groups
Social Media-
LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest
13. Informational Interviewing
What is it exactly?
◦ Interview initiated by you with someone working in
an organization or career field of interest to you
Why they are useful:
◦ gain realistic information about what you've heard or
read about careers
◦ expand your knowledge of the job market
◦ learn about additional career paths
◦ build your professional network
◦ learn about the skills and attributes sought in
potential hires
14. Make Your Meetings Count
Ask your contacts to keep you informed
and stay in touch
Ask for a business card – keep a log
Bring your resume – just in case
Make sure you can identify what you have
learned
Send a thank you note
15. Social Media - LinkedIn
Why I advocated so strongly for LinkedIn:
◦ Hits 3 of the 4 Targets
Advertised Job Openings
LinkedIn Profile = Electronic Copy of your resume
Just like job boards- saved jobs searches can be sent to you weekly
Some organizations are now only posting their open positions on LinkedIn- if you aren’t on you are missing out
on those opportunities!
Targeting Specific Organizations
Search for companies by name, keyword or industry
“Follow” companies to get industry articles, hiring trends, etc on your newsfeed
Networking
Directly connect with other professionals and hiring managers/recruiters
Remember: Face to face connections > LinkedIn connections
◦ Helps you Research & Learn
What type of companies are out there that I can work for?
What jobs are being advertised?
What skills and educational background do other professionals have in my field? (put on resume)
What does this company do?
Where is this company located?
How big is this company?
What is the company website?
Who do I address my cover letter to?
Are people being hired? Are people being fired?
◦ The relationships you make stay with you forever
You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours
Lets share valuable information
Who do you know?
16. 5 Common Networking Mistakes
Networking on the fly
Expecting too much too soon
Job seeking described as info interviewing
Not paying attention to advice
Ignoring the give back dimension
17. Final Thoughts
A positive attitude goes a long way
Be patient and persistent
Evaluate your situation
Make the necessary changes/updates
Follow up with all contacts and positions
Take advantage of the resources that are available
to you
Raise of hands- how many of you are using advertised… targeted organizations… job fairs… networking...? To have the most successful job search its crucial that you use all four methods.
Social Media is booming- it will not go away any time soon and statistics show that hiring managers are using social media to source candidatesHow many of you know what LinkedIn is?How many of you have LinkedIn?