Happy Trails
Whether a student or not, with all the headaches involved
with the task of moving, you'll need the most creative job
search strategy you can muster. This is your opportunity
to focus on goals, aspirations, and re-definition of your
career and lifestyle. Concentrate on the skills that you
enjoy using most, and match them with tasks performed in
real jobs. Use your imagination and prioritize a "hit-list"
of fields and industries in which you know you can best
demonstrate your abilities. Show it to friends, family members,
and network contacts-anyone who will put you in touch with
the hiring manager in one of your chosen fields. It's time
to roll up your sleeves: persistence is the key to a happy
transition.
The Wrong Turn
Don't get side-tracked online. Use online services for research,
and to make contacts and referrals, but if you find yourself
wandering aimlessly, pull the plug. Chat rooms and e-mail
are useful, but direct contact with professionals is the
key to your success. Use Internet resources to access the
names of organizations in your geographical target area.
Your next step is to contact the organizations, and find
out who has the power to hire you. Utilize your time wisely.
The Big Easy
There are as many ways in which to find jobs as there are
bosses looking for employees. With determination and smart
research, your job hunt may prove easier than you had expected.
A huge amount of information is already compiled for you.
Accessing it quickly is the key:
- Contact the Chamber of Commerce in your target city;
request information about the top 10 industries on your
list.
- Subscribe to the Sunday newspaper from your target
city. Scan the classified section for job listings,
and the business sections for news concerning the economic
climate. Obtain your target area's yellow pages, and
search for interesting companies in the area.
- Get in touch with your networking contacts; they may
know somebody who can refer you to a hiring manager
in your chosen field. If you haven't started an active
networking campaign-get started (see our information
on "Networking").
- Know the latest trends in your field. Write letters
and make phone calls requesting informational interviews
(see our "Informational Interview" handout.)
- Visit the library: research government job listings;
search national trade magazines and directories for
companies in your target area; search online for the
classified section in your city's newspaper; and scan
the local college and university career center homepages.
- Access Webster Career Services' online resources for
links to St. Louis area companies, career placement
information, resume databases, JOBTRAK, and many other
helpful resources.
- Travel to your target area as much as possible: arrange
networking and informational interview meetings beforehand.
Set a goal to conduct three or four meetings on each
day of your visit.
- Finally, if you must, contact an employment agency
or a "head-hunter," but beware, the employer should
pick up the tab, not you.
True Grit
You need to utilize all of the resources at your command.
Start today: analyze your talents and skills, and target
fields. Consider joining professional associations. Insist
on making direct contact with the people who hire in the
fields of your choice. Jump into the fray with confidence
and optimism. Rely on your intuition when it comes to accepting
a job. You don't have to take the first table-scraps-of-a-job
that comes your way. Your gut-instinct will tell you if
it's the right choice. Your tenacity may result in several
job-offers. When this happens, you'll know that your job-search
is panning out, and you're considered a valuable employee.
If you're offered positions that you don't want to accept
right away, due to your connections to other high priority
prospects, tell the hiring manager the truth: "I have another
day of interviewing scheduled before I return home. May
I call you for an appointment to discuss your offer in two
days?" If you're fortunate enough to be offered more than
one good position at once, rely on spiritual power, speak
to your inner-voice, or tap into your sixth sense. Wherever
you find wisdom, use it to answer these questions: "In which
position will I reap the most opportunity, best challenges,
and highest rewards? Which position will best suit my lifestyle."
And above all, "In which position will I find harmony and
balance-real happiness?" The sooner you map an enterprising
job search strategy, the sooner you'll be headed for a sweet
job transition. Happy trails!
