Once you have selected your career field and made a decision on the job to pursue, it is important to answer some questions about your work preferences. Where do you want to live? How much do you want to travel or commute? What kind of compensation and benefits are you looking for? What kind of company are you interested in working for – large, small, entrepreneurial? What kind of company culture do you prefer?

Then, to make your career decision a reality, you need the appropriate skills and knowledge to land a job in your field. An effective job search begins with preparing a resume, a standard cover letter and a reference sheet. Searchers should be knowledgeable about how to find a job and how to network and interview effectively.

Job Search Resources

Resume
Cover Letter
References
How to Find a Job (Job Search Methods)
Networking
Interviewing
International Employment

RESUME
There are two ways you might be introduced to a potential employer, through your resume, and through networking. For the employer, the resume is a screening tool to determine whether the candidate has the qualifications for a job. For you, the resume is a marketing document that should accurately describe your work experience, skills and knowledge in terms that will enable the reader to picture you in the role you desire. Initially your resume will be quickly read or electronically reviewed to determine if your qualifications match the position. A well-written resume will make your career assets clear by presenting all the relevant information in a way that is easy to absorb in a short amount of time. Your goal is to pass the resume screening and be invited for an interview.

For a full guide on resume writing for those with work experience, download the
Resume Writing Guide for Dickinson alumni.

COVER LETTER
For an excellent guide to employment correspondence, including cover letters, click here. While the examples are for students, the guidelines apply to all employment correspondence.

REFERENCES
Providing references to a potential employer is a standard part of the hiring process. By talking with references, the employer can learn about and validate the candidate’s experience, skills, knowledge, character and work ethic. In some fields references are always checked, in others it is done infrequently. In selecting references, choose people who can and will speak well of you regarding all aspects of your career.

For a guide on selecting and preparing references for those with work experience, download the Reference Writing Guide for Dickinson alumni.

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.

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 for Dickinson alumni.

INTERVIEWING
An interview follows some sort of screening and is one of the final steps in the job search process. It indicates that the employer may be interested in hiring you. It’s their opportunity to learn whether you truly have the skills they need and will fit into their organization. It’s also a chance for you to learn more so that you can assess the opportunity against your job preferences.

There are screening interviews and hiring interviews, traditional and behavioral interviews. For a comprehensive guide on interviewing for those with work experience, download the Interviewing Guide for Dickinson alumni.