Career Advising at EOU

By now you have a better awareness of who you are, what you desire, and how your capabilities and interests relate to the world of work. You are now a step ahead of most candidates seeking employment because most candidates seek only a job and do not see the long-range implications of planning for a career. Hence, they do not take the time to do all that is necessary.

For many of the candidates seeking employment, the want ads or other avenues such as employment agencies become the sole source of information about jobs. Consequently, they will be investigating only one-quarter of all the currently available jobs. Is there a better way? Yes, there is.

Informational Interviewing

One way is to talk to people who are already employed in fields in which you would like employment, or who are employed as decision makers with employers for whom you would like to work. An informational interview is just that. It is meeting with people to learn more about a particular job. It is making the person aware of your interest, your ability, your goals. It is asking questions to learn more about the job and the responsibilities that go with the job.

An informational interview is not an employment interview. You are not asking for a job. Employment with this particular employer may result at some later time. Your main purpose, however, is to seek information, give information about yourself, and ask for help from the person you are visiting.

With this new information, you should be better prepared to present your candidacy to employers. You may have garnered some unknown job leads and you may have made a favorable enough impression that the person with whom you spoke will remember you when a position becomes available. This favorable impression may cause the person to refer your name to other employers seeking candidates with your abilities.

Networking

Networking means utilizing friends, relatives, acquaintances, etc. to learn about employment opportunities. Let people know that you are looking for employment, the kind of employment you are seeking, and when you will be available. Often a carefully dropped word with people relative to your interest will be passed on to others, which could lead to employment. These same people may already be aware of openings for which you would be qualified. Remember, when you let these people know your status, you are subtly asking for their endorsement as a good candidate for employment. 

Direct Application To Employers

According to an article in the Occupational Outlook Quarterly, published by the U.S. Department of Labor, the most popular and effective method of searching for employment is to apply directly to an employer. This requires time, preparation of an effective cover letter and resume, keeping good records and follow-up.

To make this system work for you, prioritize the employers you want to contact. This may be done by geographical preference, by size of employer, by type of employer, etc. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, establish a calendar of activity. Plan to contact a small number today and have another group ready to be contacted a short time later. Establish yet a third group in the event you need to expand your contacts.

It is important to remember that your inquiry letter should always be addressed to a specific individual rather than to "Dear Sir"  or "Dear Madam."

Internet

The Internet is changing the way we do everything.  No surprise it has an impact on how people seek career information, seek employment opportunities and apply for positions.

Numerous websites offer job data banks where users can conduct searches using specified criteria.  The same sites allow you to post a resume online which then is searched by employers seeking particular skills & knowledge.  Even the Federal Government has gotten into the Internet job search.

Because it is so convenient, one might be tempted to skip right to the online search without doing the preparatory steps:  self assessment, career exploration, developing a resume (paper copy)...  One will be better prepared to do an effective Internet search having done the background preparation.

Before you start dispersing personal information on the Internet, it is important to consider the implications.  Check the Riley Guide for a site that delves into issues of the internet job search.

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