Are You a Gold, Silver or Bronze Level Job Seeker?
The time and energy athletes invest in their training and practice is reflected in their performance and their number of wins. The same principle can be applied to your job search! If you do the bare minimum when it comes to looking for a job, the return on your investment will be negligible. In other words, you won’t be winning any medals with this strategy.
So what level job seeker are you? Are you “Going for the Gold” and devoting the time and dedication needed to find that dream job BEFORE you graduate or are you dragging your feet and saying things like, “I’ll get more serious about looking for a job when I’m not so busy.” My theory is that you’ll have plenty of time on your hands when you finish school AND are unemployed. That’s not the kind of time you want.
So what do you need to do to get serious? Are you taking advantage of all the resources that the University provides?
- CSPD’s on-line career management system, FoxNet (this is a great resource, but it is only one tool in your job search). Have you checked-out the 20+ additional sites on CSPD’s Blackboard Organization? Many of these links are specifically for the collegiate population so you don’t need to have 5+ years of experience to apply.
- CSPD’s Company and Industry Research resources: are you using Hoover’s (the premium version available through the Center), First Research (new for 2008) and Vault.com? These resources can give you insight into particular industries as well as list top companies in these fields. See CSPD for info on how to access these resources.
- CSPD’s annual Senior Reception and Spring Connection. This is your opportunity to meet with 65+ employers in one day to discuss FT permanent jobs as well as internships.
- The University Career Center: OwlNetwork (similar to FoxNet, this is an additional database with many business-related job leads). Also, they sponsor two major career expos (fall & spring).
- Are you active in a Student Professional Organization (SPO)? Are you connecting with the speakers that participate in your meetings? How about the Temple Student Leadership Challenge? This is a great way to develop your leadership and team building skills:
- Are you networking with folks both inside and outside of the University? If you are looking to connect with Fox School alum, what about the Fox School alumni association or the new alumni on-line community? Within the Career Resources section, there is information on networking and mentoring services.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that the recruiting process varies greatly from industry to industry. This is why a Marketing major should conduct their job search differently than an Accounting major and vice-versa. Make sure you understand the nuances of your chosen field and how to search properly for a position within that industry.
Closing thoughts: As the old saying goes, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” Utilizing just one or two of the above resources is not a comprehensive job search. Diversification of your job hunting tactics is just as important as putting together a smart investment strategy!