Graduate looking for work

The Best Job Hunting Resources You Should Be Taking Advantage Of

Whether you’re fresh out of college or find yourself looking for a new job for the first time in 20 years, knowing where to start may not come so easily. Most people don’t keep up on the changes in the way people find employment, because, well, if you’re not looking, why would you care? Getting into the employment pool can be overwhelming, no matter how much experience you have. The bad news is that the ways to find a job in today’s marketplace are endless. The good news is that the ways to find a job in today’s marketplace are endless. Some methods of job hunting are more effective than others, so let’s take a look at some of the better ways to look for employment.

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College Career Centers

Most colleges, especially those geared toward specific trades, have career placement assistance to help graduates find a job in their field soon after graduation. UEI’s Career Services Center can help match you with companies that are hiring and are excited to hire new talent from a school with a record of putting out quality employees. Area companies inform UEI of available positions and work with them to find qualified candidates from the graduate pool. Many colleges offer some sort of career placement assistance, so if you’re not currently a UEI student, check with your current or previous college’s career center to see what they might have to offer.

Leveraging Your Social Network

Social networks can be for more than just keeping up with old friends and sharing what you made for dinner; they can also be an amazing tool for finding a job. Not only do you probably have a large group of contacts that would potentially see a post about how you’re looking for a job, but you can also find job opportunities by following the social media pages for companies you might be interested in working with, on local classified pages, and just through word of mouth from people on your friends and following lists. You can also join professional associations for members of your field, as well as sites like LinkedIn to expand your network. The more people that know you and that know you’re looking for a job, the greater your chances of finding something that might not be publicly advertised. Some companies rely on referrals from employees and other contacts, so the bigger your network of people, the wider net you can cast to find the right fit.

Career Websites & Online Job Boards

Similar to social media networking, utilizing career websites can help you connect with people and companies in the field you’re interested in. Sites like Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com not only offer help building resumes and online profiles, they also have virtual job boards. Before the internet came along, people used to post available jobs in the newspaper and on bulletin boards around town. Career websites take that same simple idea and make it more accessible and streamline the process for both employers and job seekers. With more and more companies relying on third-parties to either do their hiring or narrow down their field of prospects, utilizing sites like these can give you access to a wide range of career opportunities, whether you’re looking locally or are seeking something in a new city.

Job Fairs

Job fairs may not be as common as they once were, but they are definitely still out there. Sometimes they’re run by a single company looking to fill several vacancies, other times there are dozens of different employers with open positions. This can be a great resource when job hunting, as you can get your resume in the hands of people that are seriously looking to hire, and you get to do it in person, often being able to connect directly with the person in charge of doing the hiring. Often times you can get a list of the companies that will be on hand at a job fair, so you can get an idea of how many you would be interested in working with and know exactly how many resumes you need to bring along with you.

Company Websites

This one is often forgotten, but if there’s a particular company you would love to work for, keep an eye on their website. Many companies have an opportunity or career section where they post vacant positions. If nothing is available, keep checking back. If you don’t see a section for job listings, check out their “about” section or browse their employee directory to see if you can figure out who’s in charge of hiring. There’s no harm in being proactive and reaching out to see if they have any open positions or expect anything to become available. You can even send along your resume for them to consider when there is an opening.

When it comes to job hunting, there are many amazing tools at your fingertips. The best place to start is where you obtained your education and with people you know directly. From there you can expand out through other venues, utilizing all the wonderful tools that can help you find – and get – your dream job.

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