Finding a job is a job in itself. You should be prepared to put in the work and be patient. Don’t give up and keep trying until you land your first interview. Keep interviewing until you land your first job offer. It will be worth it.
Once you have prepared yourself and earned the knowledge required to succeed in your career field of choice, I have found that doing these four things consistently gives you the best chance to find a job opening in your field.
- Networking
- Cold-Calling
- Job Posting Browsing
- Informational Interviews
Let’s discuss each of these individually and detail how each can help you find a job that’s a good fit, and hopefully, one you’ll love.
Looking back through my career, and looking at the fifteen jobs I’ve had since I began working at the age of twelve, thirteen of them came from networking or cold-calling—only two came from want ads posted on a job board and a newspaper. And—you’ve probably already guessed—those were my first two jobs after college. Thinking back, even my very first job as a neighborhood newspaper delivery boy came from networking with my sister who already had a route and her “boss” who needed a delivery person for another route by our house. My second job came to me the same way. A friend needed a helper at his job as a dishwasher at the local Elk’s Club. He spoke to his boss, and I was in like Flynn.
1. Networking
Aside from properly preparing yourself to do the job you want well, networking is probably the most helpful tool you can employ in your job search. Networking is basically getting your name out there, meeting new people, and trying to find potential employers. I know people who have landed an interview and then a job by networking with an uncle or aunt, grandparents, new people at with a concert, or other social events.
Social networks are also a great way to network. LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook are great ways to begin spreading the word that you are looking for a position and would like to start meeting and talking to people who are looking to hire, or who can offer helpful advice or review your portfolio of work. A word of caution, remember that everyone can potentially see your posts, even your current employer. Be discrete.
As you network, where ever you are, the important thing is to begin telling people that you are looking for a position in your chosen field of work, and then getting their name and contact information to follow up and starting the process.
Here are a few tips to remember when networking:
- Network often, yet be a professional
A wedding ceremony, funeral service, college graduation commencement, sermon, birth of a child, minor surgery (you get the picture), isn’t the best time to ask, “Hey, doesn’t your brother’s landlord’s son own a company that may have a few openings?” No one wants to hear about your job search every second of their life. Instead, get comfortable knowing when and where is a good time to discuss your situation and desire to connect with people in your field. Most people like to help other people find things like this in their lives. It’s a feather in their cap to be able to say, “I helped find my neighbor’s daughter find her first job, and it seems to be working out quite well.” - Return the favor
Remember that networking is a two-way street. Make an intentional effort to help others in your network with their needs too. Keep a mental note of who is looking for what, or who you could help. Do good deeds for people, spread the word that a friend is looking for a job in a certain field, pass along information about a new job lead that may help a friend. Tell your network about a new web site that offers great pricing on business cards and letterhead printing. Trust me, your network will notice your efforts and reward you for them. - Know what you want
Be specific when you begin a conversation with someone new. Don’t begin with, “I would really like a new job,” or, “I’ve been thinking about looking for a new job.” You may get the response, “Yeah, you and the rest of the world would like a better job.” Instead, know what you want and the next time someone asks, “So, what have you been up to?” Respond with, “Well, I’ll be graduating this spring with my _________ degree and will be looking to land my first job as a _____________. Do you know anyone who works in the field that I could contact or meet with? I sure would appreciate some help getting my foot in the door.” - Follow up when you say you will
Everyone, especially your potential employer, loves a person who follows through on their commitments. The first place you can demonstrate this is by calling them back when you said you would. If they are not in, leave a message so they know you called, and follow up again the next day. - Hone your presentation
Try to critique yourself occasionally with the goal of improving the way you present yourself to new people in your professional network. If you’re like me, you usually know when something comes out wrong, or when you totally flub a phone conversation. Brush it off, learn from it, and do better next time. - Get organized
Create a logbook or spreadsheet where you can write down every person you contact in your job search. Start using the Address Book on your computer to record as much information as you can about each new contact. - Check out new places and new people
Now that you are trying to meet new people and network with a new crowd, make an effort to go to new places. Attend a seminar in your field of work that you’ve been thinking about. Invite an old friend to lunch at a new restaurant you’ve been wanting to try, or take a class to brush up on skills in your field—there’s no better place to find jobs in your field than in a class full of people in your industry. - Connect, Like, or Friend new network contacts
Social networks are an excellent place to build a professional network of friends. Staying in contact with college roommates, classmates, professors, and past employers is a good way to keep your name out there. You’ll have to be the judge and know when it’s appropriate to connect with someone you’ve met via social media. If you’re unsure, then it’s probably not the right time to do it. Remember not to come off as desperate or needy.
Use the simple power of networking to your advantage. You want to be viewed as the organized, motivated, cutting edge, tech-savvy job hunter who gets noticed—and hired.
As you continue to fine-tune your networking skills, you’re ready to add new talent to your toolbox—you’re ready to start cold-calling.
2. Cold-Calling
Cold-calling is another proven method of finding jobs that aren’t posted or are only posted in limited areas. When you cold-call you simply find companies that may hire you and you either call them and ask if they have any openings in your field, or you send them a cover letter, resume and color samples page and tell them that you are looking for work in (your field) and would like to meet with them to learn more about their company and discuss any future openings they may have. Whether you call or stop by, always send a cover letter, resume, and samples so they keep you on file for future openings.
As with networking, be sure to keep a detailed record of who you called, when you spoke to them, and what you discussed. This way you will know where your conversation stands when you speak to them again. I recommend calling each contact back every month or so. This “check-in” call will keep your name and credentials at the top of their list when they finally have an open position that fits you. Don’t call daily or weekly—you’ll be viewed as a pest, or maybe even a desperate pest. And don’t wait several months to call back either—you’ll be viewed as an unorganized person who lacks personal initiative and passion to find a job. There is a fine balance here so be sure to keep detailed records so you can time your calls accordingly.
Now that you have networking and cold-calling in your job search arsenal, let’s move on to Want Ad Browsing. Sounds exciting huh?! Well, you may be surprised by how much valuable information a want ad contains.
3. Job Postings
This step is tried and true. You look for current job openings that are already posted on internet sites like Indeed.com, Wisconsin’s TechConnect, local newspaper websites, Careerjet.com, etc., and on a company’s own website.
You’ll learn all about this when you complete your Job Research project.
4. Informational Interviews
Another helpful strategy to help find jobs is to find companies that you are interested in working for and call them and ask for an informational interview. There will be several companies that are not currently hiring that you may want to visit to learn more about. These companies may have openings in the future, and you want to make sure that your name pops up when they think of hiring.
The Informational tour/interview may be initiated and arranged over the phone. To begin, call the company and simply state, “Hello, my name is _____________, I am a “your position/career field” and I am interested in learning more about your company and the work you do. I understand your company has a “your position/career field” department and I was wondering if I could meet with you and learn more?”
Make sure you are courteous and polite. If you are transferred to another person who handles the company tours, repeat what you said to the first person and go from there. Have a calendar and your schedule in front of you so you can immediately confirm and write down the meeting time, date, person to contact, and any additional details. Thank them and say that you are looking forward to meeting with them.
When the interview day arrives, be on time! Dress like you would for a job interview. Bring a folder, and pen and paper to take notes. Also, bring copies of your resume in case you are asked for it. Bring your portfolio as well, but leave it in the car. DO NOT ask if they want your resume or if they would like to see your portfolio. You may be perceived as someone who misrepresented your intentions in order to get a job interview. Most employers don’t like this approach.
During the tour, find out as much as you can about the company. Do not ask for private information such as financial information, trade secrets, or projected employee layoffs. Ask them things that will help you decide if you want to work there, such as how many people they employ in your line of work, what would a person in your position do on a daily basis? And what types of experience, skills, or specialized abilities would help a person in your position?
Write down the names (and correct spellings) of those people you meet with—to send them a thank you note. If they ask you why you are writing down names, simply tell them you want to send thank you notes after the tour/interview. You can write a thank you letter or you can handwrite a thank you card. Either one is acceptable. Personally, I prefer a handwritten thank you note/card. It is more personal and meaningful. Be sure to send it the day after your interview or tour—no later, or earlier.
Be sure to send a thank you letter or note after the tour to those you spoke with. Include your resume and color samples page and state in the thank you letter that you would like to be considered a candidate for future graphic design openings with their company. Follow up with your contact every month or so to network and see if they have any openings. Again, this proactive approach impresses employers and gives you an advantage when they are deciding who to hire.
Wrap up
When you combine these four approaches you are greatly increasing your chances of finding potential job openings. Don’t be “that” job hunter who checks for jobs once each week, sends out a resume or two, and then waits another week to search again. This approach is ineffective and severely limits your job prospects. Not to mention it shows that you are lacking self-motivation and drive. Be the “other” job hunter who networks, cold-calls, browses the want ads, and goes on informational interviews—and lands the job they love.