FSS Newsletter :: January 2002

Career Corner

How to Find Job Leads in a Slow Employment Market

Q. Besides the typical classified ads, where do you suggest someone interested in a job change look for openings? It seems like just yesterday that jobs were available in abundance and now no one is hiring, at least publicly.

A. This is such a great question. One of the best strategies you can ever use for job-hunting is networking.

That takes much more time than applying to an ad but it's more effective in this job market. Go to professional association meetings, call all of your friends and colleagues, and tell anyone else who will listen that you're looking for a job.
BUT you need to be able to tell people some specifics briefly and succinctly:

• What kind of job you'd like to do. People really can't help you if all you can tell them is that you'd like to do "something in marketing" or "be in management." Find some former job listings and put together your dream job. Use the buzz words in your field.
  
• Two things you've done in the past that qualify you for that job. Be able to say them in one minute or less but also be able to elaborate on them at length when someone is willing to listen to you.
  
• Any outstanding skills you have. For example, I could tell a potential dean at a university that I've started three very successful academic programs. That would get attention and is something that not many faculty members can say. Try to have at least one outstanding thing to say about yourself that relates to the kind of job you'd like to have.

Don't forget to have some contact cards--just like business cards but with your current contact info. People will keep these and pass them around for you.