How to Find a Job (Job Search Methods)
There are several ways to find a job: networking, working with executive
recruiters (AKA headhunters) or search firms, answering ads in newspapers
or journals and posted on web sites, attending job fairs and cold calling.
Try all methods, but spend your job search time on the method(s) most
likely to lead to a job. The best method varies from person-to-person by level of experience and
career field, but for everyone networking is regarded as the most productive
job search activity, leading ultimately to 70% of all jobs. Because most
jobs are unpublished, that is, they are never advertised, this statistic
makes sense. For a seasoned professional planning to remain in the same
field, executive recruiters can also be a good source of leads. Recruiters
are paid (by the employer) between 20% and 33% of the position’s
salary and tend to fill senior positions. For the younger or less experienced
person networking is also the most fruitful job search method. Spending
a small amount of time answering ads on the internet or in newspapers,
or attending job fairs may also be useful. Sending out unsolicited resumes
is the method least likely to lead to a job, and should receive the least
amount of job search time. Be sure to take advantage of DickinsonConnect,
where jobs are posted for Dickinson students and alumni. Networking What is networking? Networking is not asking for a job. It is asking
for information, advice and feedback as part of the job search that may
ultimately lead to a position. It’s a process that anyone can learn.
For the full guide on networking for those with work experience, download
the
Networking Guide EXECUTIVE RECRUITERS Recruiters have access to unpublished jobs and may represent the only
source of candidates for particular jobs. They may be helpful in editing
your resume for a particular opportunity, prepping you for interviews
and negotiating with inside knowledge, and debriefing with you after interviews. One good way to find an executive recruiter is by networking. Ask people
in your field about their experience with specific recruiters and search
firms. You may also use research tools to search for executive recruiters
in your field. The business journals in many cities publish an annual
list of executive search companies. Or you may consult the Directory of
Executive Recruiters, or its online version at the publisher’s web
site www.kennedyinfo.com/js/jsindex.html. The Executive Recruiter Download
allows searches by function, industry, region and salary, and for a small
fee will download the results. In addition, recruiters may find you if
you post your resume on job boards. In all cases, be sure to interview
them before you agree to work with them. Ask things like how many people
with your qualifications they placed in the last year? Or what industries
they specialize in? Find out whether they are being paid on a contingency
or retained basis. Stipulate that you want to approve each submission
they make on your behalf. Ask them for references. Research many, and
reduce the field to 3 – 5 to work with. It is appropriate to work
with more than one as long as you inform them all about the arrangement.
Finally, remember that this is your career. Don’t let a recruiter
push you to take a job that is not a good fit for you. DickinsonConnect INTERNET POSTINGS Use your time well and maximize your effectiveness by limiting your search
to web sites of companies you have targeted; one or two large, general
web sites, like Monster.com or Careerbuilder.com; and one or two industry
specific sites. For example, if you’re interested in public relations,
go to the Public Relations Society of America site or if you’re
interested in human resources, go to the Society for Human Resource Management
site. For an extensive list of job search web sites, go to Job
Search Web Links. In addition, using job search agents will make your
search more targeted by identifying jobs according to your criteria. With
internet postings as well as newspaper ads, you should only follow up
on jobs that make sense for you because they conform to your own work
preferences. Save your resume as a plain text (.txt) file and remove all formatting.
Use this version rather than a formatted (Microsoft Word) version of your
resume when applying online. There is less chance that it will arrive
at the employer or third party screener’s looking garbled. Save
the graphically pleasing version when sending it directly to a person.
When applying online, make sure you follow the instructions precisely.
Follow up, if possible, to express interest and make sure your resume
was received. For more information on resume writing for online postings, see the
Resume Writing Guide JOB FAIRS To find a job fair, do a search on the internet or go to www.job-hunt.org/fairs.shtml. For tips on how to be successful at a job fair, click on the downloadable
file from the Student section of the web site. How
to Succeed at a Job Fair Alumni are eligible to participate in the following job fairs. CVC Not-for-Profit Fair
Additional information is available on the following:
Executive Recruiters
DickinsonConnect
Newspaper Ads
Internet Postings
Job Fairs
NETWORKING
Networking is the most effective way to learn about careers and ultimately
to land a job. Research consistently shows that networking leads to a
job far more often than other job search methods such as responding to
general internet postings or newspaper ads, attending job fairs or sending
out unsolicited resumes. Networking is frequently the only way to learn
about “unpublished” jobs, those that are not advertised and
may not even be created yet. People conducting a job search should spend
most of their time networking in order to land a job that is a good fit
in the least amount of time. 
for
Dickinson alumni.
Executive recruiters, also known as “headhunters,” can be
an excellent source of job leads. They usually recruit for more senior,
higher-salary positions. Recruiters work for themselves and are paid by
the company doing the hiring. Contingency recruiters are inclined to fill
mid-to senior-level positions. They will be one of several agencies working
to fill a job requisition from an employer. They are typically paid 20
– 30% of the position’s annual salary and are only paid after
they successfully fill a position. They are motivated to quickly find
a candidate who closely matches the requirements of the job. Thus, they
can be very attentive when they feel you are a potential candidate for
a job, and less so when they do not see a match between you and the jobs
they are recruiting for. Retained recruiters conduct exclusive searches
for hiring companies and usually focus on senior-level positions. They
function as an extension of the company’s team and are usually more
motivated to find the ideal candidate. They are generally paid about a
third of the position’s annual salary. Recruiters are generally
not interested in career changers.
DickinsonConnect is a job-posting
service exclusively for Dickinson students and alumni. At present, the
jobs posted for alumni are typically entry-level positions aimed at people
who have graduated within the last 5 years. This service will be expanded
soon, to include jobs requiring more experience, so check back often.
NEWSPAPER ADS
Newspaper ads, along with the internet postings, represent the published,
or advertised, job market. Surveys show that only 40% of all jobs are
published, and ads represent a very small source of actual hiring. Most
newspaper job advertising has moved to the internet. Entry-level jobs,
low-skill jobs, jobs requiring highly specialized or unusual skills or
experience, and public employment jobs, like teaching, are still advertised
in the papers. Newspaper ads often refer candidates directly to a web
site to apply.
If you are spending more than three hours per week applying to jobs on
the internet, you are not doing an effective job search. Here’s
why. Internet postings lead to jobs only 5 – 10% of the time (it
is at the higher end for jobs in IT, engineering, finance and health care).
As with newspaper advertising, jobs posted on the internet are often for
positions where there is high turnover or where a low or high level of
skills is required. For advertised positions, which make up only 40% of
jobs, the internet has become the preferred method of advertising for
most employers. Searching online should be a small part of everyone’s
job search.
for Dickinson alumni.
Job fairs can be a good source of job leads for recent graduates, and
those in “hot” fields like nursing. They are generally not
helpful for job seekers with experience. Check with the sponsoring organization
for a list of participating companies and the jobs open. Recognize that
even if it does not lead to a job, a job fair can be a good place to practice
networking and interviewing. .
Dickinson College is a member of Cumberland Valley Consortium, which comprises
a variety of regional colleges. CVC holds a job fair every February in
Frederick, MD, a Teacher Fair in November in Gettysburg, PA, and a virtual
job fair every spring. All events are open to students and alumni. For
more information, visit www.collegecentral.com/cumberland/.
The Not-for-Profit Fair takes place in February at Haverford College in
the Philadelphia suburbs.
