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Job Search
3-7% of all job postings are in the newspaper, and few businesses hang a sign in the window anymore.
So, how do you find the jobs and often excellent opportunities that are out there that other people seem to find? You dig, you persist, you network and you have everything prepared, so you can respond immediately as opportunities present themselves. THOSE WHO HESITATE OR PROCRASTINATE OFTEN LOSE THE JOB OPPORTUNITY!
Here is what you’ll need to start an effective search:
- A list (not your resume) of all your jobs and relevant volunteer experience that includes dates of employment, addresses, telephone numbers, first and last names of supervisors, and what tasks you performed there. You probably won’t use all these experiences for each application. But, you might list some for some jobs and not for others.
- A list of 3-5 references who have supervised you, are willing to talk about your skills and experience, and are aware that you are job hunting right now, so they could be called to speak for you. You need to have their full name, current address, phone number, professional title (which may be different now than when they worked with you) and be able to describe how they supervised you or know your professional attributes.
- A telephone number with a professional voice message that is simple and easy to understand (no music or clever speeches).
- Sufficient computer skills -- or someone to help you -- to find company web-sites, fill out on-line applications and use e-mail on your own computer, at the library or at a Career Center.
- An e-mail address (Hotmail and Yahoo are examples of free services, if you don’t have an address already.)
- A resume and cover letter. Take the time to contact a Career Counselor for free assistance in creating or updating a résumé and cover letter in a well-written style that will make you stand out and look your best. Modify your résumé and letter for different types of jobs. More about resumes on Resume Rescue page (link in left margin).
EXTRAS THAT HELP:
- A reliable car
- Access to a fax
- Professional résumé paper
- Pre-printed reference list
- You have recently contacted your references to tell them of you job search and sent them a copy of your current resume. You should also call references to give them a heads up when you think an employer might be calling them.
- A copy of your resume formatted in PDF for more successful e-mailing and online applicaiton attachment (see Resume Rescue in left margin for more info)
- Everything saved on a flash drive you can carry with you
- Family members or roommates who are ready to take reliable messages
- A cell phone for quick, direct contact
- A ready outfit of professional clothing (does not have to be expensive) for an interview (Click here for #1 video on dressing for success, corporate or casual, #2 video on dressing for success in business,1st half is women, 2nd half men)
- A career or job search counselor
- A positive attitude
- A support system
- Thank you notes after your interview BE SURE YOUR GRAMMAR AND SPELLING ARE CORRECT OR YOU'LL DESTROY A POSITIVE IMPRESSION! (Click here to read about the value of thank you notes.)
GETTING PAST THE RESUME/APPLICATION GATEKEEPERS TO THE INTERVIEW:
Most medium-sized and larger businesses and agencies now have a Human Resources office, which is in charge of job postings, screening, hiring, and employee benefits, among other things. You must convince the Human Resources staff, who are not experts or knowledgeable about a position, that you meet the minimum requirements to be passed on to the manager or hiring team that DOES know about the position and can more accurately assess your qualifications. Some employers use computer programs to pre-screen resumes and applications, and computers are very literal. To keep your application/resume in the "Yes" pile and move forward to the knowledgable people you must
- CUSTOMIZE your resume and application answers to each job
- Use the SAME LANGUAGE that is in the job posting. Don't expect reviewers to figure out what you mean
- Put the MONTHS you started and ended in your experience to ensure accurate counting of your years and months of experience. Some employers use this to calculate your salary.
- Be OBVIOUS about how your experience fits what they are looking for
- ASK Human Resources or a company contact, when you can, for tips and what they are looking for
Need a job now? Click on the Job Postings links in the left margin or contact Career Services for assistance.
EMPLOYERS: Need an employee? Fax, e-mail or call in your posting for our web-based, job bulletin board. Postings will also be forwarded to appropriate faculty to refer their students. Click on the the Employer Services link in the left margin.
SFCC Career Services highly recommends the new job search book, Unlock the Hidden Job Market (FT Press, 2010) by Duncan Mathison and Santa Fe local Martha I. Finney. This book is an excellent eye-opener for job seekers that is specifically directed to today's job market. These aren't the old job search ideas you're used to using -- and which probably aren't working anyway. Shake up your job search process and find the job you want, not just the one you have to settle for. This book is an excellent compliment to SFCC's Get That Job Seminars.
Internships are an excellent way to "try on" a career. Many programs at SFCC incorporate paid and unpaid internships into their certificate and degree plans. Internships can also be customized and created to match your interests. Click on the the Internships/Cooperative Education link in the left margin.
JOB FAIRS are an excellent place to get ideas and find out what's out there, besides just diving in to a new opportunity. It is important to be serious about a job fair and take care to dress your best, bring copies of your resume or work history and be ready to make a great first impression. Santa Fe Community College sponsors two job fairs a year that are free and open to students, graduates and community members.
Check the Upcoming Local Career Events page in the margin for SFCC and other local job fair events.
You can learn about professional portfolios and other job search/self-marketing strategies through a GET THAT JOB! seminar or an individual appointment with Career Services. Click on the or Upcoming Events in the margin to find when the next FREE seminar is scheduled.
For more information, please contact Patty Armstrong, GCDF, Career Services Coordinator, (505) 428-1406, Fax: 505-428-1848, patty.armstrong@sfcc.edu.