Where to Learn About Job Openings

Where to Learn About Job Openings
Personal contacts - Eighty percent of available jobs are never advertised, and over half of all employees get their jobs through networking, according to BH Careers International. Therefore, the people you know—friends, family, neighbors, acquaintances, teachers, and former coworkers—are some of the most effective resources for your job search. The network of people that you know and the people that they know can lead to information about specific job openings that are not publicly posted. To develop new contacts, join student, community, or professional organizations.


School career planning and placement offices - High school and college placement offices help their students and alumni find jobs. They allow recruiters to use their facilities for interviews or career fairs. Placement offices usually have a list of part-time, temporary, and summer jobs offered on campus. They also may have lists of jobs for regional, nonprofit, and government organizations. In addition to linking you to potential employers, career planning offices usually provide career counseling, career testing, and job search advice. Some have career resource libraries; host workshops on job search strategy, résumé writing, letter writing, and effective interviewing; critique drafts of résumés; conduct mock interviews; and sponsor job fairs.

Employers - Through your library and Internet research, develop a list of potential employers in your desired career field. Employer Web sites often contain lists of job openings. Web sites and business directories can provide you with information on how to apply for a position or whom to contact. Even if no open positions are posted, do not hesitate to contact the employer and the relevant department. Set up an interview with someone working in the same area in which you wish to work. Ask them how they got started, what they like and dislike about the work, what type of qualifications are necessary for the job, and what type of personality succeeds in that position. Even if they don’t have a position available, they may be able to put you in contact with other people who might hire you, and they can keep you in mind if a position opens up. Make sure to send them your résumé and a cover letter. If you are able to obtain an interview, be sure to send a thank-you note. Directly contacting employers is one of the most successful means of job hunting.

Classified ads - The "Help Wanted" ads in newspapers list numerous jobs. You should realize, however, that many other job openings are not listed, and that the classified ads sometimes do not give all of the important information. They may offer little or no description of the job, working conditions, or pay. Some ads do not identify the employer. They may simply give a post office box to which you can mail your résumé, making follow-up inquiries very difficult. Some ads offer out-of-town jobs; others advertise employment agencies rather than actual employment opportunities.

Internet networks and resources - The Internet is an invaluable resource. Use it to find advice on conducting your job search more effectively; to search for a job; to research prospective employers; and to communicate with people who can help you with your job search. No single Web site will contain all the information available on employment or career opportunities, so in addition to the Web sites listed below, use a search engine to find what you need. The different types of sites that may be useful include general career advice sites, job search sites, company Web sites, trade and professional association Web sites, and forums. Internet forums, also called message boards, are online discussion groups where anyone may post and read messages. Use forums specific to your profession or to career-related topics to post questions or messages and to read about other peoples’ job searches or career experiences.

State employment service offices - The State employment service, sometimes called the Job Service, operates in coordination with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. Local offices, found nationwide, help job seekers to find jobs and help employers to find qualified workers at no cost to either. To find the office nearest you, look in the State government telephone listings under "Job Service" or "Employment."

Federal Government - Information on obtaining a position with the Federal Government is available from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) through USAJOBS, the Federal Government’s official employment information system. This resource for locating and applying for job opportunities can be accessed through the Internet at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov or through an interactive voice response telephone system at (703) 724-1850 or TDD (978) 461-8404. These numbers are not tollfree, and charges may result.

Private employment agencies and career consultants - These agencies can be helpful, but they may charge you for their services. Most operate on a commission basis, with the fee dependent upon a percentage of the salary paid to a successful applicant. You or the hiring company will pay the fee. Find out the exact cost and who is responsible for paying associated fees before using the service.

Although employment agencies can help you save time and contact employers who otherwise might be difficult to locate, the costs may outweigh the benefits if you are responsible for the fee. Contacting employers directly often will generate the same type of leads that a private employment agency will provide. Consider any guarantees that the agency offers when determining if the service is worth the cost.

Community agencies - Many nonprofit organizations, including religious institutions and vocational rehabilitation agencies, offer counseling, career development, and job placement services, generally targeted to a particular group, such as women, youths, minorities, ex-offenders, or older workers.

This information was obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For more information, follow this link: BLS

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Be In Demand With These Ten Traits

Do you want to be in demand?

Employers are always looking for certain things in job candidates. If you can master these ten skills, you will be ahead of your competitors in the job market and you will stand a much better chance of getting a great job.

Be In Demand With These Ten Traits

1. Budget management - Effective budget management means taking steps to ensure that a manageable and controllable budget is in place and that procedures are defined to eliminate cash crunch situations from developing.

2. Speaking – Being able to work with someone one on one as well as conduct effective meetings is vital in today's business environment. Can you communicate ideas, persuade clients or business partners, motivate and inspire employees and explain complex issues? If so, you will be in demand by employers.

3. Writing – Writing involves clearly identifying ideas and relating them to others in a way that allows for few or no misconceptions. All business communication must be professional, concise and easy to understand. Where communication is concerned, more is better than less.

4. Public Relations – It is important to be able to handle yourself well in any given situation, but especially when you represent the organization for which you work. Being prepared is crucial to success in public relations.

5. Organization/Prioritization – Are you good at keeping tabs on your job responsibilities and monitoring your progress to ensure that deadlines are met and tasks are completed efficiently and effectively.

6. Initiative – If it needs to be done, either do it or get someone who is responsible for that item to get it done. The worst thing an employer can hear is "It's not my job." Show the employer that you are a "go getter".

7. Interviewing – Not all interviews take place in the Human Resources department. Each department in which there is a vacancy will likely have one or two people taking time to determine the most qualified person for the job. If you can interview someone well, you will be in demand

8. Negotiating – Getting the best deal for the company is something in which employers are always interested. Everything is about the bottom line. Is there a way to cut costs by negotiating better contracts? If you can show an employer that you can successfully negotiate good deals, you will be the favored candidate.

9. Teaching Others – Teaching is an essential element of leadership. If you can convey directions or instructions in a way that allows others to implement ideas and/or designs, you will find yourself in demand by employers.

10. Energy – If you are always willing to give an extra effort to everything you do, it will become readily apparent to everyone. Getting to work before your co-workers and staying a little later makes huge difference in how you are viewed, especially if you are known to demonstrate good use of your time.

Now that you know which skills matter most to employers, you have an idea of what you should focus on to ensure you are successful in your career.

There are also professional traits that will help you in your job search. Take a look at this article: Personal and Professional Traits