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Student Health Center : Counseling Center : Resources : Career Concerns : Job Search

Job Search
Today there are more qualified candidates than there are job openings. Employers can afford to be selective and they are less willing to take a chance on an applicant that appears to be marginal. There are considerable costs associated with the recruiting, selecting, hiring and training of new employees. Therefore, employers are being more careful about hiring decisions, taking longer to evaluate applicants while looking for the maximum skills they can hire for the wage they have to pay. This means that today's job seeker needs the best preparation possible for the job search.
Job Seeking Skills Checklist

There are many ways to search for a new job or career. Below are listed some tasks that will help you find a job. You may not need to do all of them. Check off each task as you complete it.
I will do the following to help myself look for a job:

_____
Define my objective - know what kind of work I most enjoy and can perform the best.
_____
Ask employers, colleagues and other persons who know about my skills for letters of introduction and/or recommendations and to serve as references for me.
_____
Talk with contacts in business and industry, friends and family, and others to discuss potential employment contacts (network)
_____
Prepare or update a resume.
_____
Consider the need for a Job Placement Service.
_____

Plan how to get to the employment interviews and job sites.
_____
Develop a telephone script for making initial inquires.
_____
Call or send letters and resumes to potential employers.
_____
Prepare for interviews by finding out as much as possible about the employer.
_____
Practice interviewing with friends, family and other contacts.
_____
Follow-up all employment contacts with thank you letters, telephone contacts, and/or more information about myself.
_____
Maintain an active file on employment inquiry contacts.


Writing Resumes

A resume is one of the most important tools in your job search. It's purpose is to entice the employer to know more about you and call you for an interview. It is usually the first impression you will make on that person. Make it a good one!

A Good Resume Presents

  • who you are
  • what kind of position you want
  • skills you have, accomplishments you have made
  • listing of education and training
  • listing of previous work experience

Examples and Tips for writing an effective resume are available here.


Cover Letters

Every resumé you send will need an accompanying cover letter. Cover letters can be used to inquire about job openings or apply for known vacancies. The purpose of a cover letter is to capture the employers attention and interest so they will read your resumé and give you an interview.

Cover letters should be brief (one page) and specifically respond to a particular company or vacancy.

To personalize your letters, you will want to obtain some information about the business, as well as the name of the individual to whom you are writing. Cover letters should be neatly typed and consist of three paragraphs, as outlined here.

Interviewing Tips

Some questions are asked in almost every typical interview. They include:
-- "Tell me about yourself."
-- "Why do you want to work here?"
-- "What are your goals?"

Even when we prepare for these questions, sometime we wonder "Why did they ask that question?" or "What were they really looking for during the interview?" Also note many interviews are now performed as a team. Two or more people will be asking questions. This can be cause further difficulty in positioning, eye contact and feeling overwhelmed by the questioning. It may help to focus on the person who is asking the question and not glancing at the other people. Trying to pick up on the reactions of others in the room may distract you from answering the questions with clarity and enthusiasm. More tips for Interviewing are available here.


Counseling Center
2815 Cates Avenue
Campus Box 7312
Raleigh, NC 27695-7312
919.515.2423
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last updated 7/12/04