Boston University - Office of Career Services - Job-Search

Experience has shown that informal networking is a very rich source of job leads and information about unpublished job opportunities. In fact, it is known as the number one source of job leads. Successful networking requires that you have as many contacts as possible hear your story, so they realize you are in the job market.

To begin developing your network, secure names of specific individuals. These names can be obtained through several avenues:

Professors, friends, relatives, and former employers - or any professionals these people recommend.
Professional associations.
People in the information business - resource center directors or librarians, Human Resource directors, public relations officials or public information specialists.
Community service agencies or area chambers of commerce.

Many newspapers now make their employment sections available on-line as well as in print. If you are job-searching in the area in which you live, take advantage of the local papers, especially on Sundays. If you are job-searching in a distant city, find the websites for the major papers, bookmark them, and visit the “Help Wanted” sections regularly.

When responding to an ad, be sure you include, in the first line of your cover letter, the job name, the job posting number if any, where you saw the job listed, and on what date.

If you have identified certain companies that you think you’d like to work for, bookmark their HR or Employment sites and visit them regularly. Many companies have separate sections on their sites for college students or recent graduates. Learn as much as you can about the company by studying their website thoroughly, so that if an opportunity does come up you will be able to asses the “fit” and tailor your resume and cover letter accordingly.

Know what is happening within the industry or field you are trying to find employment in. Stay aware of mergers, bankruptcies, new ventures, relocations, up and coming competitors, new products, new regulations, new CEO’s, and even new scandals. Not only might you be able to anticipate openings, you will be able to converse knowledgably about the industry during an interview (although maybe you don’t want to bring up the scandals!)

There are two basic kinds of agencies that you should be aware of: those that provide their service at no charge to you, and those that charge you a fee.

We strongly advise you not to pay a fee for job placement or headhunting services.

There are many good employment agencies out there that can assist you in finding work without charging you. They make their fees from the employers, who pay handsomely for the service. The agency interviews you, screens you and generally checks your references, then sends you for interviews at likely employers. You don’t have to go on any interviews that you are not interested in. Be aware, though, that you are not the client; the employer is. The agency’s primary goal is not to find you a job, it is to fill the employer’s positions. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use agencies, go ahead and do so if you like; they can be a great resource. In addition to the agencies that handle general employment, check out those that specialize in a particular career field such as accounting, science, education, etc.

If you are considering temporary employment as a method of career exploration, agencies are the way to go. Sign yourself up with one or two, and take advantage of the opportunities to explore career options. Be aware that agencies will have agreements with their client companies that prohibit the company from hiring you within a certain period of time without paying a large “finder’s fee” to the temp agency.

There are two ways these boards can be used. You can search for jobs, or you can post your resume hoping that employers will find you. Use the latter option with caution.

Searching for posted jobs can be productive, and help you locate openings. Remember though that literally thousands of other people are finding and applying to the same jobs. Your chances decrease rapidly with the popularity of the board. Also, be careful about applying to employers that aren’t identified. Try to make sure the company or the opening is legitimate. If they ask you to disclose information before they are willing to give you any, be wary.

NEVER give out your social security number or any other personal information over these sites. It is a good idea to make sure your resume has ONLY your phone number and email address, not your physical address.

Posting your resume on one of these sites and hoping that employers will find you is not usually a productive method of job searching. First of all, there are tens of thousands of resumes out there. Second, you don’t know anything about an employer who contacts you as a result of finding your resume. Some people are contacted by headhunters or agents who then want a fee to connect you with jobs. If you do post your resume, make sure to include ONLY your email address and phone number, not your physical address.

If you choose to use one of these job boards, do not make it your only method of job-search; use other methods as well.

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